IO Interactivehas made a name for itself as an independent triple-A developer of the critically-acclaimedHitmanfranchise. It has become such a large developer that they have studios all over the world that are working on multiple projects at once.
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The studio has worked 20 years to perfect theHitmanfranchise, with many beloved games that are in the franchise. There are also quite a few games that the studio made that are completely separate franchises that also deserve some love. While limiting the amount ofHitmangames on this list, here are some of thebest games by IO Interactive.
While it isn’t the most well-reviewed of IO Interactive’s work,Kane & Lynchhas garnered a cult following for being an ultra violent spectacle starring two guys who absolutely hate each other.Kane & Lynch: Dead Menand set the tone for a franchise that only lasted two games.
While the story can be played in single player as Kane, the game also offereda co-op modethat allowed another player to take control of Lynch, who deferred from Kane in that he sometimes had hallucinations that made the scene defer from the player in control of Kane. The third-person shooter also had an online multiplayer mode.
6Mini Ninjas
There are a lot of games by IO Interactive that are gritty and intense, butMini Ninjasis more of a breath of fresh air for those that like games have cute art styles and cater to a wider audience. While the series got a few spin-offs, the original is what many look back on as a delight.
The action-adventure game allows players to take on the role ofsix different ninjas, each with their own set of skills that allow for a unique experience depending on which ninja is fighting. There are lots of collectibles throughout the game that help upgrade weapons and earn new spells that can be cast.
5Hitman: Absolution
Stuck between the early days of theHitmanfranchise and the series reboot,Hitman: Absolutionwas considered a wake-up call for IO Interactive to a time when the games were more open-ended. However, despite its linear nature,Absolutionwasn’t a bad experience by any means.
The game featured a series of levels that hadseries protagonist Agent 47either attempt to reach the end of the level or take out specific targets along the way. It was in this entry that IO Interactive introduced “Contracts,” where players can create their own targets for others to go after. This would go on to remain a series staple.
4Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
The early days ofHitmanset the foundation for one of the morepopular stealth experiencesin video games.Hitman 2: Silent Assassinwas the second-ever installment in the franchise as it zeroed in on allowing players to go through each scenario however they want, with the ability to avoid action at all times.
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While the game’s predecessor forced players into action-packed situations, players truly have the freedom to approach each mission in their own way. This installment was the first to introduce a rating system in which players could get rewards for how well they do and based on titles that are assigned to them that best represents their gameplay.
3Freedom Fighters
Around the time of the earlyHitmangames, IO Interactive was working on a game with Electronic Arts calledFreedom Fighters. It turned out to be one of the more critically-acclaimed titles that IO Interactive made that isn’t part of their most popular franchise.
Set in a reality where Soviet Union has successfullytaken over New York City, protagonist Christopher Stone is taking it upon himself to run through the streets of Manhattan and take down as many Soviet forces as he can with the help of a team of characters. The third-person shooter also had a capture-the-flag multiplayer mode.
2Hitman: Blood Money
The revival of the franchise is what many considerthe series at its best, but prior to that, one entry that is considered among the best in theHitmanseries isHitman: Blood Money. The entry stands out for its level design and a brand new game engine that introduced many new mechanics.
Most games prior toBlood Moneyhad targets die in ways that it was clear they were murdered, but this entry opened up the possible scenarios where deaths can look like complete accidents, keeping suspicion off Agent 47. The game also has a fascinating story about Agent 47 attempting to take down an evil rival company.
1Hitman: World Of Assassination
In 2016, IO Interactive decided to rebootHitmanwith large sandbox levels that the player can explore and use the surrounding tools to figure out how to murder their specific target. This led to three highly-regarded games that is now known collectively asHitman: World of Assassination.
Along with the main story mode, which features both the open-ended sandbox to explore and an optional linear method toreach the goalat hand,Hitman: World of Assassinationincludes other modes such as “Elusive Targets,” which are limited-time missions for specific areas and “Freelancer Mode,” a roguelike mode that encourages replayability of allHitmanmaps.
More:Assassin-Style Games To Play If You Loved Hitman 3
