Killing people is often glorified way out of proportion in video games. There are some games in which a player goes around killing hundreds ofenemies, sometimes even just random NPCs as in GTA 5, and it’s true that doing too much of something causes it to lose its charm.

Every Main Assassin’s Creed Game, Ranked By Story

Which Assassin’s Creed game has the best narrative?

There are other games that require players to put in an effort when killing a target. Such games are usually about assassinating fictional people with finesse, and the intriguing logistics spent on planning and executing a fake assassination in video game form is what keeps players coming back. While there are certain exceptions to this, these six playable assassins play as some of the best ones in the video gaming industry.

Assassin’s Creed Stories Ranked

Borderlands 2

Yes, Zero will kill a lot of people during a playthrough ofBorderlands2, and often without any finesse at all; just an automatic weapon spraying bullets in all directions, taking down any enemy unfortunate enough to cross its path. But that’s just the nature of the game. Once players unlock Zero’s abilities, like Killing Blow and the ultimate ability, Decepti0n, his assassin side truly starts to show.

10 Games To Play If You Love Borderlands

Co-op chaos, looter shooters or wasteland warfare: we’ve got it all!

Zero’s origins are deliberately kept ambiguous, but scattered hints suggest he may not even be human. His enigmatic personality is further accentuated by his preference for communicating in cryptic haikus. He appears as a Vault Hunter, a playable character in Borderlands 2, and as a quest-giver in Borderlands 3.

Zero with a white skin in the main menu of Borderlands 2

5Travis Touchdown

No More Heroes Franchise

No More Heroes

Travis Touchdown is a far cry from the traditional assassin archetype. The protagonist of the No More Heroes series is a pop-culture-loving, anime-obsessed otaku who uses a beam katana as his weapon and decides to climb the ranks of the United Assassins Association. His scornful personality, over-the-top moves and absurd journey make him a very different assassin from what’s usually depicted in video games.

Travis dispatches his enemies with style, blending fast-paced hack-and-slashcombatwith strategic finishing moves. His battles against the assassins are fun and satisfying, with each boss featuring creative designs, unique combat mechanics and a dose of surreal humor. The No More Heroes series thrives on its chaotic blend of humor, violence and style, and Travis is at the heart of it all.

Three panels featuring Dust and Neon, Borderlands 2, and Deep Rock Galactic

4Corvo Attano

Dishonored

The silent protagonist of the firstDishonoredgame is a master assassin driven by vengeance and justice. Corvo Attano, once a loyal bodyguard to Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, was framed for her murder, leaving him no choice but to become an assassin to clear his name and protect her daughter, Emily.

Corvo’s arsenal of assassination tools is vast and versatile. Players can choose betweennon-lethaland lethal approaches, using gadgets like crossbows, spring razors and pistols. His supernatural powers, granted by the mysterious Outsider, make it so that playing as him is fun and creative. Blink allows him to teleport short distances, which is key in traversing vertical sections of maps or quickly escaping after getting detected, while powers like Bend Time and Possession pave the way for creative and devastating strategies.

Travis Touchdown wearing yellow tinted shades in No More Heroes

3Jin Sakai

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushimais the Assassin’s Creed game fans never got, and the story of its protagonist, Jin Sakai, is one of revenge and sacrifice. Set during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima in 1274, Jin began as a traditional samurai, bound by a code of honor. As the invasion progressed, however, he went against that code and adopted unconventional and stealthy tactics of an assassin, something that his uncle remonstrated him for, to become “The Ghost,” a symbol of hope for the locals and fear for the Mongols.

Review: Ghost of Tsushima

Sony is sending the PlayStation 4 off with a phenomenal lineup for 2020, as Ghost of Tsushima is without a doubt Sucker Punch’s best game to date.

Jin’s transformation into an assassin was out of necessity; he chose to abandon his code of honor and use dishonorable ways to kill just so he could match the power of the Mongols and better protect his people. Players can also use tools like smoke bombs, kunai and poison darts to silently eliminate enemies. His Ghost Stance, unlocked through the story, further enhanced his assassin-like abilities, allowing him to terrify and dispatch foes with brutal efficiency.

Corvo Attano without a mask in Dishonered

What makes Jin a standout assassin is his internal conflict. While his methods save lives, they alienate him from his samurai upbringing and allies. This struggle between tradition and survival creates a layered, emotionally-rich portrayal of an assassin.

Hitman Games

Agent 47 is the quintessential video game assassin, blending cold-hearted professionalism with unmatched skill. A genetically-engineered clone, 47 was created to be the perfect killing machine, and that’s what he becomes.

The Hitman series revolves around sandbox-style levels where players can approach targets in countless ways. From disguising himself to infiltrate secure areas to setting up elaborate accidents, Agent 47’s versatility is his greatest weapon. The tools at his disposal include the fiber wire, hisiconic twin Silverballersand his trademark briefcase, which comes in different forms, sometimes becoming a weapon itself, as is the case with the Homing Briefcase in Hitman 2, other times just carrying a sniper rifle.

Agent 47 is probably the most assassin-like assassin in video games with a stoic nature and single-minded focus on completing his assignments. But despite that, he shows hints of humanity emerge throughout the series, adding depth to his character.

1Ezio Auditore Da Firenze

Assassin’s Creed 2

Assassin’s Creed 2

Who else would snag the top spot except Ezio? First introduced inAssassin’s Creed II, Ezio Auditore is perhaps the most-beloved assassin in video game history. His transformation from a brash young noble to a seasoned leader of the Assassin Brotherhood spans decades and three mainline games and is probably the reason why every fan of the series loves him.

Ezio’s journey begins as a typical revenge story following the wrongful execution of his family. With no other choice left, he takes up the hidden blade, a signature weapon of the assassins, to avenge his family, and becomes a master of combat, parkour and stealthy executions. Ezio’s charm, wit and growth as a character make him relatable, and his adventures across Renaissance Italy are steeped in historical events, making his story incredibly memorable.

Assassin’s Creed: Every Assassin Ranked

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been consistently releasing games for over fifteen years now. This raises a question: who is the best Assassin?