Hitman

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,262 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Hitman Game Cover
Hitman’s first season is a full-blown triumph. IO Interactive has masterfully pulled off this gamble with relatively few hiccups along the way. The world of assassination has never been a finer place to visit than it is right now.
Starting at $12.04Buy now

In HITMAN, players step into the shoes of Agent 47, a skilled and stealthy assassin, as they travel to various locations around the globe to take out targets in a series of creative and strategic ways. The game offers a mix of sandbox-style levels and linear missions, with numerous challenges and opportunities for replayability. Players must utilize Agent 47's arsenal of weapons, disguises, and instincts to complete their missions and avoid detection.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,262 reviews
story766 positive mentions
optimization200 negative mentions
  • story5,103 mentions

    The story in "Hitman" (2016) has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it is relatively thin and lacks the depth found in previous installments of the series. While the episodic format allows for some intriguing character arcs and mission-specific narratives, the overarching plot feels disjointed and incomplete, often serving merely as a framework to connect the various assassination missions. Despite this, the game compensates for its narrative shortcomings with engaging gameplay and a high degree of replayability, encouraging players to explore multiple approaches to each mission.

    • “The story is interesting, burnwood is hot!”
    • “The story is there just to compliment the gameplay, but this game is much more about the gameplay than following a story.”
    • “The story is quite intriguing as well if you don't skip all the cutscenes.”
    • “Some players criticized the game's story, stating that it was too thin and lacked the depth of previous Hitman games.”
    • “The game will now play you some video after a mission where some mysterious figure appears, mutters a few random and menacing sentences, and that's it.”
    • “The story sucked too.”
  • gameplay1,956 mentions

    The gameplay of "Hitman" (2016) has received widespread acclaim for its open-ended levels and intricate assassination mechanics, allowing players to approach missions in numerous creative ways. While some players noted that the game can become repetitive over time, the high replayability and the ability to experiment with different strategies keep the experience engaging. Overall, the game successfully blends elements from previous titles, particularly "Blood Money," while introducing modern mechanics that enhance the stealth gameplay.

    • “Hitman (2016) immerses the player into a world of stealth, espionage, and betrayal which puts this reboot far and away better than Hitman: Blood Money in terms of gameplay and map design.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent; it's not overwhelming with unnecessary visual UX like some of the previous Hitman series.”
    • “The gameplay is so smooth and allows you to complete so many different actions; it's incredible.”
    • “I can't recommend this game due to a lot of the overly punishing mechanics in the game.”
    • “The gameplay is fine but it can get kinda tedious.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty much everything I'd want from a hitman game, it would be nice to see a stronger story to make the entire package more immersive.”
  • graphics1,248 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their impressive detail and aesthetic quality, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning environments and character models. While some players noted performance issues and occasional graphical glitches, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, contributing to an immersive gameplay experience. However, there are concerns regarding optimization, particularly for lower-end systems, which can affect the game's performance and visual fidelity.

    • “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, with stunning visuals and a dynamic soundtrack that changes depending on the player's actions.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly good in this game, with beautiful environments and attention to detail that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, and this seems to be an effort on the part of IO to remember that environments can actually have color.”
    • “Graphics suck for a 2016 title.”
    • “The graphics are not good enough to justify the terrible performance.”
    • “The graphics look like blood money looked on lowest setting, because some important quality settings are locked and cannot be changed unless you have insanely over the top hardware.”
  • replayability950 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its vast array of methods for completing missions, numerous challenges, and the ability to unlock new starting points and equipment. The sandbox design encourages experimentation and creativity, allowing for multiple playthroughs of the same level without feeling repetitive. However, some users noted that the requirement for an internet connection can limit access to certain features that enhance replayability.

