The Hitman franchise has one of the most unique origin stories in gaming. It began as a tiny experimental project inside IO Interactive, built mainly to test ragdoll physics, cloth movement and a strange bald assassin who looked like he had never laughed in his life. Nobody expected it to explode into an international phenomenon. Somehow, this odd little game grew into a series that inspired memes, speedruns, professional assassinations with rubber ducks and a fanbase that treats creativity as a religion.

Through the years, Hitman games and Agent 47 have built a reputation for open ended mission design, freedom of choice and the joy of improvising planning and executing clean kills even in chaotic situations. Today, all Hitman games along with their sole protagonist Agent 47 stand among the most iconic stealth titles ever created. The franchise evolved from rough experiments into polished sandboxes that let players feel clever, dangerous and hilarious at the same time.

6. Hitman: Codename 47

Hitman Codename 47 is where all Hitman games started and Agent 47 began his journey in the gaming world. The nostalgia is strong even though the mechanics often fight back harder than the enemies. Fans appreciate Hitman Codename 47 due to its story which was quite unique and interesting for its time. Plus it introduced the basic ideas of disguises, stealth and mission variety. The problem is that time has not been kind to this early attempt.

Controls feel stiff, the visuals look very poor today, and the AI behaves as if it is trying to guess what universe it is in. A small mistake could suddenly turn your mission into loud shootouts that go against everything the franchise later perfected. The lack of saved games was another big problem the game suffered from. Despite these flaws, Hitman Codename 47 deserves respect for building the foundation that every later entry improved. It is clunky, rough and painfully old but it’s story deserves praise. Plus the entire legacy of all Hitman games and Agent 47 started right here.

5. Hitman: Absolution

Hitman Absolution is the most divisive entry in all Hitman games, especially among fans of Agent 47. It is polished, cinematic and visually impressive, and some fans genuinely enjoy its story driven structure. Others feel that Hitman Absolution abandoned the very soul of the franchise by turning missions into linear action sequences instead of open sandboxes. The stealth is smoother but the freedom is smaller. The pacing and storytelling is stylish but the creativity is limited. The biggest problem is that in order to gain more popularity, it tried to appeal to a wider audience and ends up pleasing only a small part of the gaming community. Even with these criticisms, Hitman Absolution still offers fun moments, sharp presentation and solid mechanics. Storywise, fans love it as it shows us a more human side to Agent 47, who goes against the very organization he works for, to protect a young girl. However, it is simply not the same style that made Hitman games and Agent 47 famous. For many players, this one is enjoyable but not essential.

4. Hitman: Silent Assassin

Hitman Silent Assassin, the second entry, in the franchise is where the games truly become immersive. Fans see it as the first true evolution of all Hitman games and Agent 47. Disguises are better, maps are larger and mission planning feels more interesting and rewarding. While some mechanics are dated today, the overall design remains impressive for its time. Players often praise the story, the atmosphere, the variety and the sense of stealth mastery that Hitman Silent Assassin brought to the series.

Even though it is still a fun game to play decades later, the AI can be unpredictable and the controls might frustrate newcomers. You can’t even run in front of guards, otherwise they would start shooting! The charm of the classic design still holds up. Hitman Silent Assassin proved that the franchise had real potential to grow beyond experiments. It moved all Hitman games and Agent 47 into the spotlight and showed what their unique formula could do.

3. Hitman Contracts

Hitman Contracts is an underrated gem that many fans still love to replay. This entry is quite unique to the franchise as the missions take place in flashbacks, while Agent 47 is recovering from a gunshot wound. It takes Agent 47 into darker territory with a more eerie tone and creepy environments. To put it short, at times it makes you feel like playing a horror stealth game! Levels feel sharper and more polished than earlier games, and several remade missions from the first title finally achieve the quality they always deserved.

The game does not reinvent the formula but it refines it. If you loved the first two games, you will likely appreciate the gritty storytelling and the unsettling mood that Hitman Contracts maintains from start to finish. Some critics argue that it lacks fresh originality, but the improvements are undeniable. It is stylish, focused and satisfying. Hitman Contracts might not be for everyone, but it remains a fan favorite for its unique tone and solid design. It marks the moment when all Hitman games and Agent 47 were ready for greatness.

2. Hitman Blood Money

Hitman Blood Money is the legendary high point of the classic era. Ask any long time fan to name the best among all Hitman games before the modern trilogy and Hitman: Blood Money will usually be the answer. The sandbox freedom in Hitman Blood Money is unmatched for its time, with clever mission design, creative kill methods and memorable locations that players still discuss today.

