Assassin's Creed
Officially Assassin's Creed (franchise)
MASSIVE OPEN-WORLD historical action-adventure franchise developed by UBISOFT (France/Canada). Player controls ASSASSINS from ANCIENT BROTHERHOOD fighting eternal war against TEMPLARS across HISTORICAL SETTINGS (Crusades, Renaissance Italy, Colonial America, French Revolution, Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, Viking England, Feudal Japan). PARKOUR + STEALTH + HIDDEN BLADE ASSASSINATIONS + swords + naval combat + horseback riding. META-STORY of MODERN-DAY protagonists using ANIMUS machine to relive ancestors' memories. Launched 2007 with Assassin's Creed; 14+ mainline entries. 200+ MILLION UNITS SOLD (Ubisoft's biggest franchise).
What is Assassin's Creed?
Assassin's Creed is MASSIVE OPEN-WORLD historical action-adventure franchise developed + published by UBISOFT (Montreuil, France; primary development at Ubisoft Montréal). FIRST GAME: ASSASSIN'S CREED launched NOVEMBER 2007. CORE PREMISE: eternal war between ASSASSIN BROTHERHOOD (defending FREE WILL + individual liberty) + TEMPLAR ORDER (seeking order + control through hidden manipulation). Both factions seek PIECES OF EDEN — ancient artifacts left by pre-human 'ISU' civilization granting mind control + immortality + advanced technology. META-STORY: Modern-day protagonist (originally DESMOND MILES, later LAYLA HASSAN, others) uses ABSTERGO INDUSTRIES' ANIMUS machine to RELIVE ANCESTOR MEMORIES via DNA. Player controls: ALTAÏR IBN-LA'AHAD (AC1, 12th-century Crusades Holy Land), EZIO AUDITORE (AC2/Brotherhood/Revelations, 15th-16th Renaissance Italy — trilogy considered franchise peak), CONNOR KENWAY / RATONHNHAKÉ:TON (AC3, American Revolution), EDWARD KENWAY (AC4 Black Flag, Caribbean pirates), ARNO DORIAN (AC Unity, French Revolution), JACOB + EVIE FRYE (AC Syndicate, Victorian London), BAYEK OF SIWA (AC Origins, Ptolemaic Egypt), KASSANDRA / ALEXIOS (AC Odyssey, Peloponnesian War Greece), EIVOR VARINSDÓTTIR (AC Valhalla, Viking-era England), BASIM IBN ISHAQ (AC Mirage, 9th-century Baghdad), NAOE + YASUKE (AC SHADOWS 2024 — Feudal Japan first-ever). GAMEPLAY: THIRD-PERSON action-adventure. FEATURES PARKOUR climbing (running up buildings + rooftop travel), HIDDEN BLADE ASSASSINATION (iconic wrist blade for stealth kills), STEALTH systems (Eagle Vision / Odin Sight for enemy tagging), SWORD/AXE/BOW/GUN combat depending on era, NAVAL COMBAT in maritime entries (AC3/Black Flag/Rogue/Odyssey), HORSEBACK travel. RPG SHIFT: Origins (2017) transformed franchise to more RPG-focused (skill trees, gear levels, dialogue choices in Odyssey). CULTURAL IMPACT: brought HISTORICAL SETTINGS to mass audience (Renaissance Florence, Ancient Alexandria's Library, Colonial Boston Massacre — Ubisoft consults historians extensively). EDUCATIONAL: 'Discovery Tour' modes in Origins/Odyssey/Valhalla let players explore historical worlds without combat, used in schools. 200+ MILLION UNITS SOLD across franchise (Ubisoft's biggest); ANNUAL RELEASE model (2011-2019) burned out fans + led to 2-year gap → Origins reboot. Film adaptation (2016 with MICHAEL FASSBENDER, poorly received). Netflix live-action series in development (announced 2020, still unreleased). RECENT: AC MIRAGE (2023) return to stealth roots; AC SHADOWS (Nov 2024) first FEUDAL JAPAN entry with SAMURAI-vs-SHINOBI dual protagonists.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–4
Duration
~3000 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Historical open-world settings — cities, rural landscapes, oceans, mountains
Country of origin
🇫🇷 France
Estimated origin
November 13, 2007 (Assassin's Creed launch); 2009 (AC2 franchise peak); 2017 (Origins RPG reboot); November 2024 (AC Shadows — Feudal Japan)
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Complete each game's story arc — assassinate targets tied to Templar plots + uncover ancient Isu mysteries + participate in ancestor memory sequences.
Rules
Basic rules
PLAY as historical ASSASSIN — parkour + climb any building + rooftop travel
Parkour is franchise's defining mechanic.
USE HIDDEN BLADE for stealth assassinations — iconic wrist blade weapon
Signature kill mechanic; upgraded in later games.
