Assassin’s Creed is one of the biggest video game franchises in history and it has the numbers to back it up. It has sold over 200 million copies and from that it has earned a legion of fans that are incredibly passionate about their favourite games in the series.
In a recent poll, fans of the Assassin’s Creed games have had their say on which games in the series are most worth your time by ranking them from worst to best.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that each Assassin’s Creed game takes place in a different period in history and follows the adventures of a different member of the Assassin Brotherhood. As a result, it’s not uncommon to hear that two AC fans prefer different entries in the series.
So, let’s take a look at the Assassin’s Creed series, ranked from worst to best, and see which game comes out on top.
Every Assassin’s Creed game, ranked
14. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles
If there’s one game in the series that you haven’t played, it’s probably Assassin’s Creed Chronicles.
OK, so, Chronicles isn’t just one game. It’s actually a collection of three games. Each of them vary from the mainline entries in the series by embracing 2.5D environments as side scrolling platformers.
It goes without saying that this gameplay style won’t be to everyone’s taste; however, each of the three entries in the Chronicles collection are set in places that are otherwise untouched by the series: China, India, and Russia.
Unfortunately, each game in the Chronicles collection received average reviews. So, if you’re going to skip anything in the franchise, make it Assassin’s Creed Chronicles.
13. Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Being the newest game in the series, you’d think that Assassin’s Creed Mirage would be higher on this list. That is, if you hadn’t actually played the game.
While it certainly isn’t bad, Mirage, which takes place in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, feels like a significant step back for the series.
Touted as a return to the series’ roots by dropping the RPG mechanics of recent games in favour of the stealth action of earlier titles, Mirage simply feels like it’s stuck in the 2010s.
I for one prefer the old style of Assassin’s Creed games. But it isn’t enough to simply go back to what they did before. You must build on and develop those mechanics to bring them up to modern standards.
Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way because Mirage comes in at 13th on this list.
12. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate was the last of the old style games before the series shifted into the RPG genre with Origins. It takes place in 19th century London and follows a brother and sister duo, Jacob and Evie, as they battle agains the Templars who have taken over London.
If you ask me, Syndicate is a solid entry in the franchise. However, it was released at a time when a lot of players were fatigued with the perceived formulaic approach the series had taken with its yearly releases.
11. Assassin’s Creed III
Assassin’s Creed III takes place during the American Revolution, a fascinating time in history that bore the world’s most powerful nation.
It follows assassin Connor Kenway (Ratonhnhaké:ton), the illegitimate, half British, half Native American son of templar Haytham Kenway as he explores Boston, New York City, and the American frontier.
AC III featured an all new engine and was a commercial success, going on to sell more than 12 million copies.
While it is fondly remembered by many Assassin’s Creed fans, it suffers from the fact it follows the Ezio trilogy, which was arguably the series’ peak.
Notably, Assassin’s Creed III also wrapped up the controversial Desmond Miles plot line which was introduced in the first game. So, at the very least, fans should be thanking it for that.
10. Assassin’s Creed Unity
Mention Assassin’s Creed Unity to any serious AC fan and they’ll tell you that it has the best parkour/free-running in the series. It’s smooth and fluid in a way that no subsequent game has replicated.
Unfortunately, Unity, which takes place during the French Revolution, launched as a broken and buggy mess which tainted it in the eyes of many players.
Despite having the best parkour in the series, a bustling 1:1 remake of 18th century Paris, and a refined combat system, Unity is still stuck under the shadow of its disastrous launch and mostly forgettable story.
9. Assassin’s Creed Rogue
Other than Chronicles, Assassin’s Creed Rogue is the next game you’re least likely to have played. That’s because it launched at exactly the same time as Assassin’s Creed: Unity in 2014.
Unlike Unity, which was developed for the eighth console generation, Rogue was stuck on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Consequently, most players were focussed on the former title.
Rogue is set before and during the French and Indian War from 1752 to 1760. In a cool change from other entries in the series, it follows Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin who defects from the Brotherhood to the Templar Order.
Gameplay wise, Rogue is very similar to Black Flag in that it features a mixture of naval exploration and traditional Assassin’s Creed antics.
8. Assassin’s Creed Revelations
Revelations represents a significant turning point in the series as the conclusion to the Ezio trilogy. It also features Altair, the protagonist of the first game.
The game is set in Constantinople during the 16th century with some flashback missions taking place in Masyaf between 1189 and 1257.
Revelations garnered positive reviews from critics. However, some felt that the series mechanics were becoming overly familiar.