    • “This gives each level tremendous replayability (in fact, replayability is worked into the game's mechanics by allowing players to unlock different equipment and start conditions on successive playthroughs) but also ensures the player, without forcing them, will savor all the bits of story that infuse the game with character and humanity.”
    • “The gameplay is awesome (all of them, Hitman 1, 2 and 3), the story is solid (nothing life-changing, but not stupid) and the replayability is the main thing.”
    • “Hitman 2016 is a gateway drug into a franchise of incredibly immersive, extremely replayable and strategic games that offer endless variety in how you achieve your objectives.”
    • “You'll be forced to revisit the same locations and trigger the same scripted sequences or dialogues many, many times... Hitman seemingly provides a lot of replayability, but it's disguised by an intense amount of repetition.”
    • “But I have a question - how limiting my options from the beginning (starting locations, costumes, etc.) is attributing to the replayability of levels?”
    • “The game heavily relies on replayability, which doesn't actually exist here.”
  • optimization693 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, inconsistent frame rates, and crashes, particularly in crowded areas. While some users with high-end systems have experienced smooth gameplay, others with mid-range or lower-end setups struggle to achieve playable performance, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization and patches to address these widespread performance concerns.

    • “Hitman 3 is incredibly more optimized than this version, especially if you have a 3xxx series NVIDIA graphics card as it supports DLSS.”
    • “The stealth mechanics are impeccable, the graphics are stunning, and it's also a very well-optimized game.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and the game is well optimized, also there is a ton of content with an interesting storyline and the attention to the little details is just phenomenal.”
    • “Game is plagued by inconsistent frame rates and stuttering that makes you motion sick; it's borderline unplayable - bad optimization.”
    • “The optimization and game performance were horrendous, extremely glitchy, frame stuttering, and unplayable.”
    • “Optimization is terrible; I experienced crashes right after the first action began, and that's a year after release!”
  • stability239 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes affecting gameplay. Many players experienced issues such as freezing during loading screens, AI malfunctions, and server connectivity problems, particularly with the DirectX 12 mode. While some users noted improvements over time and found the game to run well on certain systems, the overall consensus is that the game remains unstable and requires significant optimization.

    • “Almost no glitches, monthly new content (elusive targets), extra missions and some other stuff!”
    • “It runs great whilst also looking as good as it does; clearly, IO Interactive put a lot of love and attention into the game. There are some mistakes, but most of them aren't game-breaking.”
    • “Currently loving this game... runs great on my rig, i5 2500k, 8GB, GTX 970.”
    • “Hitman 2 is way better than this buggy shite.”
    • “The game is just generally buggy with frame rate drops randomly coming and going.”
    • “I wanted to recommend this game and I wanted to like the game I really did... also I have to say I usually never complain in reviews about performance and etc, but this game is sadly way too buggy and unoptimized.”
  • music229 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of composer Jesper Kyd, whose work was integral to the atmosphere of earlier titles. While some appreciate the dynamic and cinematic qualities of the new soundtrack, others find it forgettable or lacking in depth, often describing it as merely filling silence rather than enhancing the gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the music is functional, it fails to capture the memorable essence of previous installments.

    • “The sleek violins and atmospheric music help cement the image that you're a cool, calm assassin, and it's all very satisfying.”
    • “The orchestra buzzes with nervousness when an enforcer is passing by you, the electronica delves into subtler tones when you're trying to hide, the music swells and crescendoes as you approach the exit... it really is a wonderful experience.”
    • “The music is great, the ambiance is okay but could be better.”
    • “The music is average; it just seems there to fill the silence, rather than to add to the game atmosphere for the most part.”
    • “The game misses Jesper Kyd's orchestral music, which was a huge part of the franchise itself.”
    • “The soundtrack is poor in this installment of Hitman compared to previous titles in the series.”
  • humor199 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying its dark, absurd, and often slapstick comedic elements. Many reviews mention the hilarious interactions with NPCs, the creative and funny assassination methods, and the unexpected comedic moments that arise during gameplay, making it a source of both entertainment and replayability. Overall, the game successfully blends serious themes with a light-hearted approach, resulting in a uniquely funny experience.

