10 out of 10
The Art of the Kill, Perfected
This isn't just a game-it's a masterclass in patience, precision, and beautifully controlled chaos. With Hitman (2016), IO Interactive redefined what it means to be an assassin in a modern sandbox. Gone were the linear corridors of past entries. In their place? Massive, living environments. Dozens of ways to eliminate your target. And one core rule:
"Make it look like an accident."
The Setup: Agent 47, Back in the Shadows
After a long hiatus and the more story-focused Hitman: Absolution, this 2016 reboot brought Agent 47 back to his roots-but better. He's cold, calculating, and silent as death. Each level is a puzzle box disguised as a luxury resort, embassy, fashion show, or fortress.
You're given two targets. Maybe three. That's it.
How you take them down? That's on you.
The Gameplay: Murder as Sandbox Art
Disguises - Become anyone: a model, a chef, a drummer, a bodyguard. Every outfit changes your access and approach.
Opportunities - Scripted but dynamic story paths that open up unique kills: poisonings, electrocutions, chandelier drops, even launching a guy into a jet engine.
Instinct Mode - Track enemies, locate items, and see through walls like a true ghost.
Tools of the Trade - Fiber wire, coins, screwdrivers, silenced pistols, expired sushi. If it's in the environment, it's probably lethal.
And the best part? You can mess up. A plan can go sideways-and the game rewards you for improvising.
The Levels: Big, Beautiful, Brutal
Each mission is a fully-realized world:
Paris (The Sanguine Fashion Show) - A glittering event of vanity and betrayal. You can assassinate a model while pretending to be him.
Sapienza - A sun-soaked Italian town hiding a bioweapon lab beneath it. It's basically a murder vacation.
Marrakesh - A riot-torn city with a dictator, a banker, and a mess of politics.
Bangkok, Colorado, Hokkaido - Each more dangerous, intricate, and stylish than the last.
No game before this gave you such detailed, replayable maps where everything matters.
The Structure: A New Format, Bold and Smart
The game was released episodically, which at first raised eyebrows. But it worked. Each level felt like an event. IO Interactive wanted you to replay missions-over and over-mastering every method, unlocking new gear, and challenging yourself with:
Escalation Missions
Elusive Targets (one-shot real-time contracts)
User-created Contracts
This turned Hitman (2016) into a living, evolving game. And it still holds up today.
The Tone: Dark, Cool, Self-Aware
Agent 47's deadpan seriousness paired with absurd assassination methods (death by exploding golf ball, anyone?) creates a tone that balances slick professionalism with dark humor. The story is subtle, slow-burning, and becomes more important in later entries-but the real narrative is how you kill.
Verdict:
Hitman (2016) is where the modern trilogy began-and it's a flawless return to form. Rich environments. Limitless creativity. And a central gameplay loop that never gets old. This is what happens when a studio knows exactly who its character is and builds the perfect world around him.
Silent. Precise. Brilliant.
10 out of 10.
The world is your weapon-and you are the ghost in its shadow.
