Hitman

Hitman is a stealth-action video game developed by IO Interactive and released episodically in 2016. It is the first entry in the World of Assassination trilogy, followed by Hitman 2 in 2018 and Hitman 3 in 2021. The game introduced a recurring version of Agent 47, the genetically engineered assassin who has led the series since its 2000 debut, Hitman: Codename 47.

The story begins with a prologue at an International Contract Agency training facility. Through two training missions, the player learns how 47 uses disguises, environmental opportunities, and social spaces to reach targets. A later framing sequence shows 47 meeting ICA handler Diana Burnwood, with flashbacks presenting earlier assignments. The main campaign follows 47 as he investigates the shadowy organization known as Providence while carrying out contracts commissioned through the ICA. Its six principal locations are Paris, Sapienza, Marrakesh, Bangkok, Colorado, and Hokkaido. Each location contains a large, densely populated mission space rather than a single linear route.

The missions revolve around specific targets and opportunities. In Paris, 47 infiltrates a fashion show at the Palais de Walewska to eliminate Viktor Novikov and Dalia Margolis. Sapienza places him in the coastal Italian town to pursue Silvio Caruso and Francesca De Santis, while also destroying a prototype virus hidden in an underground laboratory. In Marrakesh, he targets Swedish banker Claus Strandberg inside a consulate and General Reza Zaydan at a military compound. The campaign’s later assignments include a Bangkok hotel, a Colorado militia compound, and a technologically advanced private hospital in Hokkaido.

A defining feature of the 2016 release is its mission structure. Players can observe routines, find disguises, tamper with objects, and exploit scripted “opportunities” that reveal particular ways to approach a target. A successful disguise grants access to restricted areas, but suspicious behavior or close scrutiny can expose 47. The same mission can be replayed with different equipment, starting locations, challenges, and approaches. This design supports experimentation rather than requiring one prescribed solution.

Hitman’s release history was unusual. IO Interactive and publisher Square Enix launched it in episodes during 2016, with locations arriving over several months. The format allowed the developers to expand missions and add features after launch. A complete first season was later sold as a single package. In 2017, Square Enix announced its separation from IO Interactive; the studio became independent and retained the Hitman rights.

The game received praise for its intricate levels and replayability. Its design established the foundation for the trilogy’s ongoing location-based model, in which expansive missions, recurring challenges, and new content kept familiar destinations playable long after the initial campaign.