The six main Splinter Cell games in order are Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory, Double Agent, Conviction and Blacklist, and their story follows the same order.
This list gives each game's PC release date from the Ubisoft Store, the story order, what each entry adds to Sam Fisher's arc, where to buy them today and what is known about the remake.
Splinter Cell games in order at a glance
Play the main series in this order: Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory, Double Agent, Conviction, Blacklist. Release order and story order match for the six main games, so each game picks up Sam Fisher's career where the previous one left it, and Conviction and Blacklist lean on events from Double Agent.
The Splinter Cell series
Splinter Cell is Ubisoft's stealth series under the Tom Clancy brand. You play Sam Fisher, a covert agent who works alone in the dark with gadgets, lights and sound as his main tools.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ubisoft |
| Main character | Sam Fisher, a covert operative |
| Main games | 6, from Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell to Splinter Cell: Blacklist |
| First game | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, 2002 (Ubisoft marked the series' 20th anniversary in November 2022) |
| Latest main game | Splinter Cell: Blacklist, released August 20, 2013 |
| In development | A full remake of the first game, led by Ubisoft Toronto on the Snowdrop engine, announced December 15, 2021 |
| Other media | An animated series made with Netflix |
Every Splinter Cell game in order by release date
The dates below are the release dates the Ubisoft Store lists for the PC versions. Console versions of several games came out earlier, starting with the original game in 2002.
| # | Game | PC release date (Ubisoft Store) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | February 18, 2003 |
| 2 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow | March 26, 2004 |
| 3 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | March 28, 2005 |
| 4 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent | October 19, 2006 |
| 5 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction | April 28, 2010 |
| 6 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist | August 20, 2013 |
Blacklist launched on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U on the same day. The series has had handheld and remastered releases too, such as Essentials and the Classic Trilogy HD, but they are not part of the six-game main line.
Every Splinter Cell game in chronological order
Story order is the same as release order. Each main game moves Sam Fisher's career forward, so playing them in sequence keeps every reveal in place.
| Story order | Game | Where Sam Fisher stands |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Splinter Cell | Sam Fisher's first missions, which set up the agent, his gadgets and his handlers |
| 2 | Pandora Tomorrow | The direct sequel, continuing Sam's covert work |
| 3 | Chaos Theory | The third mission set, known for open, multi-path levels such as the bank |
| 4 | Double Agent | Sam works undercover, and the choices made here carry into the later games |
| 5 | Conviction | Sam acts on his own after the events of Double Agent |
| 6 | Blacklist | Sam leads a new unit against the Engineers, a group running a series of escalating attacks on US interests |
Splinter Cell release order vs story order
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do release and story order differ? | No. The six main games tell the story in the order they were released. |
| Is there a prequel? | No main game is set before the first Splinter Cell. |
| Which games are most tied together? | Double Agent, Conviction and Blacklist form a run where each one follows from the last. |
| Where does the remake fit? | It retells the first game, so it sits at the start of the story. |
Where to buy and play the Splinter Cell games on PC
- Open the Ubisoft Store at store.ubisoft.com in your browser.
- Search for Splinter Cell to list all six main games.
- Open the game you want and pick the Standard Edition.
- Buy the game and sign in with your Ubisoft account.
- Install the game through Ubisoft Connect on your PC and launch it from your library.
Ubisoft says online features for Blacklist are no longer supported, so its multiplayer and co-op modes do not work. The single-player campaign is still playable, and you install and update it through the Ubisoft Connect PC client.
Splinter Cell remake release date and status
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | December 15, 2021 |
| Studio | Ubisoft Toronto, the team that made Blacklist |
| Engine | Snowdrop |
| Type | A remake rebuilt from the ground up, not a remaster |
| Story | The core story of the first game stays the same, with some elements updated |
| Design | Linear levels, not open world, with multiple paths and a full no-kill option |
| Release date | Not announced |
| Platforms | Not announced |
Splinter Cell games order FAQ
How many Splinter Cell games are there?
There are six main Splinter Cell games: Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory, Double Agent, Conviction and Blacklist. Handheld versions and remasters exist too, and a remake of the first game is in development at Ubisoft Toronto.
What is the first Splinter Cell game?
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is the first game. It came out in 2002 on console, and the Ubisoft Store lists its PC release as February 18, 2003. It introduces Sam Fisher and the stealth systems every later game builds on.
Is Splinter Cell Essentials a main game?
No. Splinter Cell Essentials is a handheld spin-off rather than one of the six main games. You can skip it and still follow the full Sam Fisher story from Splinter Cell through Blacklist without missing a main event.
Who is making the Splinter Cell remake?
Ubisoft Toronto leads the Splinter Cell remake. It is the studio that made Splinter Cell: Blacklist in 2013, and it is rebuilding the first game from the ground up on the Snowdrop engine with updated lighting, AI, animation and audio.
Can you finish the Splinter Cell remake without killing anyone?
Ubisoft Toronto says its goal is for the whole remake to be playable without a single kill. Levels are planned with several paths, inspired by the bank level in Chaos Theory, so stealth and avoidance stay viable throughout.
What is the latest Splinter Cell game?
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is the latest main game. It launched on August 20, 2013 on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U. A remake of the first game is the next one Ubisoft has announced.
Should you play Splinter Cell games in order?
Yes, playing in order is the best way to follow Sam Fisher's story. Release order and story order are the same, and Conviction and Blacklist build directly on what happens in Double Agent.
Is the Splinter Cell remake out?
No. Ubisoft announced the Splinter Cell remake on December 15, 2021, and it is being built by Ubisoft Toronto on the Snowdrop engine. Ubisoft has not announced a release date or platforms.
Can you still play Splinter Cell Blacklist online?
No. Ubisoft states that online features for Splinter Cell: Blacklist are no longer supported, so multiplayer and co-op modes do not work. The single-player campaign still works.
Which Splinter Cell game should you start with?
Start with the original Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. Every later game assumes you know Sam Fisher and his history, and the story order matches release order, so the first game is the natural entry point.