    • “I didn't even mention the beautiful graphics, the immaculate attention to detail throughout every level, the crisp animations, the compelling presentation, or the game's absurd but hilarious sense of humor that's seeping out of every pore.”
    • “Even though it may seem like there are only a few missions, each mission is a playground of inventive and often funny death with a lot of replayability.”
    • “The game has several funny moments and references to pop culture that add a light-hearted touch to some otherwise serious moments.”
  • atmosphere102 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players praising its vibrant and immersive environments that evoke a sense of being in diverse global locations, while others lament the absence of the darker, more intense atmosphere found in earlier titles. The lighting, sound design, and unique level details contribute positively, but the music often feels lackluster and fails to enhance the experience. Overall, while there are moments of atmospheric brilliance, many feel it doesn't quite capture the essence of previous entries in the series.

    • “The atmosphere is authentic and real - and quite often made me halt and observe stuff which was not even related to the reason I was sent there.”
    • “The sprawling markets and urban areas in both levels made them intense as well as full of life and atmosphere.”
    • “It's a magnificent Hitman experience, rich in atmosphere and variation, with insane replay value.”
    • “The music is average; it just seems there to fill the silence, rather than to add to the game atmosphere for the most part.”
    • “There's simply no atmosphere in this new game, and it's probably my biggest problem with it.”
    • “Hitman 6, plainly put, feels dead and unfinished in the atmosphere department, especially when compared to the previous games.”
  • grinding85 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, often requiring them to replay missions multiple times to unlock weapons and complete challenges. While some appreciate the depth and variety in gameplay, others feel that the necessity of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the experience feel more like a chore than a rewarding endeavor. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding can lead to some fun moments, it often becomes a frustrating and time-consuming process.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I would not recommend this game to anyone new to the series, since some of the missions are overly long, tedious, and repetitive.”
    • “The core problem with this game is that it revolves around achievements which makes the game incredibly tedious.”
    • “Unlocking gear, even playing on 'professional' difficulty requires grinding the same level over and over again to earn experience points from challenges.”
  • monetization35 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as a blatant cash grab due to the presence of in-game purchases and episodic content that feels incomplete. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions and the value of the full package, others express concern that the monetization strategy undermines the overall experience, leading to skepticism about future content and trust in the developers. Overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment with the monetization practices, viewing them as exploitative rather than consumer-friendly.

    • “No in-game purchases, just hours of fun and awesome rewards.”
    • “I'll take episodic releases over cancerous microtransactions any time.”
    • “The game has no microtransactions and that itself is a lot to ask after the tom-foolery that was Absolution.”
    • “Wtf single-player in-game purchases required gameplay?”
    • “A blatant cash grab.”
    • “Such a shame that all triple-A games have now become cash grabs for minimal effort on the consumer's dime.”
  • emotional34 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some finding it heartwarming and engaging, particularly through the unique mechanics like elusive targets that enhance the feeling of planning an assassination. However, many express disappointment over the lack of a compelling storyline and emotional depth, feeling that the character of Agent 47 is diminished by a more formulaic approach and technical issues. Overall, while there are moments of humor and connection, the emotional impact is often overshadowed by frustrations with gameplay and narrative shortcomings.

    • “I think the most heartbreaking part of this game is the fact that it's one of those games I watched online to see if it was good.”
    • “Looking at my career overview now is really heartbreaking, seeing everything completed except for that damn elusive targets tab.”
    • “Touching story, fully fleshed characters, a believable universe.”
    • “Boring storyline.”
    • “Boring story with 'buy our sequel!' cliffhanger.”
    • “Very bland and somewhat boring storyline, nothing like the old Hitman games. Would not recommend for the price.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the voice acting and character design, particularly for 47 and Diana, while others criticize the lack of a compelling story and meaningful character growth. Although there are improvements noted in character design and voiceovers over time, many players feel that the overall character development is lacking compared to previous installments.

    • “The detail is impressive along with level setup and character design.”
    • “Update: as the season completes itself, I want to urge users that the level design has improved as well as the character design and voice overs.”
    • “+character design is top notch”
    • “There’s not much of a story and no real character development or any real reason to care.”
    • “I know they fixed this in Hitman 2, but 47 looks like some kind of alien creature in this one, definitely a step back in terms of character design compared to Absolution.”
    • “He didn't even use his time stop punch, and I hate the new character design.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

15hMedian play time
41hAverage play time
11hMain story
91hCompletionist
7-56hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 119 analyzed playthroughs

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