If you're looking for a guide to the best assassin games, you're in the right place. We've put together a list of our favorite titles that take the contract killing genre and elevate it, offering gameplay experiences that are sure to keep you on your toes and test your stealth skills. Of course, we've got a couple of games from series such as Assassin's Creed and Hitman, but there are plenty of other options if you're looking for something a little different.
If you check out all the options and still can't find anything that interests you, we've also got guides to the best mobile games, the best Steam Deck games, and the best Nintendo Switch games. Or, if you're thinking about picking up some new hardware, see our guides to the best gaming phones and the best handheld consoles.
Here are the best assassin games:
Assassin's Creed: Shadows
Portable platforms: Steam Deck and Windows handhelds
Heralded as a return to form for Ubisoft's flagship series, Assassin's Creed: Shadows is a monumental journey through Japan's Sengoku period, putting you in the shoes of a samurai and a shinobi ninja. As with other AC games, it's action-packed and features some truly fulfilling kill animations, with glorious in-game visuals that would have seemed unimaginable when the first game in the series arrived in 2007.
The open world of Assassin's Creed: Shadows is massive, offering over 50 hours of gorgeous gameplay for any avid completionist. It also features a bunch of iconic Japanese weaponry to get your hands on, which, as is par for the course with an Assassin's Creed game, you can use creatively to take down your targets. If you haven't got a Steam Deck or Windows handheld, good news: Shadows is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2.
Hitman 3
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
Arguably, one of the most famous assassin game franchises out there is Hitman. In fact, it's likely to thank for the genre's popularity, since it's been on the scene since 2000. In the majority of Hitman games, across all platforms, you play as Agent 47, a bald assassin who has a penchant for creativity when it comes to getting the job done. Hitman 3 is no different, as you, yet again, take up arms as the famed assassin.
Hitman 3 takes you around the world, with each location being unique in its own way, as every area boasts numerous ways of getting the job done. Seriously, let your creativity run wild and have some fun with these contracts. You can use poison, guns, knives, disguises, and more to get what you want. To find out more, read our Hitman 3 Switch review.
Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch
This entry shouldn't be too much of a surprise, especially since Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection features one of the most beloved entries in the series, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, which brings the worlds of pirating and assassination together as you take on the role of a pirate with a penchant for sticking knives in backs. Yes, it's as fun as it sounds.
Furthermore, you get to explore a gorgeous open world in the Caribbean and command your own ship - now get out there and see if you can become a legend like Captain Jack Sparrow. For more great games like this, where you get to sail the seven seas and search for booty, we suggest sailing over to our best pirate games list.
Hunter Assassin
Portable platforms: Android and iOS
This game takes a more simplistic approach than some of the other assassin games on this list, but like any good hitman, it gets the job done. You get a brief on your target, head out with a weapon, and get to work. Considering it's a mobile game, it's got a really engaging gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more.
Typically, you can hide behind crates and around corners and sneak up on your unsuspecting victims. However, as you progress further in the game, more and more targets are around at once - remember, patience is a virtue.
Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch
Yes, this is a second Switch entry for the same franchise, but what do you expect when it literally has the word 'assassin' in the title? Plus, Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection features all three of Ezio's outings, and he's arguably the most beloved assassin to come from the games.
You get to traverse the rooftops, hide in the shadows, and explore luscious worlds in Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and Assassin's Creed: Revelations. If you want to learn more about the games and see how they're fair on Nintendo Switch, you can check out our Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection review.
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
Okay, so technically, you don't strictly play as an assassin in Ninja Gaiden, but since you play as a highly skilled killer who can use the shadows to their advantage, I'm going to include it on this list anyway.
The Master Collection features Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. If you're familiar with the series, you likely know that it's infamous for its challenge, but hey, if you can overcome it and beat those bosses, just think of the bragging rights you get.
Stealth Master: Assassin Ninja
Portable platforms: Android and iOS
Stealth Master: Assassin Ninja is one of the more arcade-style options on our list of the best assassin games, but it's a lot of fun for a free-to-play game. Sure, the character designs aren't as in-depth as Assassin's Creed or Hitman, but sniper headshots and sneaky kills still feel just as cathartic.
With countless levels to take on, a massive cast of characters including bootleg versions of Batman and Lara Croft, and more than enough ways to carry out your kills, there's plenty here to get stuck into. Just remember: stealth is key. It's right there in the title.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
Okay, so you're not exactly an assassin in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but there are enough stealthy kills to make the list. This third installment of the iconic MGS series sees Snake work his way through a dense jungle, taking on enemies from afar and up close with the Close Quarters Combat system.
Your mission is to rescue Sokolov, the creator of the nuclear-armed Shagohod tank, but more than a few adversaries stand in your way. Fortunately, these opponents make for some of the best boss battles in the series, with the duel against The End being one of the most talked-about boss confrontations of all time. Even if you're not a massive fan of Metal Gear, this one is well worth playing at least once.
Katana Zero
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
If you're looking for an assassin game with some retro vibes, Katana Zero might be the one for you. With its neon game world, action-packed battle sequences, and engaging cinematic sequences, this is a properly captivating experience, and it's all too easy to find yourself coming back time and again for more sword-slashing action.
Still, my favorite part of this game is the boss battles. They're challenging, but try them enough times, and you realize what weaknesses you can exploit. It's a rewarding experience and one I'd recommend if you've had your fill of Assassin's Creed and fancy something a little different.
Sniper Elite 4
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, iOS, and Windows handhelds
It's a little bit of a stretch to include Sniper Elite 4 in our list of the best assassin games, as you technically aren't a contract killer, but you sneak around with a sniper, so I'm counting it. This game's sprawling campaign across a war-torn Italy pushes even the finest shooter to their limits as you take out the Axis to reclaim the land. That land happens to be gorgeous, by the way, with some stunning views of southern Italy hiding behind enemy defenses.
For me, the best thing about Sniper Elite 4 is the X-ray kill cam. You get to watch your successful headshots back in slow motion, as if they were highlights from a soccer match, in visceral detail. While it might be a bit gory for some, nothing says a job well done to me like watching a bullet fly through the head of an enemy while their fellow troops flee in panic or try to take cover.