I've paid no attention to Hitman: Absolution other than watching its adverts and short gameplay clips, and I honestly didn't know it was a stealth game.

Contracts is, without question, one of the best examples of masterful stealth/assassination gameplay and world design. It truly is the pinnacle of madhouse murder fun times.

Sly Cooper was a easy yet complex stealth masterpiece that also benefitted from the almost unique quality of actually getting better through the sequels. Loved those games.

Whereas I consider the Assassin's Creed games to be more assassination than stealth focused, the multiplayer is one of the finest examples of stealth gameplay.

And, lastly, Elder Scrolls. Though a very simple mechanic, it is bundles of fun.