The Hitman series has been around for over two decades and has seen eight mainline entries and two unique mobile phone spin-off titles. Stealth games have often been referred to as the thinking person's action game, but developer IO Interactive has taken this kind of stealth to another level with its Hitman series.
The scope of Hitman's level design is far beyond what has been seen in other stealth games like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid. Levels require thought and patience, and players can spend hours exploring the intricacies of each mission to find the best ways to eliminate Agent 47’s targets and achieve the Silent Assassin rank at the end of each level.
Note
We are going to include compilations, just to be thorough. People are also likely to pick up one of these packages.
Updated January 7, 2026, by Mark Sammut: The Hitman series continues to be as popular as ever, and World of Assassination's live-service approach has generally been top-notch. While there are no new games to add, we have put together a quick picks section with some recommendations.
Quick Picks: Best Hitman Games To Play Right Now
Before we dive into the individual games, we have put together a short section that provides quick recommendations across a range of categories. If you are just looking for something to play right now, or are new to the franchise and don't know where to start, the following table should help.
| Category | Game | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best Hitman Game For Beginners | Hitman: World of Assassination | In 2026, World of Assassination is an absolute no-brainer, as the compilation comes with a ridiculous amount of content. They are also the most polished Hitman games by quite a margin. |
| Best Hitman Game (Not Counting Compilations) | Hitman 3 | Perfects the formula started by its two immediate predecessors, which refined Hitman to a point of near-perfection. |
| Best Classic Hitman Game | Hitman: Blood Money | Although the first three games have their merits, Blood Money is the oldest game that has aged well; even in 2006, it was far ahead of its predecessors. |
| Best Hitman Action Game | Hitman: Absolution | Guns blazing should be the last resort in a Hitman game, but Absolution encourages you to go down that route a bit more than the rest of the series. |
| Best Hitman Mobile Game | Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal | A solid adaptation of Blood Money that gives you a console Hitman experience on the go. If you want a game made specifically for mobile devices, Hitman Go is the best. |
Hitman: Codename 47
The First Entry In The Hitman Series Is A Rough But Solid Effort
Hitman: Codename 47 was released in 2000 and is the first game in the series. It laid the groundwork for what would become a great series, using several mechanics like taking and using disguises, the concealed sniper rifle, and the need for stealth.
Just like its newest titles, the game rewards the most cost-effective methods to complete a mission and gives penalties for killing civilians or getting spotted by witnesses.
Unfortunately, many of these mechanics feel antiquated by modern standards, making the game feel unpolished. The first title was never released on another platform aside from the PC, and even though it had something of a retelling through Hitman Contracts, a remake of Codename 47 using the current engine would go down well with fans.
Hitman: Sniper
A Mobile Spin-Off From Hitman 2's Assassin Mode
Hitman: Sniper was released in 2015 for iOS and Android systems. It is a spin-off that works similarly to the Hitman Sniper Assassin mode in Hitman 2 and the stand-alone Sniper Challenge mode for Hitman: Absolution.
Hitman: Sniper plays like a gallery shooter with several objectives for the player to complete their mission. The player can create openings by setting up traps, using distractions, and other mechanics that Hitman fans will enjoy. However, the touchscreen controls are often at odds with the zoom function, and players will be frustrated by accidentally shooting their guns when trying to use the scope.
Hitman 2: Sniper Assassin
The Sniper Assassin Mode From Hitman 2
The Sniper Assassin mode included in Hitman 2 is now part of the Legacy pack in Hitman 3, and the package consists of separate missions that place Agent 47 at a single vantage point using only a sniper rifle. While that may sound simplistic on paper, the levels retain their sandbox feel and allow 47 to cause as much chaos and distractions as possible.
In addition to the main objectives and targets, there are optional challenges like causing environmental accidents and shooting suspended objects, such as chandeliers or heavy wall-mounted speaker,s to fall on a target, killing them instantly. Making these hits look like an accident can lead to hilarious and memorable moments.
Hitman 2: Sniper Assassin – Knight And Stone
Co-Op Gameplay With Two New Characters In The Hitman Universe
The Knight and Stone missions were part of Hitman 2’s standaloneonline co-op gameplay missions. Up to three players could take part in sniper missions where players take on the roles of Agent 47, Knight, and Stone.
Like the Sniper Assassin missions, the characters remain in place, but the environments are still sandboxes that can be manipulated. The missions offer bonuses for synchronized kills, and the new characters Knight and Stone are far more talkative than 47, offering players a new dynamic. Unfortunately, these missions are no longer available, as the developers focus on the single-player aspects of Hitman 3 instead, but fans are hopeful that it will make a comeback.
Hitman 3 VR
Immersive VR Action Through The Eyes Of Agent 47
On the PlayStation 4 – or the PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility – Hitman 3 also comes with a fantastic VR mode, which is currently exclusive to the PSVR. This mode allows players to play the game through the eyes of Agent 47 and is incredibly immersive. Thanks to the VR mode, players now seem to have a new line of sight that allows 47 to observe the environment in brand-new ways. Moreover, it is one of the best-looking games on the PSVR, which is surprising considering the size and scale of the missions.
The Hitman VR mode is now available on the PC as part of Hitman 3's year 2 plan. Unfortunately, as a direct port of the PSVR version, it lacks any enhancements that many PC players would have expected, and it's a choppy experience by comparison, impacting half of its audience. Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded was released for the Meta Quest 3, but it had bugs and gameplay issues.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
