The Hitman series is one I think everyone can enjoy. Its masterful stealth and puzzle gameplay in an open world setting is hard to dislike. The purpose of the game is to take out your target while gaining the least amount of attention. This can be done by hiding in the shadows or dressing up in different disguises. You can also use a wide variety of guns to soothe that FPS itch some gamers have. So, what’s not to like?
Well, there’s a bit, actually. What I said about the series’ "masterful" gameplay is only true for a handful of games. Some games in the series don’t even have those essential elements that make the game recognizably Hitman. Although most will make you want to stay up all night with a mouse or controller in hand, some games in the series are just not that interesting.
So, here is my review and ranking of all 10 official Hitman games, from worst to best.
10) Hitman Sniper
Released in 2015 for Android and iOS
Coming in at the bottom of the list, Hitman: Sniper is a mobile game where, as the name suggests, you have to take out your target with only a sniper rifle. It sounds fun, but since it’s a mobile game, it lacks interest and controllability, as you have to aim and move your scope with your fingers.
The game has a few of the essential elements, like Diana Burnwood letting you know why your target needs a bullet to the head, but that’s about it. There’s not much opportunity to take your target out in creative ways, and since the levels are all pretty much the same, it gets repetitive fast. If you love sniper games, then this game might be for you. But if you’re willing to spend money on a mobile Hitman game, then there’s another game on this list that might be worth more of your time.
Rating: 10/100
9) Hitman: Codename 47
Released in 2000 for PC
The title image for Hitman: Codename 47. This game is iconic since it was the first game in the franchise, but returning to it after modern installments shows how outdated the game is.
Hitman: Codename 47 is the first game in the series and was the starting point of the 22-year franchise. It introduced Agent 47 and all of the iconic Hitman elements like stealth, disguises, and taking out your targets in creative ways. Why is it so low on the list, then?
For starters, Codename 47 is a 2000s game, and it very much shows. The graphics are standard for the time, with every character looking like they were made out of nothing but circles and triangles, but they didn’t age as well into nostalgia like other games. The gameplay can feel awkward and clunky at times, and the open-world levels are quite small. Though it pioneered many of today's popular gameplay mechanics, they feel outdated with the later games.
I think the best thing this game has going for it is nostalgia, which isn’t enough to place it higher on the list.
Rating: 35/100
8) Hitman: Absolution
Released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC
Ah, what to say about Hitman: Absolution. Absolution is the fifth game in the Hitman franchise, yet that’s not to say that it’s a step up from the four before it.
The graphics are beautiful, with each level easily allowing the player to immerse themselves into the game. Each level feels alive with crowds of people and great sound design, yet we all know that looks can be deceiving.
When Hitman: Codename 47 was first released, it took a different approach to the normal style of stealth games at the time, yet Absolution takes a step back into tradition. The levels are smaller and follow a more scripted approach, mostly allowing the player to follow a singular path to their target. Also, the story is terrible, as the idea of being a hitman takes a backseat as you kill through personal vendettas held by Diana and Agent 47.
Hitman: Absolution is an objective step backwards in the franchise, especially since it came directly after Hitman: Blood Money, which is one of the most beloved games in the franchise.
Rating: 50/100
7) Hitman GO
Released in 2014 for Android and iOS
Hitman GO is what you would get if you stripped the Hitman franchise to its barest components and laid them out on a table, and it works. GO is a mobile Hitman game that can’t even be compared to Sniper, as it ditches trying to be an extension of the main franchise and is instead its own unique thing.
In this game, you have targets to take out and civilians to watch out for, yet it’s all displayed as a board game in a clean, white room. You can equip guns and don new disguises and, in true family game-night fashion, you move Agent 47 through a grid. It’s everything you would need in a Hitman game yet reduced to a size that can be played on your phone and taken on the go.
Hitman GO is a fun and original spin on the franchise, but picking up a main-series game is always going to be a more enjoyable experience. Unless it’s Absolution.
Rating: 60/100
6) Hitman: Contracts
Released in 2004 for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox
The title image for Hitman: Contracts. As the third game in the franchise, Contracts works in filling the gap between the first two games and developing the franchise farther.
Now we are diving into the Hitman games that are not so easy to rank. However, Hitman: Contracts deserves its spot at #6 on this list.
The story follows an injured Agent 47 as he recounts the various missions he went on in Codename 47 and branches the gap in story between the first and second games, just with a darker tone that works in its favor. Also, it doesn’t add too many new elements than there were in the previous games, just refines them.
The game excels in its level design, as each level encourages the player to explore and check out every corner of the map. The player is supposed to use the clues gathered from wandering around instead of following some pre-outlined story. Although the liberty of exploration sounds great, it leaves the player to a system of trial and error until they finally get it right.
Still, Contracts is a fantastic Hitman game and is a good example of how great these games can be. You might just have to die and restart the level a few times.
