Ubisoft’s Murderer’s Creed franchise has lined a whole lot of floor in its 16 years. The Murderer-Templar battle has taken gamers throughout 5 continents, from Historic Greece to Victorian London, spanning 2,300 years of historical past over the course of 13 mainline video games.
With new AC video games nonetheless on the horizon, we’ve put collectively this chronology of the Murderer’s Creed timeline to this point. This chronology solely consists of mainline Murderer’s Creed video games; spinoff video games aren’t included on this listing given their lack of significance to the ongoing Murderer’s Creed narrative.
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How Many Assassin’s Creed Games Are There?
There are presently 13 Assasin’s Creed games in the fundamental sequence and 17 further spinoff video games. Outdoors of video video games, there’s additionally an Assassin’s Creed board sport and an Assassin’s Creed TV sequence coming to Netflix sooner or later.
How to Play the Murderer’s Creed Sport In Order
There are two methods to have a look at the Murderer’s Creed chronology. First: In the order of the video games’ modern-day storylines. This selection is smart contemplating the connective narrative of every mainline sport is advised by way of the current day. The current-day story progresses chronologically with every launch, so should you’d like to play the video games this manner, merely scroll down to the part how to play the Murderer’s Creed Games by launch date. In case you’re dedicated to enjoying by way of the entirety of the franchise, that is the order we suggest, because it’s the greatest method to observe the overarching story and expertise the franchise’s evolution from stealth-action video games to open-world RPGs.
The second possibility (detailed beneath) presents the video games in order by their historic settings. These tales aren’t as intertwined as their modern-day counterparts, however they’re the place you’ll spend the overwhelming majority of your time in Murderer’s Creed. That is extra helpful as a matter of curiosity than a sensible enjoying information.
The Murderer’s Creed Games in Chronological Order
With sequence newcomers in thoughts, the temporary plot synopses beneath include solely gentle spoilers equivalent to broad plot factors, historic settings, and character introductions.
1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 B.C.–422 B.C.)
- Main setting: Historic Greece
- Historic Protagonist: Cassandra or Alexios
- Trendy Protagonist: Layla Hassan
Set almost 400 years sooner than some other mainline sport, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey expanded on the RPG parts launched in Origins to full its genre-turn from stealth-based motion to open-world RPG.
You play as Cassandra or Alexios, the grandchildren of Sparta’s King Leonidas I. Odyssey is about throughout the Peloponnesian Battle between Sparta and Athens, and options key historic figures from that interval, together with Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato. It weaves the interval’s historical past with its mythology, introducing creatures equivalent to the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa.
Odyssey is about earlier than the formation of the Murderer and Templar orders, although it does function a key Piece of Eden* in the Spear of Leonidas.
*Items of Eden are highly effective technological artifacts created by a precursor race of beings referred to as The First Civilization. The items of Eden and the First Civilization are constants all through the mainline video games that join the previous and fashionable storylines.
2. Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 B.C.–44 B.C.)
- Main setting: Historic Egypt
- Historic Protagonist: Bayek of Siwa
- Trendy Protagonist: Layla Hassan
After releasing a brand new Assassin’s Creed sport annually from 2009-2015, Ubisoft took a yr off and returned in 2017 with Assassin’s Creed Origins, a mushy reboot of the franchise and the sequence’ first sport to introduce RPG mechanics.
Origins is primarily set in Historic Egypt throughout the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, although its historic inspiration extends to Rome and the rule of Julius Caesar. Many Assassin’s Creed tales kick off as tales of vengeance, solely to unfurl into larger-scale tales of political conspiracy. Origins follows this sample: The demise of Bayek and Aya’s son serves as the impetus for his or her journey, although as the story progresses, the duo uncover a proto-Templar group referred to as the Order of the Ancients and finally type the Hidden Ones, the first incarnation of the Assassins.
The fashionable story, in the meantime, introduces Layla Hassan, who serves as the present-day protagonist for Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.
3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861–???)
- Main setting: ninth Century Baghdad
- Historic Protagonist: Basim Ibn Ishaq
- Trendy Protagonist: N/A
Launched in 2023, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the sequence’ most up-to-date installment. Fairly than a full-priced open-world RPG, Mirage is a $50 USD stealth-focused journey designed as “an homage to the first Assassin’s Creed video games.” Ubisoft describes it as “a shorter, extra narrative-driven sport than latest entries in the sequence.”
Assassin’s Creed Mirage stars a 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a road thief with “nightmarish visions” who’d go on to play a vital function in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Mirage will inform the story of Basim, with the steering of his mentor Roshan, escaping Baghdad en route to the Hidden Ones’ fortress of Alamut.
