Hitman: Absolution

Hitman: Absolution on Xbox 360, released November 20, 2012, marks a cinematic and action-packed shift in the franchise by IO Interactive, published by Square Enix. Departing from the series’ trademark sandbox-style levels, this installment offers a more guided, story-driven experience featuring Agent 47 navigating through gritty, film-like missions. You choose whether to stealthily blend in with disguises, utilize the new “Instinct” mode to track enemies through walls, or go in guns blazing—creating a flexible balance between stealth and action . Visually impressive on the Xbox 360, the game showcases detailed environments and animated crowds, powered by the Glacier 2 engine. The standout feature, Contracts Mode, lets players create custom assassination challenges using campaign maps, adding replayability and competition. Critically, Absolution received mixed-to-positive reviews—with praise for its stylish presentation, polished gameplay, and robust contracts feature, though fans of traditional Hitman criticized its linear level design and tonal alterations from the franchise’s roots. In essence, it offers a polished, cinematic stealth-action experience—though it diverges from the open-ended approach beloved in earlier titles.