Alexis Kestler
Assassin’s Creed has captivated gamers for over a decade with its thrilling combination of stealth combat, parkour movement, and meticulously recreated historical settings. Since the first game released in 2007, the epic struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order has unfolded across numerous sequels, spin-offs and media adaptations.
Fans widely consider these 10 titles to be the best Assassin‘s Creed games ever made. From the Crusades of Jerusalem to the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, these immersive open-world adventures let players experience fascinating eras of history while unleashing lethal skills as a hooded assassin.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
The latest entry in the franchise, Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla brings the Viking invasion of England to life in stunning detail. After customizing their own Viking raider, players lead epic raids against Saxon troops and fortresses. The vast countrysides and kingdoms of 9th century England are open for exploration, from the misty shores of Norway to the bustling city of London.
Inspired by Norse mythology, the game integrates mystical elements like visions and cursed beings. The revamped combat allows for dual-wielding weapons like axes and swords in brutal, satisfying clashes. With the return of assassination missions, stealthy infiltration provides an alternate path to eliminating targets.
Valhalla received praise for its immersive game world rich with activities like hunting, drinking games, and even Viking rap battles. The settlement-building mechanic lets players witness the growth of their own thriving Viking colony. With deep character customization and expansive progression systems, Valhalla offersundreds of hours of content in one of the series‘ most fully-realized settings to date.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2020 |
| Platforms | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Odyssey
The epic world of Assassin‘s Creed Odyssey transports players back to Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War, letting them uncover mysteries of the Parthenon and Delphi on their quest to become a legendary Spartan hero.
Set 400 years before the original game, Odyssey broke series conventions by letting players choose between a male (Alexios) or female (Kassandra) protagonist and influence the story through dialogue options. Romance options with both genders reflect the norms of Ancient Greece.
The lush Greek landscapes provide a breathtaking backdrop for naval warfare and battles against mythological monsters like Medusa and the Minotaur within ancient tombs. Mercenary bounties offer challenging combat encounters across the map. The title also revamped RPG mechanics for deeper ability customization and a wider array of armor and weapons to conquer enemies and mythical beasts.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2018 |
| Platforms | PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia |
Assassin‘s Creed Black Flag
For many fans, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag stands as the franchise peak due to its swashbuckling pirate adventure theme set in the Caribbean during the early 1700s.
Players embodied Edward Kenway, a Welsh pirate trained by assassins to loot and plunder Spanish and British fleets while becoming embroiled in the ancient war between Templars and Assassins. Sailing the high seas in the Jackdaw ship while recruiting a pirate crew was a liberating experience. Naval battles, underwater shipwrecks to explore, and exotic islands full of hidden treasures beckoned players to embrace their inner pirate.
Vibrant Caribbean cities like Havana and Nassau were faithfully recreated, filled with drunken pirates singing sea shanties that could be collected. Hunting sharks and whales provided valuable materials for crafting upgrades. The inherently lawless life ofGolden Age pirates made for a refreshing departure from previous entries. A story touching on themes of desire, freedom and fate provided depth to the swashbuckling fun.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2013 |
| Platforms | PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, WiiU, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Brotherhood
A direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood continued the adventures of Ezio Auditore in 16th century Rome while adding several gameplay refinements.
With an expanded array of weapons like crossbows and poison darts, stealth assassinations reached new heights. Notable additions included recruiting assassins to call in support during battles, and renovating Rome by purchasing establishments that would generate income through a new economic system.
The multiplayer mode was widely praised, providing tense hidden identity gameplay where players had to identify and assassinate each other while avoiding detection themselves. With a compelling story that saw Ezio working alongside Niccolò Machiavelli to defend Rome from the Borgia family, Brotherhood improved upon every aspect of its predecessor.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2010 |
| Platforms | PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Revelations
Serving as the final chapter in Ezio’s saga, Assassin’s Creed Revelations followed an older, wiser version of the iconic assassin on a journey to explore his Order‘s origins in 15th Century Constantinople.
New gadgets like parachutes and homemade bombs expanded stealth and combat abilities. Refined animations allowed Ezio to swiftly dispatch groups of enemies with style. A new multiplayer mode built on the previous game, with new modes and maps to perfect the "hide in plain sight" gameplay against human opponents.
