Hitman: Codename 47

Hitman: Codename 47 is a stealth-action video game created by IO Interactive and released in November 2000 as the debut entry in the Hitman franchise.

The story follows Agent 47, a genetically engineered clone trained from birth to become the perfect assassin. After breaking out of the laboratory where he was created, he begins working for the International Contract Agency (ICA), an organization that arranges high-profile assassinations around the world. His assignments send him across Asia, Europe, and South America to eliminate powerful and corrupt figures. At first, these targets appear unrelated, aside from subtle references to their shared past in the French Foreign Legion. As the plot unfolds, however, it becomes clear that they are all connected to a broader conspiracy.

Gameplay centers on careful planning and stealth. Players must observe their surroundings, adopt disguises, and use silenced weapons or other tools to discreetly approach and eliminate their targets. While stealth is the core focus, certain missions lean more heavily into direct combat, shifting toward a traditional third-person shooter style rather than pure infiltration.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Hitman series. Although this was the first installment, I tend to consider Hitman 2 the first "true" Hitman experience, as it refined the formula and fully established the identity of the franchise. Still, for curious players, Codename 47 remains an interesting look at the series' origins. Some missions are genuinely memorable, and it's fascinating to see this early "prototype" that marked IO Interactive's very first game.