In contrast to the different entries on this listing, Mirage does not prominently function the present-day storyline. You may learn our full evaluate of Assassin’s Creed Mirage for extra particulars.
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872–878)
- Main setting: ninth Century England and Norway
- Historic Protagonist: Eivor Varinsson/Varinsdottir
- Trendy Protagonist: Layla Hassan
Assassin’s Creed’s Valhalla is the sequence’ enterprise into Norse historical past and mythology. It is simply the sequence’ greatest sport; the common time to full its fundamental story is 60 hours, in accordance to How Long to Beat (15 hours longer than the subsequent greatest, Odyssey). Like Odyssey, Valhalla integrates its setting’s historical past with its mythology, introducing real-life characters — King Harald Fairhair, King Aelfred the Nice, Rollo — and mythological figures equivalent to Fenrir and Odin.
It continues the battle between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients whereas balancing the extra private story of Eivor and their clan’s pilgrimage from a resource-barren Norway to the extra fertile lands of England.
The fashionable-day story seemingly concludes the three-game arc of Layla Hassan.
5. Assassin’s Creed (1191)
- Main setting: twelfth Century Holy Land (Acre, Damascus, Jerusalem)
- Historic Protagonist: Altair Ibn’La-Ahad
- Trendy Protagonist: Desmond Miles
The primary Assassin’s Creed takes place 300 years after Valhalla and introduces us to the sequence’ authentic protagonist, Altair Ibn’La-Ahad. Assassin’s Creed laid the groundwork for the franchise’s subsequent 15 years of success, introducing foundational gameplay parts like climbing and assassinations whereas additionally laying the groundwork for the time-hopping Murderer-Templar narrative.
It introduces key narrative ideas like the Items of Eden and the Animus, the in-universe system that enables every sport’s modern-day protagonist to relive the recollections of their historic counterparts by way of DNA.
The previous story sees Altair looking down 9 Templars throughout the Third Campaign, whereas the present-day story introduces Desmond Miles and the fashionable Murderer-Templar battle that runs by way of AC III.
6. Assassin’s Creed II (1476–1499)
- Main setting: Fifteenth Century Italy
- Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
- Trendy Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin’s Creed 2 launched the sequence’ longest-lasting protagonist, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. A favourite amongst Assassin’s Creed followers, Ezio’s story ran from 2009’s AC II by way of 2011’s AC: Revelations.
Ezio seeks to avenge the demise of his father and brother, although his hunt for vengeance leads him to uncover a much bigger conspiracy and locations him at the middle of the struggle between the Assassins and Templars. Assassin’s Creed II takes gamers all through Italy, from Florence to the Vatican, and introduces Ezio to historic figures like Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Pope Alexander VI.
In the current day, Desmond begins his work with the Assassins.
7. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (1499–1507)
- Main setting: Fifteenth-Sixteenth Century Italy
- Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
- Trendy Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is a continuation of AC II in each the previous and modern-day storylines. The fallout from AC II creates a brand new antagonist for Ezio, who embarks on one other revenge quest whereas working to rebuild Rome’s weakened Assassins Guild and retrieve the Apple of Eden.
In the current day, Desmond and the fashionable Assassins head to Italy in search of that very same Apple of Eden, a Piece of Eden that will assist them stop the prophesized finish of the world.
8. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (1511–1512)
- Main setting: Sixteenth Century Constantinople
- Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
- Trendy Protagonist: Desmond Miles
The conclusion of the Ezio trilogy unites the narrative of the Italian murderer along with his predecessor, Altair. An older Ezio travels to Constantinople in search of Altair’s hidden library, which was thought to include invaluable knowledge. In Constantinople, Ezio searches for the keys wanted to open the library — every of which possesses a key reminiscence in Altair’s life. Assassin’s Creed Revelations finally reveals Ezio’s function in the wider AC narrative.
In the current, a comatose Desmond is trapped in the Animus, the place he works with a previous Animus person to escape “the Black Room” and return to consciousness.
Revelations additionally options one among the sequence’ greatest trailers (above) first proven at E3 2011.
9. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (1715–1722)
- Main setting: 18th Century Caribbean Islands
- Historic Protagonist: Edward Kenway
- Trendy Protagonist: Unnamed Abstergo Worker
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is greatest remembered for introducing the sequence’ naval gameplay. It is set two centuries after Ezio’s trilogy and roughly 40 years earlier than the beforehand launched Assassin’s Creed III.