If it wasn’t preceded by two better Ezio games, Revelations would probably be higher on this list.
7. Assassin’s Creed
Some will be disappointed to see that the game that started it all isn’t higher on this list. And while I understand that sentiment as someone who enjoyed it back in 2007, it’s easy to see why fans didn’t rank it higher on this list.
Assassin’s Creed follows assassin Altair Ibn-La’Ahad during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in 1191. With its innovative blend of parkour, stealth, and action, Assassin’s Creed took the gaming world by storm and kickstarted what would become one of the biggest franchises in gaming.
That said, Assassin’s Creed features one of the series’ most boring protagonists in Altair. And because his successor, Ezio, was so compelling, the original game seems inferior by comparison.
6. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was the first game in the series for the PS5 and Xbox Series X and ventured all the way back to Viking England.
An open-world game set during the Viking expansion feels like a dream and Valhalla mostly delivered where it needed to. However, I’ve always felt it doesn’t really work as an Assassin’s Creed game for somewhat obvious reasons. Assassin’s are stealthy, vikings are not. Blending the two simply doesn’t make sense.
Nevertheless, with its 6th place ranking on this list, players clearly enjoyed Eivor’s story of a Viking raider who becomes embroiled in the war between the Assassins and the Templars. The engrossing setting also helps, with the game offering players the chance to explore England like never before.
5. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
If you’re a fan of the sea faring that was introduced in Black Flag, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey brings it back with an enthralling shift to Ancient Greece.
Set during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta around 400 BC, Odyssey places you in the shoes of a Spartan mercenary who must battle the Cult of Kosmos.
Odyssey continues and refines the role playing mechanics that were introduced in Assassin’s Creed Origins, so how much you enjoyed it will depend on how much you like the RPG elements that were introduced in the previous game.
If you love the setting and mythology of Ancient Greece, Odyssey is the Assassin’s Creed game for you.
4. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
It followed Assassin’s Creed II, so Brotherhood had a pretty tough job when it came to impressing fans. Yet, somehow, it managed it and has found itself 4th on this list.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood continues the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze which was kicked off in AC II. It follows his fight against the Templars as he journeys to Rome to tackle the powerful Borgia family.
The ability to explore Renaissance Rome was adored by fans and the new multiplayer mode was also highlighted as a standout feature of the game.
While it isn’t quite as memorable as Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood continues the Ezio trilogy in fitting fashion.
3. Assassin’s Creed Origins
It’s third on this list but it’s also one of the most divisive games among Assassin’s Creed fans.
Origins marked a turning point in the series that saw the introduction of role playing mechanics and a move away from the stealth action of previous games. Sure, things needed a refresh. But, for many, it took away much of what they liked about the series.
For fans of the new RPG mechanics, Assassin’s Creed Origins is a high point in a franchise that was in desperate need of reinvention. That, coupled with the phenomenal setting of Ancient Egypt, catapults it all the way up to third place on this list.
2. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag could have been first on this list. Its pirate theme and excellent naval exploration and combat mechanics combined with the classic Assassin’s Creed formula make it an all-time highlight of the series.
Seriously, Black Flag makes you feel like Jack Sparrow in video game form. For a pirate game, what more could you want?
At the time, it was the most original thing the series had done and it was a resounding success for players and critics alike.
Black Flag continues the North American saga that began in Assassin’s Creed III. Chronologically, it is set before its predecessor and follows Connor’s grandfather, Edward Kenway.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Black Flag is the fact that no other pirate game has even come close to achieving the level of immersion it achieved over ten years ago.
1. Assassin’s Creed II
It’s almost a no-brainer. Even though it was only the second game in the series, Assassin’s Creed II is widely regarded as its pinnacle. Not only did it kick off the superb Ezio trilogy, it enhanced the mechanics that made the first game such a huge success.
What sets AC II apart, though, is its protagonist. Ezio Auditore da Firenze is the best character in the entire series. None have come close to him since his debut in 2009 and, at this point, it seems unlikely that he’ll ever be topped. For a series that’s infamous for its hollow protagonists, Ezio is an outlier.
What’s more, the Italian Renaissance setting persists as among the best in the series. Walking the streets of Florence and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Leonardo da Vinci is an experience that was, and continues to be, a complete joy.
Assassin’s Creed II might be older than every game on this list other than one – but its legacy continues to define the series.
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Source: Ranker
Which Assassin’s Creed game do you think is the best? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
