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Hitman: Absolution

ShooterTacticalAdventure

Time to beat: about 15.2 hours
Plays offline: Yes

Overview

Hitman: Absolution is a 2012 action stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Square Enix Europe. It is the fifth installment in the Hitman series and the sequel to 2006's Hitman: Blood Money. Before release, the developers stated that Absolution would be easier to play and more accessible, while still retaining hardcore aspects of the franchise. The game was released on 20 November 2012 for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. On 15 May 2014, Hitman: Absolution, Elite Edition was released for macOS by Feral Interactive; it contains all previously released downloadable content, including Hitman: Sniper Challenge, a "making of" documentary, and a 72-page artbook. On 11 January 2019, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released enhanced versions of Absolution and Blood Money for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Hitman HD Enhanced Collection. Feral Interactive later released ports of the game for iOS and Android on 16 October 2025, for Nintendo Switch on 13 November 2025, and for Nintendo Switch 2 on 2 October 2026 as the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.

Absolution's single-player campaign follows genetically engineered contract killer Agent 47 and his efforts to protect a similarly genetically enhanced teenage girl from various parties who wish to use her potential as an assassin for their own ends, including a private military company, several criminal syndicates, and 47's former employers, the International Contract Agency (ICA). The game features an online component called "Contracts", which allows the player to create their own custom objectives for any of the missions in the base game and share them with others.

The game was met with a polarized reception upon release, with most of the praise focusing on its graphics, environments and locations, as well as varied gameplay options. However, many critics and players disliked the game for its narrative, issues with the disguise system, and the game's linear structure as opposed to the open ended nature of previous installments. As of March 2013, the game had sold over 3.6 million copies. Following Absolution's reception, the series returned to a more open-ended style of gameplay in 2016's Hitman.