Rogueliker

Hitman is one of the best stealth games ever, and I’ll have words with anyone who says otherwise. Danish maestros IO Interactive have been perfecting the formula over 26 years of near-continuous evolution and iteration, starting with Hitman: Codename 47, which garrotted me for the first time all the way back in the year 2000.

I’ve played all of the mainline games since then, including the episodic missions, often as soon as they came out, starting in 2016. It was a time when IOI was exploring episodic content drops as a means of delivering sandbox levels bigger than anything seen in the series to that point.

Ultimately, it didn’t work, and by the second game, we were back to a normal release structure of game + post-launch DLC and updates. In the third game, however, IOI went a step further and brought everything together under one roof via Hitman: World of Assassination

While I do remember it being a faff at the time (the scathing reviews on Steam for the different DLCs tells its own story), bringing everything together has given the studio the foundation it needed to wrap up 47’s story arc and then expand on the work they had done.

By the end of the third game, IOI had taken things even further. There was no longer just a campaign that stretched across three games, a number of mechanical improvements retrofitted across the trilogy, shorter campaigns with remixed levels, and additional DLC content such as the 7 Deadly Sins Season Pass. They still had one ace left to play.

IOI’s final major update was a gift that keeps giving: the Freelancer Mode that we’re here to explore today.

Hitman: Freelancer

As a fan of both roguelite game design and Hitman, the idea of a roguelike-inspired mode interested me greatly. The only thing that I was unsure about was whether or not the static levels would hinder a game attempting to apply a loop that encouraged repetition. It turns out that I needn’t have worried.

To be fair to IOI, the most recent Hitman games are extremely replayable. I remember the studio experimenting with a bunch of player-focused features in the game that preceded it, Hitman: Absolution. Those tools were refined further throughout World of Assassination, and now there are so many contracts to play through, whether authored by the devs or the community. You’ve probably seen some of the big names that have appeared in the game as Elusive Targets, which adds a sprinkle of stardust to an already winning formula.

Freelancer takes Hitman’s immense replayability and then pushes it to a whole new level. Now, you’re sent on mini-campaigns that take you to locations plucked from across all three games. These multi-stage missions have you visiting old haunts, sniffing out your targets, killing them as directed, and then getting out alive. All without the safety net of a save file.

Failure means a temporary death, and 47 waking up back at his pad, ready for another run but stripped of cash and any resources he was carrying when he fell. Your luxurious safehouse is full of the gear you collect along the way, and I love the extraction element as it adds tremendous substance to the campaign. Risking your gear when out on assignment only adds tension to an already intense game.

The Safehouse is a physical manifestation of your progress through the Freelancer mode. You’re not only adding toys to the wall – you can unlock new rooms, too. Doing so adds fresh tools to take on missions with you, and there’s even a chance to play the stock market. It’s at home that you can also pick your next target…

Taking down the syndicates

Our boy 47 loves nothing better than murdering naughty billionaires, and there are eight different criminal syndicate types that you must tackle in Freelancer. The events herein are supposed to be taking place some time after the conclusion of Hitman 3’s story, but it’s very standalone, and you needn’t really worry about the story.

The syndicates are bad news. They get up to some really evil shit, with their transgressions acting as their names. Here they are in alphabetical order: Arms Trafficking, Assassination, Big Pharma, Eco Crime, Espionage, Organ Trafficking, Psy Ops, and Sick Games. Picking a target then spins up a short procedurally generated campaign, which culminates in a deadly Showdown against a syndicate boss.

Over the course of each campaign, you must work your way up the food chain of your chosen syndicate. You must take out your targets before eventually you can tackle the boss. These high-priority targets are protected by lookouts, flanked by their own assassins, and cloaked by a certain degree of anonymity.

These are not your standard Hitman missions. Freelancer requires smarts as well as skill, as you have to look for the tells that confirm your target. It’s never as simple as just going from A to B.

It’s also difficult because the combat in Hitman is not particularly fluid – so if you get caught out, there’s a good chance you’re screwed. Your best bet if you do get caught out is to find a quiet spot or even vacate the area entirely, before seeking out a new avenue of attack.

I really love the ramping tension you feel as you work your way up an organisation, and I find the nail-biting atmosphere in the Showdown missions to be amongst the most exquisite I’ve ever experienced while playing Hitman. There are no saves and death has consequences, and I think this is the missing ingredient that takes Hitman to the next level.

I had a great time with the World of Assassination trilogy and its campaign, and I’ve played each chapter through more than once. However, while there is loads to do, whether that be taking down Sean Bean or Eminem, or tripping out in the 7 Deadly Sins, Hitman Freelancer is, in my opinion, the best way to enjoy the game in 2026.

I know the levels are a bit more static than you would normally find in a roguelite; however, I think that the added complexity of the new mission structure more than makes up for it. Any existing map knowledge is going to prove useful as the levels in Hitman are some of the most intricate I’ve ever explored. In fact, on that point, let’s segue into a couple of pointers that should help you get started.

Hitman Freelancer Tips

1. If you’ve not played Hitman: World of Assassination before, don’t start with Freelancer. Even if you play through the main campaign just once, I think you’ll have a significantly better time in Freelancer Mode, mostly because of your map knowledge. Not only that, but Hitman is a fantastic action stealth game with a dark sense of humour.
2. Tool up as soon as possible. Whether it’s a letter opener found back at the safehouse, or grabbing a makeshift weapon as you explore, it’s vital that you’re armed and dangerous. Obviously, it’s best if you can get a gun, ideally a silenced one.
3. Don’t overextend yourself on side missions. You’ll have time to perfect those murderous skills in due course, but while you’re still learning the ropes, focus on your key objectives. Even secondary targets become a significant risk in Freelancer.
4. Remember to keep on the lookout at all times. The bosses in the Showdowns are particularly difficult to spot. These hardened targets are also supported by powerful supporting units who’ll make short work of you, so don’t get too close until you’re sure.
5. Play it safe. If you do accidentally balls it up, it’s best to run and hide, wait for it to blow over, and then work out how to have another go.
6. Don’t forget your Hitman basics. Disguises are your friend, as is the art of throwing coins to distract guards. Play smart and plan where possible, and you’ve got a much better chance of extracting.
7. If you’re a true master assassin, there is a Hardcore Mode with added challenges, and you can even go for Prestige and reset your progress if you want an even sterner challenge.

While fairly basic, the above Freelancer tips should help you find your feet in this enduringly awesome mode, especially if you’ve never played Hitman before.

IO Interactive’s roguelike-inspired campaign adds depth and tension, and the extraction element ramps up the danger to even greater heights. If you like stealth games and you’re looking for an experience that’ll keep you coming back again and again, Agent 47 has you covered, as usual.