Hitman 2 is a 2018 developed by . It is the seventh main instalment in the video game series, the sequel to 2016's and the second game in the World of Assassination trilogy. The game continues the story arc started in Hitman, following assassin as he searches for the mysterious "Shadow Client" who is trying to destroy Providence, a secretive organization that controls global affairs. It also explores more of 47's mysterious background, which Providence offered to bring to light in exchange for 47's assistance. Like its predecessor, the game is structured around six large sandbox locations that players can freely explore to find opportunities to eliminate their targets. It also included two online multiplayer modes called Sniper Assassin and Ghost Mode, though the game's for both modes have since been shut down; Sniper Assassin can still be played single-player.
Sales of the 2016 episodic game Hitman fell short of expectations, prompting the series' publisher to sell IO Interactive, which became an independent studio after a . With a limited cash flow, the studio laid off nearly half of its employees and had to reduce the scope of the sequel, whose development was about 25% completed. Because the framework had been created with the previous game, development of Hitman 2 was faster than usual, taking about twenty-one months. The first game's episodic model was abandoned and Hitman 2 was released in full. IO Interactive supported the game with additional content after release, including two paid maps and free elusive targets and contracts.
Hitman 2 was released for , , and by in November 2018 and by IO Interactive in September 2020. It received generally positive reviews, with most critics viewing it as an improvement over its predecessor and praising its varied locations, sandbox design, gameplay enhancements, humour and assassination opportunities. However, the story and the multiplayer modes received a mixed response. Hitman 2 recuperated its developmental costs but its launch during a crowded release window negatively affected sales. , the conclusion of the World of Assassination trilogy, was released in January 2021.
Like the first game in the World of Assassination series, Hitman 2 is a that is played from a . The player assumes control of , an assassin whose targets are scattered across the world. The game has eight missions that are set in , ; , ; a village in ; the slums of , ; a suburb of called Whittleton Creek; and a fictional North Atlantic island called Sgàil, set within the maritime borders of . The game's (DLC) includes new locations: a bank in and a resort in the . Players can download all of the chapters from Hitman if the player owns it or has bought the content as DLC, which incorporates the gameplay changes added to Hitman 2 and allows Hitman to be played within Hitman 2's improved . Each of the game's locations is a sandbox-type environment players can explore. Players must understand the layout of the maps to identify infiltration opportunities.
Gameplay structure and design are largely similar to those of Hitman (2016). Players use variety of firearms and gadgets to eliminate their targets, and can use stealth tactics because Agent 47 is fragile in combat. The bodies of dead targets must be hidden to avoid detection. Alternatively, players can explore each location and eavesdrop on conversations to discover "missions stories", which are scripted mission sequences that help Agent 47 identify the location and routine of targets, and uncover unconventional infiltrations or opportunities to kill. Kills can be disguised as accidental deaths. Access to some areas of the game is restricted; players must gain access by obtaining a disguise either by incapacitating (NPCs) or by finding it somewhere in the map. Agent 47 can use "Instinct mode" to identify the targets' locations.
