The Hitman series is currently on hiatus as IO Interactive will be transferring the general aesthetic of the series into Project 007 in the James Bond universe. This has brought interest to Agent 47’s set of skills, as the assassin has made his job appear like an art form.
Agent 47 isn’t the only video game assassin out there, though, and there are several other franchises that have their own. Whether it’s a military-trained killer like Solid Snake or a career assassin like Ezio Auditore, it’s interesting to see what makes these characters so good at their jobs. In order to main diversity between gaming franchises, only the strongest assassin from one series has been considered.
Agent 47 (Hitman)
The Hitman series has entertained fans for two decades and running, with the focus on Agent 47’s assassinations around the world, The spy is considered a legend by those who have never seen him. Due to how methodical and stealthy he’s been, Agent 47 is dubbed the Silent Assassin.
His greatest technique has been to infiltrate any location where his target is supposed to be by donning a variety of costumes of the people cleared to be in that area. Those under Agent 47’s kill list have no idea they’re interacting with the man who will take their life until he finds the stealthiest way to complete the job.
Nina Williams (Tekken)
Long considered among the best characters in the Tekken series, Nina is a stone-cold killer who has no qualms about assassinating anyone whose name is given to her. Unlike most other assassins, Nina never gets close to her target and always maintains a fair distance.
Nina’s primary strategy is to locate her victims in a location where she can use her sniper from a long distance in order to flee the scene without any hassles. The few times Nina has had to get up close, she’s used her advanced fighting skills to take down any resistance in her way before reaching her target and finishing the contract.
Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
There aren’t as many great action stealth games like Metal Gear Solid, where players control the spy known as Solid Snake. He takes up the role of a hired assassin in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, putting his skills of infiltration to deadly use.
Snake is a master in handling firearms, capable of using long and short-ranged weapons that are so silent in execution that his targets have no idea where the hit came from. Moreover, Snake’s stealth skills are off the charts, as his military training sees him camouflaging in the environment to hide in plain sight. Snake does have a conscience and doesn’t just assassinate anybody but that doesn’t take away from his deadliness.
Mona Sax (Max Payne)
The Max Payne series depicts assassins in a more explosive setting where they aren’t afraid to let everyone know their position. Mona has little care for stealth and tends to go in all-guns-blazing. To her credit, she appears to be the quickest draw and takes care of business easily.
Mona does have her limitations and has been captured, but she manages to make this work to her favor by employing her charms to manipulate her captors. Within gameplay, Mona is even more formidable and has similar skills to Max where she can take down multiple enemies at the same time.
Niko Bellic (Grand Theft Auto)
Niko’s adventures in Liberty City made GTA IV’s the best story in the series, with the protagonist taking on the part of a hired gun. Niko was a blend between gangster and assassin, as part of his job was to engage in shootouts against gangs and cops.
Unlike other GTA protagonists, Niko actually had quite a bit of subtlety and was good at remaining stealthy in environments littered with enemies. Niko could be trusted with doing the job exactly as he was supposed, ranging from kidnapping targets to executing them up close or from afar.
Corvo Attano (Dishonored)
Corvo is a tragic character because the life of an assassin isn’t one of his choosing. Having been blamed for the murder of the Empress of the Isles, whose bodyguard he used to be, Corvo ended up becoming an assassin himself in order to gain revenge against his conspirators.
Corvo has multiple powers that give him the ability to carry out his assassinations, such as the teleportation ability that allows him to move through short distances and quickly dispatch his enemies, or the Dark Vision that enables him to look through walls. Corvo is essentially a living weapon and a nightmare for those who find themselves as his target.
Thane Krios (Mass Effect)
A career assassin who first finished off a target at the age of 12, Thane Krios is another tragic character, as he’s dying of an illness throughout the Mass Effect series. Thane’s professionalism is so well-known that he’s chosen for the “suicide mission” and survives it to tell the tale.
Unlike the majority of other assassins, Thane’s uniqueness comes from how he’s a team player and does well in tandem with Commander Shepherd. His experience comes into play frequently when he understands where an assassination will work best and when it’s better to retreat.
Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes)
A chaotic personality who has no regard for stealth, Travis Touchdown is something of an anti-assassin because everything about him is loud and bombastic. His mode of operations comprises using his beam sword to scythe through droves of enemies.
However, Travis is actually a competent assassin because he not only gets the job done but has beaten dozens of other assassins at the same time. Fans also enjoy his relatable personality, as Travis likes average things like watching anime, professional wrestling, and collecting action figures.
Ada Wong (Resident Evil)
Ada usually shows up in the lists of best Resident Evil characters for how mysterious she is. During her first appearance, she had Leon S. Kennedy believe she was an innocent bystander until it turned out she was hired by a rival company to steal the G-virus sample.
Ada refrains from assassinating unless it’s her primary job, as she’s also known for her work as a spy and mole. Ada is entirely unpredictable in how she can convince anyone she’s on their side until she double-crosses them. Her use of lighter firearms is perfect for shooting someone unawares and her survival skills enable her to flee unnoticed.
Ezio Auditore (Assassin's Creed)
As the mentor of the Assassin network across Europe, Ezio was the premier Assassin of his time and is still recognized as a legendary figure in the present-day events of Assassin’s Creed. Ezio excels in everything from the use of ranged and melee weapons, combat, silent assassinations, and blending in with a crowd.
Most importantly, Ezio honors the Assassin code of respecting free will, meaning he keeps his blade reserved for those that are deemed unworthy to continue living. Ezio would have been a Master Assassin in any time period, with present-day protagonist Desmond Miles becoming exceptionally skilled by taking on Ezio’s abilities.