Hitman: Absolution

No, Hitman: Absolution is not part of the World of Assassination trilogy (Hitman 2016, Hitman 2, and Hitman 3). It is the fifth main entry in the series and follows Hitman: Blood Money, but its more linear, story-driven approach differs significantly from the sandbox-style levels that define the later trilogy.

Yes, Hitman: Absolution includes a Contracts mode where players can create custom assassination missions by selecting targets within existing levels and challenging other players to complete them. This feature was one of the early precursors to the creative sandbox spirit later expanded in the World of Assassination games.

Many long-time Hitman fans criticized Absolution for its linear level design, heavy emphasis on cinematic storytelling, and a disguise system that made stealth more difficult compared to Blood Money. The game also introduced an instinct mechanic and more scripted sequences, which some felt moved the series away from its open-ended assassination roots.

Hitman: Absolution was originally released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC in 2012, and was not natively ported to PS4 or Xbox One. However, it was included in the Hitman HD Enhanced Collection released in 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One, featuring upgraded visuals and performance.