Exploring Desmond‘s story in the present day provided lore reveals for longtime fans. From scaling iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia to taking part in historical events like the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, Ezio’s final sendoff was a fitting conclusion to one of gaming’s most beloved protagonists.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2011 |
| Platforms | PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed II
The breakout hit that propelled the franchise to new heights, Assassin’s Creed II built upon the strong foundation of the original to create an engaging Renaissance Italy setting and one of gaming’s great protagonists in Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
Free-running across the rooftops of superbly realized Italian cities like Florence and Venice while silently eliminating conspiring nobles made players feel like a true assassin blessed with superhuman abilities. Upgrades to combat, exploration and weaponry added more gameplay depth.
Uncovering the devious machinations of the Borgia family alongside Leonardo DaVinci gave the story great energy. Scouring the landscape for hidden tombs and rare treasures made exploration addicting. The ending provided a tantalizing tease for future plot developments. combined with one of gaming‘s greatest settings, AC II established Assassin’s Creed as a premier franchise.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2009 |
| Platforms | PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Origins
Acting as a soft reboot for the franchise, Origins took players back to the very origin of the Brotherhood in Ancient Egypt during the reign of Cleopatra. The completely overhauled combat system provided more deliberate, tactical battles against dangerous Egyptian beasts and ruthless Roman enemies.
Based around skill trees, the new RPG progression system allowed for diverse character builds. The landscapes were filled with tombs, treasures and side activities without cluttering the minimalist UI and map with overwhelming icons common in previous entries.
From tense chariot races to gladiator arenas to challenging mythical boss battles within grand pyramids, Origins successfully reinvigorated the gameplay to create an engaging prequel. It laid the groundwork for the even deeper RPG mechanics explored further in later games.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Platforms | PS4, Xbox One, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Syndicate
Set in Victorian era London during the Industrial Revolution, Syndicate let players liberate the lower classes from Templar control as twin assassins Jacob and Evie Frye.
As gang leaders commanding a band of loyal rogues, the urban setting was leveraged for new gameplay innovations. Key upgrades included a grappling hook for swiftly traversing city blocks, carriages to commandeer in high speed chases, and even early firearms like revolvers.
The zipline allowed aerial assassinations from great heights, while the combat maintained momentum by incorporating weapons like cane swords and brass knuckles. Although lighter on RPG elements compared to later games, the acclaimed setting and refined gameplay mechanics of Syndicate helped usher in a renewed era for the franchise.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2015 |
| Platforms | PS4, Xbox One, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Rogue
Serving as a bridge between the early Americas saga and later 18th century entries, Assassin’s Creed Rogue provided a fresh perspective by casting players as a defected Assassin turned Templar operative.
Set during the 7 Years War, former Assassin Shay Cormac hunts down former comrades who threaten colonial stability in iconic locations like New York and the North Atlantic. Ship combat is enhanced with a diverse arsenal including fiery oil slicks and explosive fire barrels to overwhelm enemies. New ship types like frigates and man o‘ wars captured the scale of naval warfare.
Foreboding Arctic environments evoked the icy terrain of the modern day gameplay. Rogue offered a nuanced portrayal of the Assassins vs. Templar conflict by emphasizing Order and security over liberty. Fans praised the morally grey story and bold twists.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2014 |
| Platforms | PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC |
Assassin‘s Creed Unity
Arguably the most ambitious recreation of history ever achieved in gaming at the time, Unity faithfully brought revolutionary Paris to life in stunning detail, from the ornate Palace of Versailles to narrow back alleys.
Interior locations like Notre Dame Cathedral were designed with precision for authentic free running traversal and stealth. Crowds of thousands of individually animated NPCs milling about the streets made the city feel truly alive.
With a greater focus on customization, players could personalize their own stealthy assassin with specialized skills and gear. Four-player co-op missions provided new gameplay challenges. While technical issues marred its launch, Unity is considered one of the best urban playgrounds ever created once patches resolved major problems. The visual leap and dense world design set a new bar for the capabilities of virtual tourism.
| Developer | Ubisoft |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2014 |
| Platforms | PS4, Xbox One, PC |
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has taken players on an incredible journey through history. From the Third Crusade to ancient Greece to Victorian London, each new era provides fresh gameplay innovations and an immersive window into a meticulously rendered past world.
While every release has merits, these 10 titles stand out as the very best the series has offered. Their gripping historical settings combined with refined gameplay systems deliver everything fans love about Assassin’s Creed. Memorable assassin heroes, unprecedented attention to historical accuracy, and thrilling stealth action cement their statuses as must-play titles.
There has never been a better time to experience these assassin classics, whether embarking on your first leap of faith or reliving your favorites. With vivid worlds begging to be explored, challenging enemies to conquer, and hidden secrets to uncover, these definitive entries contain some of the most unforgettable virtual quests ever designed.
