Game · in order
Hitman Games in Order
All eight Hitman games in order, from the 2000 classic Codename 47 through the modern World of Assassination trilogy now bundled as one connected package.
Hitman Games in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Hitman splits cleanly into two eras, and knowing which one you're holding makes all the difference. The classic run begins with Hitman: Codename 47 (2000) and moves through Silent Assassin, Contracts, Blood Money, and Absolution. These are standalone stealth puzzles where you slip into the suit of Agent 47, a barcoded clone assassin, and find creative ways to make deaths look like accidents. Blood Money is widely considered the high point of this stretch.
The modern era is the World of Assassination trilogy: Hitman (2016), Hitman 2 (2018), and Hitman 3 (2021). IO Interactive built these as one continuous platform, and they are now sold together as "Hitman World of Assassination" following the 2023 rebrand. You can import the earlier two games' levels into the latest entry, so the whole sandbox lives under one roof.
Release order is the default here and the most natural way to understand how the design evolved. It also tracks story order closely, because each game's present-day events advance roughly chronologically across the classic run. The one thing worth knowing: Contracts (2004) is built around flashback missions that revisit Codename 47's old assignments, but its present-day wraparound actually sits late, continuing directly from Blood Money's Paris opera hit. So the individual missions are memories, while the framing is among the latest moments of the classic era.
If you only want to play one thing, start with the modern trilogy via World of Assassination, then circle back to Blood Money for the classic flavor. The reboot is self-contained and doesn't require the classics, though it's a soft reboot rather than a wholly separate story, sharing 47, Diana, and the ICA. Fans of methodical, systems-driven stealth should also look at Dishonored and the Splinter Cell series. Newcomers lose nothing by skipping the oldest entries first.
Timeline 2000–2021
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Hitman games are there?
There are eight mainline Hitman games: five classic-era titles (Codename 47, Silent Assassin, Contracts, Blood Money, Absolution) and the three modern World of Assassination entries (Hitman 2016, Hitman 2, Hitman 3).
What order should I play Hitman in?
Release order is the cleanest path and closely matches the story. If you only want the modern games, play the World of Assassination trilogy in order: Hitman (2016), Hitman 2, then Hitman 3.
Where should a beginner start with Hitman?
Start with the modern World of Assassination trilogy. It's the most polished, plays as one connected package, and lets you import the earlier two games' levels into Hitman 3.
What is Hitman World of Assassination?
It's the bundled re-release of Hitman (2016), Hitman 2, and Hitman 3 under a single title, following the 2023 rebrand. All levels from the trilogy are accessible from one place.
Are the classic Hitman games connected to the modern trilogy?
They share Agent 47, Diana Burnwood, and the ICA, and the modern trilogy is a soft reboot that re-tells 47's origins rather than a wholly separate continuity. In practice it's self-contained, so you don't need the classics to follow it.
Which Hitman game is considered the best?
Opinions vary, but Blood Money (2006) is the most praised classic-era game, while Hitman 3 (2021) is the high point of the modern trilogy.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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