Rating: 70/100
5) Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Released in 2002 for PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin took everything great about Codename 47 and ran with it to make its spectacular second part. It mastered the stealth gameplay the franchise is known for and encourages the player to, like the title suggests, be a silent assassin instead of running into each level guns-blazing.
While that’s definitely still an option, the new rating system in Silent Assassin will label you as a “mass murderer” upon completing the level. Not the most effective way to complete the level but hey, everybody has their own strategy.
One of the only complaints I have about Silent Assassin is that the AI is incredibly unpredictable. You can replay a level the exact same way and get different results. It can be very frustrating, but in a way the spotty AI only encourages replaying the level.
Hitman: Silent Assassin is a beloved entry among fans of the series, though not as loved as the next game on this list.
Rating: 75/100
4) Hitman: Blood Money
Released in 2006 for PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox and Xbox 360, and PC
The title image for Hitman: Blood Money. As the most iconic and beloved game in the franchise, Blood Money is the best out of the original five games.
Ah, what not to say about Hitman: Blood Money. Let’s put it this way – Blood Money is what you would get if you stripped everything bad from the games before it and ran with nothing but the good parts. Out of the original five games, Blood Money is the objective best.
The story follows an FBI agent as they narrate the life of Agent 47 to a journalist. Blood Money has one of the best stories in the entire franchise, as it puts a spin on the traditional tale and tells it in a highly interesting way.
The levels are very atmospheric as they’re dark and leave the player to their own devices. The entire game feels like an authentic Hitman experience. Almost every method of assassination has various animations and there are realistic mechanics that even the newer games don't have. It’s a true sandbox experience.
The only reason Blood Money is not in the top three is because it’s not as fun to replay as the newer games. Also, it’s not as polished, but that only drives home the nostalgia.
Rating: 85/100
3) Hitman (2016)
Released in 2016 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Linux
Now we’re dipping into the true best of the best of the Hitman franchise. Hitman 2016 served as a soft reboot of the series that started in 2000 and was the first in the new “Word of Assassination” trilogy. The series definitely needed a change after Absolution, but the change felt natural and refreshing while sticking to the series’ roots.
The game is everything anyone could want in a Hitman game. The levels are beautifully built and endlessly interesting, as you can replay the same level multiple times and still have it feel like a new experience. The player has the freedom to progress through the level as they see fit. The levels are huge too, so it really encourages exploration and finding out things for yourself.
The graphics are amazing, the gameplay is clean, and like I said, it’s endlessly interesting. The only thing that doesn’t work in the game’s favor is its episodic nature, but the game is still one of the best in the series and is an amazing example of a great Hitman game.
Rating: 90/100
2) Hitman 2
Released in 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, and Google Stadia.
Hitman 2 served as the second installment in the “World of Assassination” trilogy and the second to last game in the franchise. It picks up directly after the first Hitman game and continues the story from before, though it drops the disliked episodic formula of the first game. You can tell that the developers listened to their fans.
The game is basically flawless, minus the occasional glitch that is more funny than anything. Each level is designed better than the last, and in my opinion, they are the best in the trilogy. Every location Agent 47 travels to is beautiful and full of life, and they again encourage the player to explore. It’s another true sandbox experience, as the player has endless ways to take out their target. More than anything, Hitman 2 encourages the player to be creative.
You can also play through all the levels in Hitman 2016 in Hitman 2 with the updated graphics and mechanics. Hitman 2 is almost the perfect Hitman game. It would be, if Hitman 3 never came out.
Rating: 95/100
1) Hitman 3
Released in 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X, Google Stadia, and Nintendo Switch
To no one’s surprise, Hitman 3 takes the cake at the top of this list. As the third installment of the “World of Assassination” trilogy and the last in the franchise, I truly believe it is the best Hitman game.
Hitman 3 is freeing, allowing the player to explore their creative side as they traverse through each masterfully crafted level. This game offers some of the most beautiful and largest levels in the franchise, really putting its amazing graphics to the test. The game also added a camera for Agent 47 to keep at all times to allow the player to take pictures, which is a smart addition because of how great the game looks.
You can also play every level from the entire trilogy in Hitman 3 with its new features and updated graphics, so it’s really like having all the games in one. Everything about the game is perfect in my eyes, and with the constant addition of new items, outfits, and elusive targets, it keeps the game fresh more than a year after release.
Hitman 3 is the perfect Hitman game. It is a culmination of every game before it, taking the best parts out of every one of them and throwing away the bad. There are hours upon hours packed in this game, and it’s a perfect ending to the trilogy and the franchise so far.
Rating: 100/100
The Hitman franchise is one I highly recommend checking out if you like stealth or shooter games. Everyone can find something they enjoy out of these games, whether it be the stealth gameplay or puzzle aspect of some of the levels. Agent 47 is a name that has spanned 22 years and counting, so I hope you enjoy these games as much as I do.
Check out these other articles!
Top 11 Games Like Hitman (Games Better Than Hitman In Their Own Way)
[Top 8] Hitman 2016 Best Levels In The Game
[Top 15] Best 3rd Person Shooters With Great Gameplay
