The Hitman franchise has spanned 21 years, with seven mainstream installments and two unique mobile phone spin-offs. Stealth games are frequently referred to as the “thinking man’s action game,” but with their Hitman series, makers IO Interactive have taken their own style of stealth to new heights.

The scale of Hitman’s level design is well beyond that of previous stealth games such as Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid. Players can spend hours researching the complexities of each task to find the best ways to eliminate Agent 47’s targets and reach the Silent Assassin rank at the end of each mission, which requires thought and patience.

Fans of espionage and assassin movies will be thrilled to learn that the games are based on films such as James Bond, Mission: Impossible, The Day of the Jackal, and Leon: The Professional. While certain games in the series have become instant classics among fans, others have fallen short.

1. Hitman 3

Hitman 3 is the third and final installment in the World of Assassination trilogy, and it is probably the greatest of the three. It’s a considerably grander game than its predecessors, and it’s an epic conclusion to an already incredible Hitman game library.

2. Hitman 2

Hitman 2 is the sequel to the rebooted Hitman franchise, and it picks off just where the last game left off. The levels are equally as huge as the original game, but more sophisticated and complex than ever before, thanks to IO Interactive ditching the episodic approach in favor of a full game.

3. Hitman 3 VR

Hitman 3 comes with a game’s standalone but superb VR mode, which is now exclusive to the PSVR, on the PlayStation 4 – or the PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility. This option immerses gamers in the game by allowing them to experience everything through the eyes of Agent 47.