The Hitman series has now been around for over 20 years, a number of mainline entries and a selection of mobile iterations have ensured that Agent 47 has stayed in forefront of our minds, but which is the best?

Here are all the mainline Hitman Games ranked…

Disclaimer: This list will not cover the spin-offs, pre-order bonuses or smaller mobile releases. 

1. Hitman 3

Rounding off the World Of Assassination trilogy,which includes; Hitman (2016), Hitman 2 and Hitman 3, is the fruits of labour of over 20 years work. Hitman 3 sees our favorite bald-headed killer-for-hire visit some of the most decadent and deliberately convoluted locales of the series. Be it; infiltrating the Burj Khalifa or the intricate alleyways of downtown Chongqing, China, the game has something for everyone. In Hitman 3 we are also treated to a number of locations which call to mind some of the series’ iconic locations, namely the vineyards of Chile from Blood Money and the gothic and foreboding architectural nightmare that is Beldingford Manor, seen in Hitman: Codename 47 and Hitman: Contracts.

The environments in Hitman 3 are absolutely stunning. Every location presents in painstaking detail and is full-to-the-brim with beautiful and brutal opportunities of murder. Whether you’re; pushing someone from the tallest building in the world, or rigging a photoshoot to electrocute your target. Hitman 3 understands the beauty of choice.

It makes the most of its current generation release by offering out-of-the-box 4K on any platform capable of offering it. It sounds fantastic due to the audio optimizations that recognize the type of sound system you have. There are also very few gameplay bugs that occur throughout. The bugs that do occur are generally cosmetic in nature, and often, add an element of humor to an otherwise straight-faced stealth-murder-sim.

The story is a twist-and-turn of intrigue and mystery as 47 tries to uncover the conspiracy and save his and his allies lives. Wrapping up perfectly by the end of play with one of the most satisfying since Blood Money, and conversely taking place in an environment that is highly reminiscent of the linear mission-structure of the much maligned, Hitman: Absolution (more on that later).

The murder-mayhem doesn’t stop once the story of Hitman ends. You can then sample the result of the ‘elusive’ contracts mechanic, which was added to the series for Hitman (2016). Unlike the moment-to-moment gameplay of Elusive Contracts which tasks you a target to eliminate and a time-limit in which to do it, the new mode Freelance allows you to choose to take down independent criminal organizations by eliminating person(s) of interest by re-visiting any of the locations from the entire trilogy that are on offer. It is recommended that a keen eye be kept on resource management, and unlocks are abound for your home-base and 47 himself, with each mission offering unique rewards for certain goals.

It is refreshing to see a developer offer more after the original narrative and even more-so, that the ongoing narrative feels in no way, disconnected from the intrigue and mystery of the campaign itself.

Hitman 3 is the breathtaking culmination of over 20 years of tweaks, refinements and alterations (not unlike 47’s suit itself). The result is the best and most rewarding experience to date – now, where did I put that fibre wire again?…

2. Hitman 2

Picking up from the finale of Hitman (2016), Hitman 2 sees 47 following the revelations from Hitman (2016). With the epononymous Lucas Grey now identifited by Providence. 47 embarks on a mission of sabotage by systematically eliminating Lucas Grey’s assets and benefactors with the hope of identifying the man himself and eliminating him. The story progresses at a steady pace and devivers a conclusion which leaves you begging for a third instalment.

Gameplay-wise, Hitman 2 doesn’t do anything that Hitman (2016) before it already did. The additions to Hitman in this second instalment come in the form of Sniper Assassin mode and Ghost mode. The former, sees 47 perched high above a target location, tasked with identifying and eliminating the targets on the screen. He must use his skills and expertise to evade suspicion and manage the alert level of the entire map by either eliminating witnesses, hiding bodies or creating accidents by way of just using his sniper rifle. The mode is a fun distraction from the Hitman formula, and never leaves you wanting more. Every stage has its own contained story, compete with its own nefarious cast of goons and miscreants. Suffering from the occasional bug doesn’t stop the Sniper Assassin mode being the best addition to the Hitman series since the revival of the Contracts mode in Hitman (2016).

The second mode added is the – now defunct – Ghost mode. This mode tasked players with competing in-real-time with other killers from around the world, to eliminate their target and extract from the mission first. Scores were dependent on method of killing, number of alerts, witnesses and lastly, time taken. The mode was removed recently with Io Interactive citing a ‘focus to singleplayer’ as the reason for this. The likelihood is they decided to cut support as the mode was buggy, unsupported by a great deal of broadband speeds and not very popular with the core audience of Hitman.

