Hitman 3 at Five Years Old Proves Why It Is an All Time Great
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
As Hitman 3 and its World of Assassination evolution turn five years old, a retrospective look at IO Interactive's stealth masterpiece reveals why it deserves a spot among the greatest video games of all time.
Looking back across the last half decade, the evolution of IO Interactive's modern stealth sandbox is nothing short of fascinating. When the World of Assassination trilogy kicked off back in 2016, it faced a steep uphill climb. It followed the divisive reception of Hitman Absolution and stumbled out of the gate with a messy episodic release model that initially hurt its momentum. Behind the scenes, the project survived publisher shifts and corporate restructuring before IO Interactive bravely secured its independence and fully self-published the trilogy's dramatic conclusion.
Over the past five years, that final installment has morphed far beyond a standard sequel. It transformed into a massive, unified platform known as the World of Assassination, continually enriched with new maps, rogue-lite modes, and the legendary Elusive Targets that keep the community on edge. These high stakes, one-shot community events delivered precisely on the early promises of the development team, turning routine stealth runs into memorable, high pressure social moments that lit up streaming platforms and creator channels alike.
Debates over which titles truly deserve all time classic status will always spark opinions, but time brings clear perspective. As Alex Donaldson argues over at Eurogamer, the complete package has firmly cemented its place in gaming history. For players who value player agency, emergent sandbox chaos, and deep replayability, this trilogy stands tall alongside any generational milestone you care to name. Check out the original deep dive over at Eurogamer to read more about the game's wild journey to greatness.
Tags: Hitman, IO Interactive, PC Gaming, Console Gaming, Classics
Original article: Eurogamer