GOTM: January 2023 – Hitman: World of Assassination

Game of the Month (GOTM) is my monthly post where I highlight my favourite video game of the month. This was usually done on Twitter, but I have decided to write longer posts about each video game on my site. These posts will determine my Game of the Year (GOTY) at the end of the year. The same rules apply to GOTM as it does when writing my GOTY.

Hitman: World of Assassination (Xbox Series X)

My GOTM for January 2023 is Hitman 3, also known as Hitman: World of Assassination. The stealth, puzzle, and action game trilogy from IO Interactive.

The latest Hitman game was previously known as Hitman 3. All three games are now included in the base version and rebranded as the World of Assassination.

I talk a lot about the Hitman Trilogy, and they have won my GOTY award several times. Unsurprising, I am still playing Hitman and having fun. Recently the Freelancer mode was added. It gives assassins another way to play an already expansive game. This mode is IO’s take on the rogue-like genre.

I am still continuing my replay of all of Hitman 1 and 2. I am in Mumbai after fully mastering and completing each previous level challenge goal around the 50% mark. I still haven’t played through the Hitman 3 levels, which has caused me problems in the Freelancer mode.

I also did some Elusive Targets and the Christmas and Snow Festival levels. This allowed me to unlock some new items and suits. While these levels are the same as old versions, they added a few unique challenges with gadgets to earn. One gave me an ice-cold pistol which I always use now. It’s like having an elemental weapon.

Most of the time, I am in like the top 10% of players in a level, so I thought I was okay at Hitman. That was until I started Freelancer mode and realised that all the techniques I used and my quick way of playing were not cutting it. Freelancer doesn’t care about your Silent Assassin ranking or speed. In fact, it wants you to play the opposite. It wants you to take your time and not be afraid to kill half the map if it means you complete your objectives and kill your targets. It makes you remember how much the items you have can make a difference.

A lot can be said about Freelancer, and maybe I will talk about it more in the future, but it has been a pleasant surprise and a great addition. I have failed a campaign numerous times, mostly in stupid ways, and I have fully finished one. If you complete a run, you unlock the Hardcore mode that makes each level very difficult. In this difficulty, optional objectives and locations can’t be failed, or you fail the campaign. However, the rewards are much better.

I have made a guide for Hitman: Freelancer, which you can read here: Hitman: Freelancer Tips, Tricks, and Guide.

At this rate, I can see myself playing Hitman: World of Assassination in February and beyond. Nothing else has piqued my interest. Maybe Atomic Heart will.

You can read all previous year’s GOTY on this post: King Toko’s Game of the Year 2022 (GOTY) Awards.

See you next time for my new 2023 Game of the Month.