Even today, the game stands out, and each level feels like a miniature puzzle box that rewards experimentation. Like Contracts, the story also takes place in flashbacks, where the leader of a rival organization tries to manipulate 47’s past in front of the media, to suit his human cloning agenda. Whether players want to poison, push, or sabotage, Hitman Blood Money allows all of it with style. Even though some mechanics might feel dated now, the core experience remains timeless. Hitman Blood Money perfected the old formula and set a standard that inspired the entire modern era of the series. It is a classic through and through.

1. Hitman World of Assassination – the best among all Hitman games

The modern trilogy is the final evolution of all Hitman games and Agent 47. Hitman, Hitman 2 and Hitman 3 combine into a single masterpiece known as Hitman World of Assassination. This unified experience delivers everything the franchise is loved for. Levels are gigantic, replay value is endless and creative assassination methods are more varied than ever. The story gets even more interesting with the entry of Lucas Grey, 47’s long lost brother and childhood friend. It also answers multiple questions players might have had regarding the past of Agent 47.

The gameplay stands out because every mission feels alive with NPCs who react to your actions. The map is filled with opportunities for stealth, distraction, chaos and even humor. The trilogy also modernizes the formula with sharper controls, smarter AI and a clean interface that makes planning enjoyable. Whether players want to disguise themselves as a mascot or use a Sniper Rifle, the options are limitless. Hitman World of Assassination is the undoubtedly the best among Hitman games. It respects the past while also making the franchise available to newer audiences. Thus, it achieves the potential fans always wanted.

The best thing is that even after years of release, IO Interactive keeps adding interesting side content- all for free!

You can read our review of Hitman World of Assassination here. Also, check out our article on Hitman Blood Money vs World of Assassination to know what the older game did better! 

You can check out 7 thought-provoking quotes from Hitman trilogy here. 

Hitman World of Assassination is the definitive unified edition that combines Hitman 2016, Hitman 2 (2018) and Hitman (2021) into one seamless platform. Instead of navigating three different titles, players now experience everything through a single doorway, which makes this version the most polished and complete form of the modern Hitman trilogy. The game is a soft reboot of the original Hitman games and organizes the full journey of Agent 47 into one coherent experience that respects the player’s time, intelligence and creativity. There are very few modern games that trust the player the way this one does. It has been almost 10 years since the first game in the trilogy dropped, and almost five years since the last game in the trilogy dropped, and despite its shortcomings,  Hitman World of Assassination remains one of the most brilliantly designed stealth experiences ever released and easily earns a place among my top three favorite games of all time. Let us learn more about it and if it is worth your time!

Freedom that transforms every mission into your own personal story

What makes Hitman World of Assassination truly special is the sheer amount of control it gives players. Each location feels like a living playground with countless possibilities. You are not forced into a single route or solution. You study the environment, experiment with disguises, outthink guards and improvise even when everything collapses. Instead of relying on scripted sequences, Hitman World of Assassination rewards curiosity and intelligence. Plans never unfold perfectly, and that is exactly what makes them unforgettable. To put it simply, even if you play this game a dozen times, each playthrough will not be same.

This is a reason why this game is underappreciated and not for everyone. It is not a game where you just blindly smash your controllers. You need to use your brain and strategize. For players who love to think, there are few experiences in gaming more satisfying than spending twenty minutes studying routines, positioning a disguise and placing tools only to have a guard ruin everything. In most games, failure means frustration. In this one, failure flips into creativity. You are never stuck or ruined because there is always another angle. Although some of the missions in the older games were a bit linear, this Hitman trilogy however gives you unlimited freedom and this is what makes the Hitman World of Assassination trilogy even better than the original games and makes it impossible to play only once. Once you fall in love with the game, you return again and again, discovering new opportunities each time. The feeling of mastery comes not from learning how the game works but from learning how you work inside it.

A world that feels alive, beautiful and full of atmosphere

One of the reasons the modern Hitman game stands above others in the genre is the sheer attention to detail present in every location. The cities, crowds, lighting and interiors feel handcrafted and lived in. You feel the weight of every footstep in marble hallways and the tension of blending into crowds while security patrols around you. The Hitman World of Assassination trilogy is one of the rare games that take you on a ride across several countries across the world. You travel across a remarkable variety of environments, from dense urban chaos to remote isolated facilities. It is cinematic without being loud, artistic without being pretentious and immersive without drowning you in unnecessary clutter.

