All Mainline Hitman Games (Ranked)
The Hitman franchise is massive, with 5 games in the original series, 3 in the reboot, and 2 Hollywood movies featuring Agent 47. The popular assassin debuted in 2000 with Codename 47, and since then the games have evolved, with Hitman 3 being the latest and final title in the rebooted trilogy. Each Hitman game more or less follows a template, where 47 uses stealth, disguises, and planning to take down his targets. Here are all the mainline Hitman games ranked, with explanations of their strengths and weaknesses.
8. Hitman: Absolution
The game that changed the Hitman series for the worse. Absolution follows Agent 47 as he is tasked with killing Diana Burnwood, but things become complicated soon after. The game focuses on the story and cinematic presentation, with a more linear path being forced upon players. It still retains stealth, disguises, and different methods of completing the assassinations. A new mechanic is introduced, Instinct, which allows 47 to identify threats, opportunities, and other useful elements.
The game also added Contracts Mode, which allowed players to create their own assassination contracts. Absolution may have been considered a solid game if it wasn’t part of the Hitman series. The game keeps several Hitman elements, but is as far away from the franchise as possible. Its cinematic presentation is strong, but it lacks the sandbox environment that Hitman had become known for. The game feels like a solo stealth-action title that was inspired by Hitman.
7. Hitman: Codename 47
The game that started the series and introduced Agent 47 to the world. It explains that 47 is a genetically engineered assassin, and players have to complete missions where they eliminate their targets using stealth, disguises, and their trusted ballers. Codename 47 cemented the series’ formula but was released in 2000, which explains its controls and difficulty being its biggest weaknesses.
The game was good for its time, but has since become outdated and is harder to play now. This isn’t to say it isn’t a good game, but it may be something a hardcore fan plays once, as it lacks the replayability of other titles in the series. Several mechanics feel less polished, and the difficulty can become overwhelming, especially for new players. However, there would have been no Hitman franchise if not for Codename 47.
6. Hitman: Contracts
Contracts is one of the darker Hitman games that begins with a wounded 47 in a Paris hotel. The game is presented significantly through flashbacks, but retains the signature stealth, disguise, and open-ended assassination gameplay. A large part of the campaign consists of reworked missions from Codename 47, but they work better because Contracts has better controls and the mechanics are more polished.
Contracts is ranked better than Codename 47 because of improvements in several mechanics, but Contracts feels less ambitious compared to other games in the Hitman series because of reused missions. Despite this, the darker tone and environment are a big plus, as no other Hitman game has presented a similar narrative.
5. Hitman (2016)
Hitman is a reboot of the popular series and is substantially better than the last title, Absolution. The game returned to a sandbox environment and initially released six main locations episodically. These include Paris, Sapienza, Hokkaido, and more. Players have the choice to manipulate NPCs’ routines, discover opportunities, or plan accidents. The game also introduced new live features such as Escalation Contracts and Elusive Targets.
Hitman has some of the most unique levels in the trilogy, which makes them highly replayable. This is particularly notable because there are numerous ways to take down the targets, which allows players to replay each level multiple times to find them all. Sapienza may be a good example, as you can use a target’s deceased mother to take him down or sneakily hit a scientist with a poison syringe. The game offers significant freedom, especially compared to the previous title in the series.
4. Hitman 3 (2021)
Hitman 3 is the final title in IO Interactive’s World of Assassination trilogy, and it takes 47 across several visually pleasing locations, such as Dubai, Dartmoor, and the Carpathian Mountains. The core gameplay is similar to the previous two games in the trilogy, with 47 being tasked with eliminating targets. However, the game adds more mechanics, such as turning into an investigator during the Dartmoor contract and using the clues to manipulate the target while looking for clues.
Hitman 3 excels in its level design, and wisely expands on the successful formula rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. The locations are distinct from each other, making the visuals as pleasing as the ongoing story. 47 is offered a choice in the end that decides his future; players can either take action against The Constant or walk away, indicating that they’re done with the killing.
3. Hitman: Blood Money
Blood Money is the fourth mainline Hitman game, which sees 47 continue his career as an ICA assassin. The game isn’t a traditional sequel, instead focusing on standalone contracts, where you have the choice to plan how you will take down your targets. It introduces and expands on several systems, including notoriety, weapon customization, and accident kills. One of the best things about Blood Money is how different each mission is from others.
Blood Money is a great Hitman game that uses the popular formula and gives players more freedom for how they go about their missions. For instance, you can add sedative to a box of donuts to gain access to an FBI surveillance van or take a shotgun and shoot down an entire mansion. The notoriety element gives consequences, which makes leaving witnesses or making mistakes a big issue.
2. Hitman 2 (2018)
This is the sequel to the 2016 reboot of the Hitman games, which places 47 in a sandbox environment where he can observe NPCs, use disguises, and use the world to his advantage. Hitman 2 is a massive expansion on its predecessor, as it takes the modern formula and improves it, which is why it’s ranked better than the other two games. Players can use crowds to blend in and avoid being detected, or hide their contraband in a briefcase to get them into secured areas.
Hitman 2 makes the world feel interconnected while also allowing 47 to integrate himself into it substantially. Miami may be the best example of this, as 47 can turn into a mascot and go on a killing spree, sneak onto the roof and push a father into his daughter’s race car to kill them both, or walk around and plan accidents.
1. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
This is the second mainline Hitman game, which starts off with a retired Agent 47 working as a gardener in a church. The famed hitman returns to killing after his priest friend is kidnapped, and his missions take him all over the world, including Japan, Malaysia, Sicily, and more. Silent Assassin feels significantly more seamless in both movement and controls compared to Codename 47. The game retains much of the gameplay, including sneaking, disguises, and prioritizing the elimination of just the targets.
The modern Hitman games have no doubt changed the series completely, but Silent Assassin is ranked number 1 because it captures the series’ formula without becoming too cinematic. The game encourages players to strategize and only kill their target rather than shooting up everyone. It also has a strong roster of locations where 47 goes while hunting his targets and searching for the priest.
