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The eight mainline Hitman games, in release order, run from Hitman: Codename 47 (2000) to HITMAN 3 (2021). This is the clearest order for playing the series as a set of full games, although Hitman: Contracts includes missions tied to earlier events. This guide covers the mainline games, not every mobile game, promotion, regional edition, or tie-in.
Hitman games in release order
Release years below identify when each game first appeared; they are not exact worldwide launch dates. Launch dates can differ by platform and region, so a single date should not be treated as universal.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 – PS5 Standard Edition | $44.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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WWE 2K26 - PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $42.65 | Buy on Amazon |
- Hitman: Codename 47 (2000) — The original game and the series’ starting point. IO Interactive identifies its development as the company’s first major achievement. IO Interactive’s company history and the Steam publisher catalog support the series milestone and release year.
- Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (2002) — The first sequel. Steam’s IO Interactive catalog lists the game and release-year information.
- Hitman: Contracts (2004) — The third mainline release. Its release position does not mean every mission takes place after the previous game’s events; see the chronology note below. Steam’s catalog lists the release, while a secondary reference describes its earlier-event material.
- Hitman: Blood Money (2006) — The fourth mainline release. Steam’s publisher catalog lists the game.
- Hitman: Absolution (2012) — The fifth mainline release. Steam’s publisher catalog lists the game.
- HITMAN (2016) — The opening game of the modern trilogy. Steam’s catalog lists the title and year.
- HITMAN 2 (2018) — The second game in the modern trilogy. Steam’s catalog lists the title and year.
- HITMAN 3 (2021) — The trilogy’s conclusion. IO Interactive now presents the current franchise package as HITMAN World of Assassination.
Is release order the same as story order?
Not exactly. Hitman: Contracts includes remade or flashback material associated with earlier events, including missions linked to Codename 47. The available evidence establishes that complication but not a complete scene-by-scene timeline. For a first playthrough, release order remains a straightforward full-game sequence; treat Contracts as a game with some earlier-set material rather than assuming every mission follows the prior release chronologically.
Are the Hitman games connected?
Yes. IO Interactive describes the original game and early sequels as milestones in the franchise’s development, and presents the later trilogy as completing its World of Assassination vision. The current official franchise destination is branded HITMAN World of Assassination. That current branding does not change the original release order listed above.
#1 Best Overall
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
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What counts as a mainline Hitman game?
This list uses “mainline” for the eight games in the series sequence from Codename 47 through HITMAN 3. It is not an exhaustive catalog of every Hitman-branded release: standalone mobile games, promotions, regional editions, and other tie-ins are outside this scope. The available sources do not establish a complete inventory of those releases.
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