hitman

Hitman is a video game media franchise created by IO Interactive. It centers on Agent 47, a genetically engineered assassin who takes high-stakes contracts around the world.

The series began with Hitman: Codename 47 (2000), published by Eidos Interactive. Gameplay combines stealth, strategy, and action, with missions set in open-ended, sandbox-like environments. Players eliminate targets using disguises, gadgets, and environmental interactions, often through careful planning and covert takedowns rather than direct assault.

Agent 47, the signature protagonist, is a clone created through the Clone program, marked by a barcode on the back of his head. He is portrayed as a calculating, professional killer who works for the International Contract Agency (ICA).

Notable installments include Hitman: Silent Assassin (2002), Contracts (2004), Blood Money (2006), and Absolution (2012). In 2016, IO Interactive rebooted the series with a new Hitman, followed by Hitman 2 (2018) and Hitman 3 (2021); these entries form the World of Assassination trilogy, continuing the emphasis on stealth, replayability, and episodic content.

The franchise has expanded beyond games to other media, including the 2007 film Hitman and the 2015 film Hitman: Agent 47, as well as novels and comics.