COMBAT: swords (medieval), axes (Vikings), bows, guns (modern eras), spears (Odyssey)
Weapon variety per era.
SYNCHRONIZATION: complete objectives without detection + specific conditions for 100%
Encourages stealth over combat.
EAGLE VISION (or Odin Sight, Athena's Wisdom, etc.) to tag enemies + track
Detective mode variant across games.
META-STORY: Modern-day sequences using ANIMUS machine
Present-day framing narrative connects games.
RPG PROGRESSION (Origins+): skill trees, gear levels, dialogue choices
Modern AC games are proper RPGs.
Scoring
Narrative campaign — no numerical score; progression via story completion + skill trees + gear + optional 100% synchronization.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Complete story mission | Advance narrative + XP + rewards |
| Complete side quest / bounty / contract | XP + gold + occasional gear |
| Assassinate historical target (main story kill) | Story progression + Assassin's Creed sequence complete |
| 100% Synchronization on a mission | Bonus completion + achievement |
| Collectibles (feathers, treasure chests, Animus fragments) | Completionist rewards |
| Ubisoft Discovery Tour (educational mode) | Historical learning; no combat |
Win condition · Complete main story of chosen entry. Some games (Odyssey/Valhalla) have multiple endings based on choices.
Playing area
Called
Historical open-world settings — cities, rural landscapes, oceans, mountains
Dimensions
Ranges from ~10km² (early games) to 100km²+ (Odyssey/Valhalla)
Iconic recreations: Renaissance Florence + Venice + Rome + Constantinople, Ptolemaic Alexandria, Athens + Sparta, Viking England + Norway, Feudal Japan (Kyoto + Osaka + castles).
Equipment
PC (Windows via Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect) — recommended: GTX 1660+
Extensive PC support.
PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Series X-S/Switch (older titles)
All major platforms; Ubisoft+ subscription gives access to full library.
Individual game prices $40-70; Ubisoft+ subscription $15/month = access to all
Ubisoft+ is best value if you want to play multiple entries.
Controller strongly preferred (though M+K works on PC)
Designed for controller.
Strategies
USE STEALTH FIRST — assassinations more rewarding than open combat
Franchise DNA is stealth; combat is fallback.
CLIMB EVERYTHING — vantage points reveal map + shortcuts
Synchronization viewpoints unlock world map.
MASTER PARKOUR — hold RT/R2 + push stick to climb + traverse
Fluid parkour is franchise's core.
USE EAGLE VISION (or era equivalent) to tag enemies + identify targets
Detective mode reveals threats + objectives.
COMPLETE side content — many games' best stories are in side quests
Especially true for Odyssey + Valhalla.
MODERN AC (Origins+): SPEC INTO ONE COMBAT TREE — warrior OR assassin OR hunter
Trying to hybrid weakens builds.
USE HORSE/MOUNT — auto-navigation via minimap for long trips
Fast travel exists but riding immerses more.
TRY DISCOVERY TOUR (Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla) for educational play
Historical museum-quality tours; combat-free.
Terminology
- Assassin
- Brotherhood of hidden killers defending free will.
- Templar
- Rival order seeking control through hidden manipulation.
- Hidden Blade
- Iconic retractable wrist blade used for stealth kills.
- Animus
- Abstergo machine allowing memory reliving through DNA.
- Eagle Vision / Odin Sight
- Detective-mode vision tagging enemies + objectives.
- Piece of Eden
- Ancient Isu artifacts with mind-control / immortality powers.
- Isu / First Civilization
- Pre-human ancient advanced civilization.
- Desmond Miles
- Original modern-day protagonist (AC1-3).
- Ezio Auditore
- Renaissance-era Italian assassin; franchise fan favorite.
- Abstergo Industries
- Modern-day Templar front company.
- Synchronization
- Objective completion tied to matching ancestor's actions.
- Leap of Faith
- Iconic dive from height into haystack — parkour signature.
- Viewpoint
- High vantage points that reveal map when synchronized.
- Bureau
- Assassin hideout in cities (early games).
- Nothing is true, everything is permitted
- Assassin credo.
Major competitions
The Game Awards nominations (multiple years)
annual · worldwide · since 2014
Speedrun.com (various AC games)
ongoing · worldwide online · since 2010
No competitive multiplayer scene — single-player franchise
n/a · n/a
AC Brotherhood + Revelations had multiplayer (2010-2015; discontinued)
n/a · n/a · since 2010
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Ubisoft (developer/publisher)
Founded 1986 · Montreuil, France
Official site ↗Ubisoft Montréal (lead dev studio)
Founded 1997 · Montréal, Canada
Ubisoft Quebec (co-dev on some entries — Syndicate + Odyssey)
Founded 2005 · Quebec City, Canada
Ubisoft Sofia (co-dev on Rogue + Origins)
Founded 2006 · Sofia, Bulgaria
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Patrice Désilets — Original AC creative director (through AC2 Brotherhood)
- Yves Guillemot — Ubisoft CEO
- Nolan North — Voice of Desmond Miles (modern-day protagonist AC1-3)
- Roger Craig Smith — Voice of Ezio Auditore
- Ashly Burch (Kassandra), Michael Antonakos (Alexios) — AC Odyssey
- Cecilie Stenspil (Female Eivor), Magnus Bruun (Male Eivor) — AC Valhalla
- Masumi Tsunoda (Naoe), Tongayi Chirisa (Yasuke) — AC Shadows 2024
- Michael Fassbender — 2016 film adaptation
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Start with ASSASSIN'S CREED II (2009) — franchise peak + accessible
Widely considered best entry; Ezio's story is franchise DNA.
