---
title: "HITMAN (2016): Complete Guide"
game: "HITMAN"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/hitman"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
summary: "A guide to HITMAN's first season (2016): how its sandbox works, how to earn Silent Assassin, every location and its targets, Mastery and challenges, and how the game lives on inside HITMAN World of Assassination.…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/hitman-2016-complete-guide-b78ebae8"
published: "2026-09-27T17:55:38.144Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:55:38.144Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# HITMAN (2016): Complete Guide

A guide to HITMAN's first season (2016): how its sandbox works, how to earn Silent Assassin, every location and its targets, Mastery and challenges, and how the game lives on inside HITMAN World of Assassination.

*Researched September 2026. Current as of HITMAN World of Assassination, which absorbed this game in January 2023. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

> **Status note:** In January 2023, IO Interactive rebranded HITMAN 3 as **HITMAN World of Assassination (WoA)** and folded the content of HITMAN (2016) Game of the Year Edition and HITMAN 2 into it. The standalone HITMAN (2016) was then removed from sale. The Steam page for app 236870 no longer lists a price. If you own it you can still install and play it, but the actively supported home for these missions is WoA. WoA's entry-level **Part One** content contains the six season-one locations (check the WoA store page for current editions and prices). The locations play the same in both. WoA adds later features on top.

## Quick Start

1. **Every mission is a puzzle box.** You get a target (or several), a map full of NPCs, and total freedom. Play once, then replay to learn the level.
2. **Follow a Mission Story** (called Opportunities in the original) on your first run. They guide you through a scripted, stylish kill and teach you the level's layout.
3. **Disguises are your key.** Knock out an NPC and take their outfit to access restricted areas. But some NPCs of the same type ("enforcers," marked with a white dot) can see through it.
4. **Use Instinct.** It shows targets, NPCs and useful items through walls, and marks their paths.
5. **Hide bodies.** Containers, closets and freezers work. Found bodies raise the alert level and ruin a Silent Assassin run.
6. **Cameras record you.** Destroy the security recorder (usually in a security room) or avoid cameras if you want Silent Assassin.
7. **Mastery unlocks better starts.** Earning mastery in a location unlocks new starting locations, disguises, weapons and smuggled item spots.
8. **Challenges are your checklist.** Each location has dozens, from specific kills to discovery objectives. They're the main source of Mastery XP.
9. **Save often but don't save-scum mindlessly.** On higher difficulties, saves are limited.

## Core Mechanics

### Suspicion and disguises

- NPCs react based on your disguise and behavior. Running, climbing and trespassing all raise suspicion.
- **Enforcers** (white dot above their heads in Instinct) can see through your disguise. Avoid walking near them.
- The **suspicion meter** is shown on screen. Break line of sight and blend into crowds or tasks (the "blend in" spots) to reset it.
- **Trespassing vs hostile areas:** trespassing gets you escorted out. In hostile areas guards may shoot.

### Instinct

Instinct highlights targets and NPCs, shows items of interest, and reveals people through walls. On Professional difficulty (Master in newer versions) its help is reduced.

### Distractions and tools

| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Coins | Throw to lure an NPC a few steps. The staple distraction |
| Emetic Rat Poison | Makes an NPC vomit and go to a bathroom. Great for isolating targets |
| Lethal Poison | Kills quietly and counts as an accident in some setups |
| Fiber Wire | Silent strangle kill, drags the body |
| Remote Explosives | Rigged accidents and kills |
| Lockpick | Opens locked doors silently |
| Crowbar | Opens locked doors loudly |
| Screwdriver/Wrench | Sabotage props like lights and generators |

### Accidents

Accident kills (falling objects, electrocution, poisoned food, gas explosions) don't raise alarms and count as "accidents." They're the core of stylish play.

## Silent Assassin: How to Earn It

To get the top rating you must:

1. **Only kill the targets.** No non-target kills.
2. **Not be spotted** committing crimes or trespassing.
3. **Not let any bodies be found.** Accidents are fine.
4. **Not be caught on camera**, or destroy the recording.

**Suit Only** means doing this without changing disguise. Many challenges ask for Silent Assassin Suit Only.

## Locations and Targets

| Location | Mission | Targets |
|---|---|---|
| ICA Facility (Prologue) | Training | Training targets |
| Paris, France | The Showstopper | Viktor Novikov, Dalia Margolis |
| Sapienza, Italy | World of Tomorrow | Silvio Caruso, Francesca De Santis (plus destroy the virus) |
| Marrakesh, Morocco | A Gilded Cage | Reza Zaydan, Claus Hugo Strandberg |
| Bangkok, Thailand | Club 27 | Jordan Cross, Ken Morgan |
| Colorado, USA | Freedom Fighters | Sean Rose, Penelope Graves, Ezra Berg, Maya Parvati |
| Hokkaido, Japan | Situs Inversus | Erich Soders, Yuki Yamazaki |

The locations launched episodically between March and October 2016: Paris on 11 March, Sapienza on 26 April, Marrakesh on 31 May, Bangkok on 16 August, Colorado on 27 September and Hokkaido on 31 October.