Every map feels like a meticulously designed stage, with layers that reveal themselves slowly as you explore. Rather than pushing you through straight paths, it invites you to wander and pay attention. As a player, you feel like an investigator studying a huge machine full of moving parts, waiting for the perfect moment to flip the switch.

A journey filled with emotional weight but could have been better in some ways

The story arc at the heart of Hitman World of Assassination carries emotional strength, especially through Agent 47’s relationship with Lucas Grey. Their bond represents a rare moment of bromance and human connection. After decades of cold professionalism and isolation, 47 finds someone who understands him not as a weapon but as a human being. This makes Grey’s death one of the most shocking and painful turns in the Hitman trilogy, not because it is dramatic, but because it feels unnecessary and wasteful. His death erases progress and drags 47 back to emotional emptiness. Instead of growth, it feels like the story ends where it began, which removes the impact that the writers were clearly aiming for. It is the strongest example of a lost opportunity.

Another frustrating omission is the absence of beloved characters like Father Vittorio and especially Victoria. Their return could have brought immense emotional value and meaningful stages of closure. It feels strange to see the Hitman game wrap up countless threads but ignore some of the most important figures in 47’s life. Their presence could have elevated the ending from powerful to unforgettable. Instead, it feels incomplete, as if a crucial piece of the puzzle was removed at the last minute.

Brilliant design that is occasionally dragged down by questionable logic

As much as I appreciate depth and realism, Hitman World of Assassination can break immersion in ridiculous ways. The disguise system, a core mechanic, can sometimes be absolutely ridiculous. NPCs frequently fail to recognize 47 even when he stands nose to nose with them in a disguise that clearly should not fool anyone. Characters who should immediately know each other struggle to identify the one bald man with a barcode permanently tattooed on his head. The most ridiculous part is when 47 disguises himself as Mr Pritchard. An ultra secure futuristic ICA facility, filled with cutting edge surveillance systems, retinal scanners, armed guards, data analysts, scientists and elite agents had no clue what this person looks like? Come on!

And the idea that 47 can instantly fit into anyone’s clothes like a shapeshifting mannequin makes no logical sense. There should have been certain limits to this- as not everyone has the same body size. It is one of the few aspects where the magic trick becomes too unrealistic.

While the disguise system remains clever mechanically, and probably the only game with this kind of mechanic, the lack of realism occasionally turns serious stealth into unintentional comedy. When immersion breaks, it breaks hard. Moments like that remind you that beneath excellent design lies a game still carrying the weight of old system limitations.

A mountain of content that keeps you playing long after the credits

One of the best things about Hitman World of Assassination is its incredible amount of content beyond the main missions. From bonus missions to side contracts to limited time targets, the Hitman World of Assassination trilogy keeps offering new challenges and encourages mastery rather than repetition. Side content can feel like like filler to some, but there are still many who love and enjoy it. It can also sharpens your understanding of maps and mechanics. Even after finishing the full story path, there is always another reason to return. It is rare to find a game that remains exciting for so long without becoming tedious.

IO Interactive deserves respect for continuing supporting Hitman World of Assassination despite working on their new James Bond game, with new content long after release. The rotating Elusive Targets, seasonal missions and fresh unlockable gear keep the experience alive without forcing players to buy constant DLC packs. It is rare today to see a studio offer ongoing updates and replayability without stuffing microtransactions everywhere, especially for a trilogy that is 5-10 years old. The dedication behind maintaining their content instead of milking it for money deserves genuine appreciation.

Final verdict on Hitman World of Assassination

Hitman World of Assassination is a triumph in game design, creativity and freedom. Plus you will love the story, especially if you have been following Agent 47 from the old games. It is a game where you feel like being inside a Hollywood action spy thriller movie. Plus, the game challenges the player’s mind instead of relying on empty adreline. It embraces patience over chaos and intelligence over aggression. No other stealth action game has ever delivered this level of depth or control. But at the same time, flaws exist and deserve acknowledgment. NPC behavior sometimes collapses into absurdity. The emotional heart of the Hitman trilogy is damaged by the unnecessary death of Lucas Grey. Although they tie up loose ends from the past games, failure to bring back Father Vittorio and Victoria leaves the ending feeling incomplete. Victoria could have played a very important role in helping Agent 47 and Grey take down the Providence- let us just we shall see more of her in future Hitman games, if they do come!

Rating : 9.5 out of 10 stars 

If you loved this game, you might also love Detroit Become Human. Check our review!

You can also check our ranking of all Hitman games from weakest to best!

You might also want to check our review of 007 First Light. 

Also check out the best 7 quotes from the Hitman trilogy!