- 2
OR start with AC ORIGINS (2017) — modern RPG entry point
Better if you prefer modern RPG mechanics over 2000s action.
- 3
OR start with AC MIRAGE (2023) — return to stealth roots
Shorter (15-20 hours) and modernized classic AC feel.
intermediate
- 1
Complete EZIO TRILOGY (AC2 + Brotherhood + Revelations)
Franchise's storytelling apex; ~60 hours.
- 2
Try AC BLACK FLAG (pirate era) or AC ODYSSEY (Greek RPG) — fan favorites
Diverse experiences to sample scope.
- 3
Play AC VALHALLA + full DLCs for massive Viking experience
150+ hours; polarizing but ambitious.
advanced
- 1
Complete meta-story arc — AC1 through AC Shadows for full lore
Isu mysteries + present-day story pays off over 15+ games.
- 2
100% Synchronization in classic-era games (AC1-Unity)
Difficult stealth challenges.
- 3
Speedrun any% (~2-5 hours for various games)
Community rankings on speedrun.com.
- 4
Explore DISCOVERY TOUR modes (Origins/Odyssey/Valhalla)
Museum-quality historical education.
Frequently asked
Which Assassin's Creed should I start with?+
THREE GOOD OPTIONS depending on preference: (1) NEWCOMER wanting franchise essentials: START WITH ASSASSIN'S CREED II (2009) — widely considered best entry + Ezio Auditore is fan-favorite; 25-hour campaign; available in Ezio Collection remaster. (2) MODERN RPG PREFERENCE: START WITH ASSASSIN'S CREED ORIGINS (2017) or ODYSSEY (2018) — RPG mechanics + gorgeous historical settings (Ptolemaic Egypt or Classical Greece); 60-100 hour campaigns. (3) MODERN STEALTH PREFERENCE: START WITH ASSASSIN'S CREED MIRAGE (2023) — return to stealth roots + short 15-20 hour campaign + Baghdad setting. AVOID AS FIRST: AC1 (2007, dated + repetitive), AC Unity (2014, buggy launch though patched), AC Valhalla (150+ hours = massive time commitment). If you want feudal Japan: play AC SHADOWS (2024) — first Japan entry has samurai + shinobi dual protagonists.
Is Assassin's Creed dying?+
NO — franchise is Ubisoft's BIGGEST + still selling millions per release. AC SHADOWS (2024) sold 3M+ in first month; ONGOING development on multiple titles: AC HEXE (announced 2022, Central European witch-hunt setting), AC RED (Feudal Japan proto that became Shadows), AC INFINITY (live-service hub for future entries), Netflix LIVE-ACTION SERIES (announced 2020, still unreleased). Ubisoft's overall corporate struggles are real (multiple layoffs 2023-2024, disappointing Skull and Bones launch) but AC franchise itself remains commercial engine. Debate exists about DIRECTION — RPG-era entries (Origins/Odyssey/Valhalla) polarize longtime fans who preferred stealth-focused early games; Mirage's return-to-roots was well-received. Franchise is healthy but fanbase is fragmented across styles.
Do I need to play them in order?+
MOSTLY NO — each game is largely self-contained historically + gameplay-wise. HOWEVER: the META-STORY of Desmond Miles / Isu / First Civilization / Templar-Assassin war has running lore across games. Best combo approach: (1) PLAY IN ANY ORDER for gameplay + historical settings you find interesting. (2) IF INVESTED IN LORE, PLAY IN RELEASE ORDER (AC1 → AC2 → Brotherhood → Revelations → AC3 → Black Flag → Rogue → Unity → Syndicate → Origins → Odyssey → Valhalla → Mirage → Shadows) to follow lore progression. (3) EZIO TRILOGY (AC2 → Brotherhood → Revelations) MUST be played in order — single character's arc across three games. (4) Modern-day story wraps up with AC3 (Desmond Miles arc); subsequent games have looser meta-storylines. Casual players: play whichever era interests you most; jump around freely.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Assassin's Creed— Wikipedia
- Assassin's Creed official site— Ubisoft
- Assassin's Creed Fandom Wiki— Fandom