12. Hitman 2 (PC, PS4, Xbox One) – 2018

Hitman 2 Miami gameplay E3 2018

The scary, notorious, dangerous – bald – assassin is back at it again. IO Interactive’s Hitman 2 is a thoroughly enjoyable game which brings out the ‘creative’ killer in us all. Continuing the story from 2016’s Hitman, this entry from the famed series of games takes the ever-deadly Agent 47 to a series of missions to kill people – it doesn’t get any more Hitman than that, try as you might. The game balances stealth and seriousness with over-the-top and wildly brutal executions that keep replay value pretty high, much like my personal favorite in the franchise, Hitman: Blood Money.

For those new to the series, you play as Agent 47, an emotionless, monotone and slick-dressing lab-bred assassin with a penchant for stealing clothes and taking over the identities of different people, ranging from armed guards to garbage collectors – even so far as clowns and hippo whisperers. This wild contrast between the seriousness of a contract killer mixed in with throwing fish to knock out unsuspecting henchmen, all the while wearing an event mascot is incredibly fun, even more so for the players looking for a whimsical heck of a time.

Similar to MGSV in that: you plan out your missions beforehand, and various opportunities that reveal themselves in the environment in order to reach your goal. Stealth is rewarded and encouraged, making for a challenging yet extremely satisfying experience.

Better than MGSV in that: the game embraces a more whimsical side while still telling a gripping story. The inclusion of disguises makes for more replay value, while a veritable smorgasbord of weapons is still at your disposal if ever you want to live up to Agent 47’s quite psychotic appearance.

Each Mission is A Sandbox: Hitman 2 features six different locations, all with different sets of opportunities to eliminate your target. These come in the form of stories, which reveal themselves once Agent 47 is close to them.

Master of Disguise: Each location is populated by various NPCs which hold key disguises vital to some missions. Pictured above, 47 takes the disguise of an army official to get close to one of his targets.

‘Elusive Targets’: Just like its predecessor, Hitman 2 includes time-limited targets known as ‘Elusive Targets’. These targets disappear after a certain amount of time, introducing another form of challenge for players. Hitman 2’s first elusive target, featured above, is Mark Faba, voiced and modeled after actor Sean Bean. Aptly and ironically nicknamed ‘The Undying,’ 47 is tasked with eliminating Faba in 10 days before the mission ultimately ends.