Hitman 2 takes the recipe from 2016’s Hitman, removes the episodic nature, adds 6 new locations and a hundred more modes of assassination to deliver the most comprehensive sandbox of stealth and assassination until the release of Hitman 3.

You could say, it’s a hit…

3. Hitman (2016)

Hitman finally returns to the game after a 4 year absence. In this soft  reboot of the franchise, 47 travels the world to identify the shadow client and put a stop to Providence and whatever it is they have planned. It’s a dime-store detective novel at best, and a hackneyed Starbucks Screenplay at its worst. The story wouldn’t finally be realized until the release of Hitman 3 some five-years later.

Originally releasing as an episodic monthly feature, every missions was purchasable separately with the hopes that the smaller entry price would gain more audience members for 47’s antics by publisher Square Enix. This proved to be disastrous for Square Enix and the game’s developers and their relationship was ended in 2017 citing ‘funding and return’ issues and the separation decision. Hitman’s life hung in the balance with this deal falling through. Luckily, IOI managed to gain another publisher for the fantastic Hitman 2. Thus, Hitman’s life – ironically – was saved.

This new entry into the series, saw the sandbox idea which had been in production for over 15 years, finally coming to the fore. Hitman (2016)  apes Hitman: Blood Money by making the locales more extravagant, the opportunities for murder more plentiful and finally re-introduces the dry wit which we have come to love 47 for.

Hitman (2016) takes full advantage of the pre-4k and full-HD world of display. Every location is presented in gorgeous detail and every character model reacts and moves in exactly the way it should. The opportunities which are on offer for 47 to do ‘his thing’ range from dressing as a runway model in order to assassinate a target who barely moves from one location, to impersonating a political prisoner and assassinating a high-ranking general in his own military complex.

One thing is for sure, this showed the world, Hitman is back.

4. Hitman Blood Money

Largely seen as the series at its peak, Hitman: Blood Money  is the first foray into the world of mystery and intrigue that would run through the series like blood through a vein. The story sees 47 being slowly pursued by an FBI agent in-tandem with a newspaper columnist, as 47 struggles to hunt down and destroy the newcomers to the scene, The Franchise. Every mission takes 47 one step closer to a climax which people still discuss today and one of the worst ‘boss’ battles in any game to date.

Hitman: Blood Money is the first Hitman game to be take place almost entirely in the United States. With the lazer focus on the United States as a backdrop, one might think that the game lacks diversity and variation in environments, however this couldn’t be further from the truth. Hitman: Blood Money understands the importance of landmarks and features them heavily throughout to ensure that the player is always aware of their position in the game world.

Blood Money changed the face of the series by starting to include the accidental kills which 47 has become so famous for. Whether you are taking an active role by dismantling a light fixture as someone passes underneath it, or replacing a prop for a live firearm and watching the ensuing chaos, Hitman: Blood Money  has something for everyone. Along with the accidental kill introduction, Blood Money also adds a more comprehensive rating system in the form of newspaper clippings at the end of every mission. The clippings tie-in perfectly with the new notoriety system which can see players spotted long before they reach their target just by being reckless in a previous mission and not removing video evidence or leaving witness to kills.

Hitman: Blood Money is by no stretch a perfect game, but what it is, is the most fun you can have in the series up to this point. With its ingrained quirk, satirical observations and dry wit throughout, this is Hitman showing it still deserves a seat at the table.

5. Hitman Contracts

The darkest game in the series yet, Hitman: Contracts is less of a continuation of the series and more of a ‘greatest hits’ collection which take place in 47’s head as he slowly bleeds to death in a hotel room in France.

Contracts offers the most variation in the series so far by adding the possibility of poisoning food/drink and being literally at the other end of the level by the time the target expires.

Contracts is the most gritty and grainy looking instalment into the series. Whether this graphical choice is due to software limitations or whether it is made purposefully in order to add to the ethereal state in which 47 finds himself, one thing is for sure. It makes the game more memorable and stands out within the series due to it.

Hitman: Contracts hit the market in a world where Splinter Cell  had already dominated and stealth games were struggling to break through to the market. But what Contracts did, is show the market that audiences will always choose free-will and exploration over linear-narratives when given the choice.

Hitman: Contracts  looks as good as a game from 2004 can. It is buggy in places, and doesn’t always mesh together on future playthroughs. Further to this, the locations can become forgettable after the third-or-fourth playthrough. By the end of Contracts you will definitely have chosen a favourite mission and will find yourself returning time and time again to explore its nooks and crannies.