### Location tips

- **Paris:** The fashion show has two targets and many routes. The auction, the sheikh and the fashion show routes are great for learning Mission Stories.
- **Sapienza:** Big and vertical. The virus in the lab under the mansion must also be destroyed. Take time to explore. It's often called the best level in the trilogy.
- **Marrakesh:** Split between the consulate and the school. Two very different targets with their own opportunities.
- **Bangkok:** A riverside luxury hotel. Jordan Cross's band is recording in the hotel studio, and his lawyer Ken Morgan moves around the hotel separately, so plan two different approaches.
- **Colorado:** A militia camp where almost everyone is hostile. Four targets and a disguise-heavy puzzle. Many consider it the hardest map to Silent Assassin.
- **Hokkaido:** A hospital with strict access rules. You start without your gear, and disguises and kill methods change with the target's medical procedure.

## Bonus Content

The Game of the Year Edition added:

- **Patient Zero campaign:** four missions reusing season-one locations with new targets and an infection theme.
- **Bonus missions** on existing maps, like **The Icon** (Sapienza), **A House Built on Sand** (Marrakesh) and **The Holiday Hoarders** (Paris).
- **Escalation Contracts**, where each stage adds a new complication.

## Game Modes

- **Missions:** the main story levels, replayable endlessly.
- **Escalation Contracts:** multi-stage contracts with rising difficulty.
- **Contracts mode:** create your own challenges by marking targets and methods, or play other players' contracts.
- **Elusive Targets:** limited-time targets you get one attempt at. They're re-run periodically in WoA.
- **Freelancer (WoA only):** the roguelike mode released in January 2023 alongside the rebrand. You take on crime syndicates, choose randomized contracts, and build up your safehouse.

## Mastery and Progression

- Each location has its own **Mastery level**. XP comes from challenges, completing missions and good ratings.
- Mastery unlocks **starting locations**, **disguises**, **agency pickups** (smuggled items), and **weapons and gear**.
- Your **player profile level** increases across locations.

## Challenge Categories

Each location's challenge list is split into categories. Knowing them helps you plan runs that tick off several at once:

| Category | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Assassination | Kill targets in specific ways, like accidents, specific weapons or specific disguises |
| Discovery | Find areas, secrets and items around the map |
| Feats | Miscellaneous actions like disguising as certain NPCs or sabotage |
| Targets / Opportunities | Complete the Mission Stories for each target |
| Classic | Signature playstyles such as Silent Assassin, Suit Only and Sniper Assassin |

## A Good First Week With the Game

1. **Prologue:** Play Guided Training and Freeform Training. Freeform shows how many ways one kill can go.
2. **Paris, run one:** Follow a Mission Story all the way through. Don't worry about the rating.
3. **Paris, run two:** Pick a different Mission Story for the other target and try to avoid being spotted.
4. **Paris, run three:** Aim for Silent Assassin using what you've learned. Destroy the security recording.
5. **Sapienza:** Repeat the pattern. Explore the town, the mansion and the lab. Sapienza rewards exploration more than any other map.
6. **Level up Mastery** on your favourite map to unlock new starting spots and smuggled items, then try Suit Only.
7. **Move to Escalations and Contracts** once you've finished the campaign.

## Difficulty

| Difficulty | What changes |
|---|---|
| Casual | More forgiving, Instinct highlights everything |
| Professional | Standard |
| Master (in newer versions) | More guards, cameras and enforcers, limited saves |

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Only playing each mission once.** The game is built around replay. The first run is just scouting.
- **Ignoring Instinct's white dots.** Enforcers wreck disguise runs.
- **Leaving camera evidence.** Destroy the recorder if you've been seen.
- **Running everywhere.** It draws attention in most areas.
- **Carrying suspicious items openly.** Guns and crowbars get noticed. Keep them holstered.
- **Hiding bodies in open areas.** Use containers and closets.
- **Going Silent Assassin on the first run.** Learn the map first.

## Advanced Tips

- **Emetic poison plus a bathroom** is the classic way to isolate a target.
- **Accidents** avoid alerts entirely. Look for chandeliers, gas, electricity and poisoned food.
- **Coins to reposition** guards away from their posts.
- **Stack challenges.** Many can be done in the same run.
- **Use the Mastery unlocks** to start in powerful positions.
- **Exit with the right disguise** to avoid combat. Exits are shown on the map.
- **Learn target schedules.** Targets follow loops. Instinct shows their path.

## FAQ

**Can I still buy HITMAN (2016)?**
Not as a standalone game. It's part of HITMAN World of Assassination. The Part One edition includes these locations.

**Do I need HITMAN (2016) to play its levels in WoA?**
No. Since January 2023 the season-one locations are part of WoA.

**Can I still play my old standalone copy?**
Yes, it remains in your library, but WoA is where updates and live events happen.

**What's the best first mission?**
Start with the Prologue, then Paris. Paris and Sapienza best teach how Mission Stories and disguises work.

**What's Silent Assassin?**
The top rating: only targets killed, no bodies found, never spotted and no camera evidence.

**Is HITMAN multiplayer?**
No. It's single-player with online features like Contracts, leaderboards and Elusive Targets.

**What is Freelancer?**
WoA's roguelike mode, released in January 2023. It isn't in the standalone 2016 game.

## Sources

- [HITMAN (2016) on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/236870/HITMAN/)
- [HITMAN World of Assassination on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1659040/HITMAN_World_of_Assassination/)
- [Hitman (2016 video game) on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitman_(2016_video_game))
- [Hitman 3 / World of Assassination on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitman_3)
- [HITMAN Steam news (Legacy Pack and free-location posts)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/236870)