Third Hitman revisiting Agent 47's past missions through retrospective storytelling. Redesigned levels and darker tone make Contracts an appreciated entry. Less innovative than Blood Money but technically solid and faithful to franchise spirit.
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Action1 player16+
Description
The third entry in the series, released in 2004 by IO Interactive, revisiting and reimagining the missions of the first PC Hitman. Wounded in a Parisian church, Agent 47 remembers his older contracts. A dark, foggy and melancholy rework of the formula, with levels reshaped for PS2.
A darker entry of IO Interactive's stealth series, revisiting past contracts in a twilight, oppressive mood. Still common in the West, its interest lies in this singular tone within the saga rather than scarcity, the Japanese version being a bit less widespread. A piece valued by fans of stealthy assassination wanting to track the Hitman line's evolution.
A questionable morality
Planning a target's perfect removal feels like an elegant puzzle: disguises, poisons, staged accidents and a quiet exit. You almost forget the goal is still to kill people for a fee, with the game rewarding you all the more for working cleanly. Assassination becomes an exercise in style, and you set about acing it like a diligent pupil.
Is Hitman - Contracts still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004 on PS2, IO Interactive's entry revisits several levels from the very first Hitman through the feverish memories of a wounded Agent 47. The rainy, grimy, desaturated atmosphere gives the game a strong visual identity, bleaker than the other chapters. The missions lean on disguise, observation and freedom of approach, with assassinations to orchestrate patiently. Jesper Kyd's score stays superb. The lack of innovation over Silent Assassin and stiff controls make themselves felt. Recommended for series fans and for lovers of old school stealth who value atmosphere and methodical planning over fast action.