The last thing to say is, with Hitman: Contracts, nothing is ever as it seems, go back to the hotel and take a second look in that mirror…but don’t have nightmares…

6. Hitman Go

Possibly the most understandable evolution of the series, Hitman: Go is a turn-based puzzle game which incorporates everything we have come to know and love about the series so far.

Every mission tasks with you eliminating a target by bypassing security systems and personnel by evasion or distraction.

The levels in Hitman: Go  offer the variation we have come to expect throughout the series and every diarama scene is unique to the last, with even the staff changing from level-to-level.

Being that Hitman is a giant puzzle with every level being its own unique and dynamic board of play Hitman: Go’s existence makes sense.

Seeming at first like a cash-grab and way to throw something into the market to keep Hitman in conversation. Hitman: Go evolves into an addictive low-commitment affair which will keep you coming back, again and again. And like with all Hitman games, no-one gets it right the first time, so experimentation is key.

7. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

The first time which console gamers could get their hands on the bald headed braniac brute, is Hitman 2: Silent Assassin.

Essentially a higher-effort port of Codename 47, Silent Assassin evolves the story of 47 namely as a man on the road to redemption – complete with religious imagery – but like so many before him, his work catches up with him. Having been taken in and retiring from the Agency, 47 finds comfort in the company of a local italian catholic church priest named Father Vittorio. 47 takes up work as a groundskeeper and tries to move on from his past, unfortunately, his past comes knocking. Father Vittorio is assaulted and taken hostage. Once again, 47 is dragged back into the world of assassination.

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin takes 47 across the globe with the narrative wrapping up beautifully in one of the most complex and mind-bending finales seen in the series.

Taking the nature of ‘rough draft’ Hitman: Codename 47 and refining it to deliver the formula we know and love. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin  introduces using disguises to change the nature of stealth which players had come to know, by allowing players to hide in plain sight, rather than in vents and ditches as with the Splinter Cell series.

Silent Assassin allows the use of poisoning targets and assembling simple traps. Players can even employ a ‘guns blazing’ technique to achieve their goals, but obviously, the game is much more rewarding when played as the calculated killer 47 is supposed to be.

8. Hitman: Codename 47

Releasing in 2000 among third/first person thriller affairs like Deus Ex and The World Is Not Enough. The foundations for the series such as; taking disguises to gain entry to restricted areas, employment of in-plain-sight stealth and sniping-from-cover.

Codename 47 rewards the most efficient players who choose to avoid killing civilians and getting spotted. 47 is not made for out-in-the-open combat and the game understands this.

With the variety of the locations, the fantastic beginning of the saga and the groundbreaking nature of the gameplay mechanics should solidify this as the best in the series, however releasing in 2000 dates the mechanics features and the game feels unpolished and unfinished at times.

9. Hitman: Absolution

Releasing in 2021, and publishing under Square Enix. Hitman: Absolution is the most dividing games in the series. Where everyone accepts that Blood Money is the pinnacle of the series before the World Of Assassination trilogy, not everyone can agree where Absolution stands in the context of all Hitman games ranked: best to worst .

Absolution veered away from the established narrative throughout the series so far and headed in a much-more action-movie oriented direction. It added the notion of 47’s version of ‘detective vision’ – previously seen in the Arkham series. This allows 47 to see through walls and predict movements of enemies by holding a button. It also allows 47 to bow his head slightly when under suspicion in order to evade detection. The Instinct bar fills when completing objectives in the mission, silently taking down enemies and finding clever ways past enemies. The final thing Absolution introduced is the ‘point shooting’ mechanic which allows 47 to mark and execute targets once his instinct bar fills, this mechanic lends itself more to memories of Splinter Cell: Conviction than any Hitman game that came before.

The missions in Absolution were largely linear affairs which tasked 47 to get from ‘a to b’. When 47 is afforded the opportunity to assassinate targets, the number of methods and means pale in comparison to any Hitman game which came before or after it. With one notable exception. The King Of Chinatown mission in Absolution shows what this game could have been. Multiple ways to eliminate the target, a tight schedule to keep and a number of costumes – all with their individual pros and cons – , it had it all. Unfortunately, the rest of the game did not follow the example.

The most egregious example of this is the sequence where 47 must evade the police, it features a helicopter chase reminiscent of the wall-crawling chopper evasion from Spiderman (2000).

Combining the lack of stealth opportunities, the harsh punishments for being caught and finally, the lack of a meaningful narrative. Hitman: Absolution is the anti-thesis of everything we have come to know and love about Mr. 47 and his murderous mischief and mishaps.