Black Flag stars Edward Kenway, an 18th-century pirate and the grandfather of AC III protagonist Connor Kenway. It options infamous real-life pirates of the period, equivalent to Edward Thatch (Blackbeard), Benjamin Hornigold, and Mary Learn. It additionally introduces Adéwalé, the protagonist of the DLC-turned-standalone-spinoff Freedom Cry. After unknowingly killing an Murderer, Edward finds himself embroiled in the Murderer-Templar battle and on the hunt for a secret First Civilization website referred to as The Observatory.
The fashionable-day story stars an unnamed Abstergo worker tasked with reliving Connor’s life in order to create a movie (although, unsurprisingly, Abstergo’s true intentions are extra nefarious).
10. Assassin’s Creed Rogue (1752–1760)
- Main setting: 18th Century American Northeast
- Historic Protagonist: Shay Patrick Cormac
- Trendy Protagonist: Abstergo Worker “Numbskull”
Assassin’s Creed Rogue serves as a story bridge between AC III and AC IV. It stars Shay Patrick Cormac, an Irish-American Murderer turned Templar looking down a Piece of Eden. Templar Grand Grasp Haytham Kenway, the son of AC 4 protagonist Edward and father of AC III protagonist Connor, seems all through the story.
In the current, you play as one other Abstergo worker, referred to as “Numbskull,” doing the bidding of the modern-day Templars.
11. Assassin’s Creed III (1754–1783)
- Main setting: 18th Century Colonial America
- Historic Protagonist: Ratonhnhaké “Connor” Kenway
- Trendy Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Following a 1754-set sequence throughout which you play as Haythem Kenway, Assassin’s Creed 3 begins in earnest with Haythem’s son Ratonhnhaké:ton, a.okay.a Connor. Set largely throughout the American Revolution, Connor seeks to shield his tribe from the battle and the First Civilization’s Grand Temple from the Templars.
AC III is loaded with historic figures, together with George Washington, Sam Adams, Charles Lee, and Benjamin Franklin.
The current-day story concludes Desmond’s arc, as he and the different modern-day Assassins collect in the aforementioned Grand Temple to stop the prophesized finish of the world on December 21, 2012.
12. Assassins Creed Unity (1789–1794)
- Main setting: 18th Century France
- Historic Protagonist: Shay Patrick Cormac
- Trendy Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Participant
Whereas Assassin’s Creed Unity options scenes that span from 1307 to the mid-1900s, it is primarily set throughout the peak of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1794. It stars French Murderer Arno Dorian, who turns into concerned in the Murderer-Templar battle whereas embarking on one more quest for vengeance.
Historic figures embrace Napoléon Bonaparte, Marquis de Sade, and King Louis XVI.
Unity’s modern-day story is amongst the least memorable, because it eliminated gameplay totally in favor of cutscenes and finally proved inconsequential to the ongoing narrative. You play as a gamer enjoying Helix, Abstergo’s Animus-powered gaming software program created to push Templar propaganda and acquire unsuspecting customers’ DNA.
13. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (1868)
- Main setting: Victorian London
- Historic Protagonists: Jacob and Evie Frye
- Trendy Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Participant
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate stars twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye, twin Assassins clearing London of Templar management whereas in search of a Piece of Eden. Whereas a sure facet mission extends the timeline to WWI, the majority of Syndicate is about in 1868. Notable historic figures embrace Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Darwin, and in the future sequence, Winston Churchill.
Syndicate stars the identical modern-day character as Unity, who’s working with the Assassins to find one other Piece of Eden in London.
How to Play The Murderer’s Creed Games By Launch Date
- Assassin’s Creed (2007)
- Assassin’s Creed II (2009)
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (2010)
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (2011)
- Assassin’s Creed III / Liberation (2012)
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag / Freedom Cry (2013)
- Assassin’s Creed Rogue (2014)
- Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014)
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015)
- Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017)
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020)
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (2023)
- Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR (2023)
Way forward for Assassin’s Creed Games
Ubisoft has a complete slate of Assassin’s Creed initiatives in the works. Assassin’s Creed Codename Purple has formally been revealed as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a brand new sport going down in Feudal Japan. IGN visited Ubisoft’s Québec studio to get an inside have a look at the open world sport, which is about to launch on November 15. As well as, an Assassin’s Creed present is reportedly still in the works at Netflix, whereas Tencent’s mobile-exclusive title, Assassin’s Creed Jade, has been delayed to 2025.
This is the rundown of upcoming Assassin’s Creed initiatives we learn about to this point:
Jordan covers video games, exhibits, and flicks as a contract author for IGN.