HITMAN (2016): Murder as a puzzle box

An assassin with a playground is a more interesting proposition than an assassin with a checklist. IO Interactive and Square Enix’s original announcement describes intricate sandbox locations and freedom of approach. That premise makes curiosity, rather than a fast trigger finger, the centre of the appeal.

A game built around considering alternatives asks for the right mood. Players interested only in the shortest route from target to credits may find less to love in the invitation to experiment. That is an editorial reading of the premise, not a report from a newly tested mission.

Patient players who like stealth, deliberate planning and the idea of finding more than one solution to a problem.

You want constant forward momentum, or prefer an action game to make the next decision for you.

The legacy Steam description invites experimentation as Agent 47 and gives unconventional examples of tools for eliminating targets. IO Interactive’s history distinguishes the 2016 release from its later sequels and World of Assassination. This article concerns that original game; it does not evaluate current bundles, unlock transfers or online services.

HITMAN’s documented sandbox is a tempting prospect for the player who enjoys asking “what else could work?” Its promise is inventiveness, with patience as the price of admission. This is a research perspective on the 2016 design, not a firsthand verdict.