Hitman 3 review — A world made entirely out of Chekhov’s guns

Hitman works because developer IO Interactive builds the games as predictable and rigid machines. And as players, we control the key to this machine in Agent 47. IO’s job is to make sure that when players insert 47 into this mess of cogs and moving parts, that other parts of the machine awaken and present new opportunities for creativity. Hitman 3 in particular works because this machine is more intricate and fun to explore than ever thanks to its incredible levels.

Hitman 3 takes Agent 47 to a supertower in Dubai, a murder-mystery mansion in the English countryside, a warehouse nightclub in Berlin, and more. And each of these locations nail what I want from this series and from gaming more broadly. They are enticing possibility spaces that have attractive aesthetics, but they are also brimming with so many moving parts that certain locations, like Berlin, nearly feels alive.