The Complete List of Hitman Games in Chronological & Release Order

Hitman is one of the best stealth shooters available. The series dates back more than 20 years and keeps fans returning for more. The most recent trilogy, World of Assassination, has been wildly successful and brought in more players than ever before. Here’s a look at the franchise and its games.  

Hitman: Codename 47 (2000)

The first game in the franchise, Hitman: Codename 47, introduces players to Agent 47 as he awakens in a basement. After getting the basics of training down, players are sent to different countries to carry out assassinations. The gameplay rewards stealth and going slowly, with 47 taking on disguises of guards and civilians. While the game set the foundation for the series, its reviews were generally mixed. It sold 500,000 copies at release but was titled a “deeply flawed masterpiece.” Although the reviews lacked, fans enjoyed the stealth nature of the game and role-playing as a hitman with a license to kill.   

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (2002)

The direct sequel to Codename 47, Silent Assassin, follows Agent 47 retired from the ICA. After a series of events, 47 returns to the field to track down the criminals who kidnapped his one and only friend. The game keeps the same mechanics of using stealth, disguising yourself as dead NPCs, and avoiding suspicion but adds its own mechanics. Players have the option of using a first-person view and have multiple ways of completing a mission. This freedom the game offers the player would become a staple in the franchise. 

It received much better reviews than its predecessor and sold over 3.5 million copies in its lifetime. Making it seven times more successful than Codename 47. The game was nominated for numerous awards, including “Game of the Year.” There was controversy around killing a religious group in-game, which was later removed in the Windows and Gamecube versions.    

Hitman: Contracts (2004)

Hitman: Contracts is an interesting game, as it’s both a remake and a sequel. The game features gameplay elements and mechanics from Silent Assassin and incorporates them into levels found in Codename 47. While not as popular as Hitman 2, the game received positive reviews with some criticism. However, the graphics and dark tone of the game were praised by fans and critics. It went on to sell over 2 million copies in its lifetime.    

Hitman: Blood Money (2006)

Considered by many fans to be the best game in the franchise, Blood Money puts players back into Agent 47’s shoes. This time the assassin is out for the Franchise, a rival organization to ICA that hopes to make its own cloning technology for assassins. New features added to the game make for one of the most in-depth and engaging games ever. Players can now dispose of bodies, climb obstacles, use NPCs as human shields, and make assassinations look like accidents. The accidental deaths would continue in the series as a recurring option for players. 

The game was surrounded by controversy due to its advertisements depicting death and murder, which led to more publicity. It has sold over 2 million copies in its lifetime, with its replayability praised by fans. It was also featured in a trilogy pack with Silent Assassin and Hitman: Contracts.      

Hitman: Absolution (2012)

While Blood Money is considered one of the best, Hitman: Absolution takes the opposite approach among fans. The game is seen as a step backward in the franchise due to its limiting nature. Fans enjoyed the previous entries’ options and possibilities for completing a mission and assassinations. Absolution makes stealth much harder and forces players down a specific path. Critics have noted that the disguise system rarely works, so you’ll have to restart the level multiple times before completion. 

While the reception among fans of the series was poor, the game was nominated for multiple awards and sold 3.6 million copies. The sales may have exceeded its predecessors, but it failed to meet expectations.    

Hitman Go (2014)

The first mobile game in the series, Hitman Go, takes a new and unique approach to the series. While previous games were third-person action games with open environments, Hitman Go is a turn-based puzzle game. Agent 47 returns and is dropped on a map consisting of grids and paths. After the player moves, the enemies and other NPCs will move around the board. The levels get more complex as you progress, making planning and thinking ahead critical. 

While fans were worried that a change in formula would only hurt the game and series, many found it to be a welcomed surprise. The graphics and boards were aesthetically pleasing, with its gameplay loop praised by critics. While no sequels have been made, it did lead to other IPs getting the same format, including Tomb Raider and Deus Ex.   

Hitman: Sniper (2015)

Along with Hitman Go, Hitman: Sniper is a mobile game that plays with the concept of location. Agent 47 is stationary in-game with only a sniper at his disposal. While he cannot be attacked, 47 can fail a mission if he fails a shot or alerts the people around the target. Players can achieve victory in multiple ways and are encouraged to try different execution methods. Like Hitman Go, the game was met with skepticism but praised for its puzzles and level design. The game had a sequel released in 2022, titled Hitman Sniper: The Shadows, that played on the same mechanics and gameplay style. 

Hitman (2016)

Hitman is the first game in the World of Assassination trilogy and was created in response to Hitman: Absolute. While its predecessor was criticized for its disguise mechanic, stealth, and linear missions, Hitman listened and responded to feedback. The game has large open-world sandboxes for players to explore, with seemingly endless options to kill targets. It is also the first game in the series to feature episodes, which would become a standard in later titles. The developers also improved upon AI and world simulation. 

The game received positive reviews from fans and critics praising its return to form and new episodic worlds. It was nominated and won multiple awards and has had over 13 million players since its release.    

Hitman 2 (2018)

Hitman 2 follows the story from Hitman, with Agent 47 hunting down the Shadow Client he’s been working for. The game kept the large open-world sandboxes with six levels to play from. While changing locations and maps, the gameplay was relatively the same but provided a clear, polished experience. It received positive reviews at release but was harshly affected by the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 around the same time. It was nominated for multiple awards and led to the third and final game in the series.      

Hitman 3 (2021)

Hitman 3 is currently the end of the World of Assassination trilogy. The game follows the same format as its predecessors but puts more emphasis on the story, as it would be concluding the series. The game is the most successful entry in the franchise and led the developers to add the previous two game’s levels into Hitman 3 free of charge.  

In 2023, Freelancer mode was introduced, which gave roguelike elements to the game. Players would travel around to different locations and perform assassinations, slowly gaining and building their arsenal. They would be sent back to the safe house upon failure and lose all their equipped items. Fans have praised the mode for its replayability and challenge game mode that made failure even harsher. 

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Screenshot from Hitman 3..