Hitman 3

Game images by RAWG

Hitman 3

IO Interactive

PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo SwitchPremium

Health Score

DECENT

Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Hitman 3 is a stealth-action game for older teens where players plan and execute elaborate assassinations in detailed environments. Its open-ended level design encourages strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, but the core gameplay revolves around realistic violence and mature themes. Parents should consider the M rating and graphic content carefully before allowing play.

Super Review

Parent verdict

With a "Decent" health score of 51, Hitman 3 is a qualified fit, best suited for mature older teens ready for its dark subject matter. The game excels at offering deep, strategic stealth challenges that reward careful planning and clever improvisation. However, its relentless focus on assassination, coupled with graphic violence and mature themes, means it is unequivocally not for younger players. Parents will weigh the intellectual puzzle-solving against the disturbing core premise.

What players actually do

Players observe intricate environments and character routines to identify patterns and vulnerabilities for their targets, exercising patience and analytical skills.
Players plan complex assassination methods, using disguises, distractions, and environmental hazards to eliminate targets without being detected, fostering strategic and creative thinking.
Players experiment with various approaches to objectives, replaying missions to discover new paths and tools, which encourages exploration and problem-solving through trial and error.

Where it shines

The game provides a high degree of player freedom, allowing for highly creative and varied approaches to completing objectives, which rewards ingenuity.
It strongly encourages strategic thinking and detailed planning, as players must consider numerous variables to execute elaborate, puzzle-like assassinations successfully.

Parent watch-outs

The gameplay revolves entirely around the act of assassination and murder, with a consistent focus on violence and eliminating human targets.
The game contains graphic violence and gore, including close-up depictions of fatalities and blood, which contributes to its Mature rating.

Family rules worth setting

Require that play is limited to set times, such as after homework is complete or only on weekends, given the mature themes.
Parents should ensure the game is played in a common area where its violent content can be easily monitored and discussed, rather than in isolation.

Talk about this

Discuss the difference between game actions and real-world consequences, emphasizing why such violent acts are unacceptable in reality.
Talk about the ethical implications of playing a character whose profession is assassination, and how the game separates fiction from reality.

Play style

Hitman 3 offers a challenging, single-player experience with a session rhythm built around completing intricate, self-contained missions. Players often spend significant time observing and planning before executing their moves. The difficulty comes from its tactical stealth requirements and puzzle-like scenarios, where mistakes can lead to rapid failure. It is entirely a solo experience, designed for players who enjoy methodical problem-solving and don't require social interaction or competitive play.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

1/5

Creativity

3/5

Pro-Social

0/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

1/5

Social Risk

0/5

Content Intensity

5/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

1/5

While the game encourages strategic thinking and problem-solving, its core gameplay loop of assassination prevents it from offering any positive educational value. The skills developed are primarily in planning and execution within a morally questionable context.

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Hitman 3 is a premium, single-player game with no evidence of in-game purchases, loot boxes, or other monetization strategies designed to be addictive. Players buy the game once and receive the full experience without further financial pressure.

Creativity

3/5

The game scores a 3 because it heavily promotes creative problem-solving and encourages players to devise unique solutions to assassination challenges. Its sandbox environments offer immense freedom in how players approach their objectives, fostering inventive thinking and experimentation.

Content Intensity

5/5

Content intensity is a 5 due to the game's pervasive graphic violence, gore, and mature themes surrounding assassination and murder. The entire premise and execution of gameplay revolve around these elements, earning its M (Mature) rating.