Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has captivated gamers for 18 years, taking them on a thrilling journey across five continents and through 2,300 years of history. From the ancient streets of Greece to the bustling alleys of Victorian London, the series has explored diverse settings through 13 mainline games, each weaving the epic tale of the Assassin-Templar conflict.
With the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we've compiled a comprehensive chronology of the Assassin's Creed timeline. This guide focuses solely on the mainline games, as the spinoffs, while entertaining, do not significantly impact the overarching narrative.
*For a deeper dive into the historical eras featured in Assassin's Creed, explore our full guide to the Assassin's Creed timeline.*
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There are currently 14 mainline Assassin's Creed games, alongside 17 spinoff titles. Beyond video games, the franchise has expanded into a board game and a forthcoming TV series on Netflix.
Choosing where to start in the Assassin's Creed saga can be daunting, but it's best to begin with a game set in an era that piques your interest. The original Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is renowned for its compelling narrative and character development. For those interested in more recent entries, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers an engaging pirate-themed adventure, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey immerses players in the world of ancient Greece.
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There are two primary ways to experience the Assassin's Creed series: by the modern-day storyline or by the historical settings. Playing in release order follows the modern-day narrative, which connects each game and showcases the franchise's evolution from stealth-action to open-world RPGs. This approach is ideal for those looking to follow the overarching story.
Alternatively, playing in chronological order based on historical settings offers a unique perspective on the series' historical scope. While these stories are less interconnected, they provide a fascinating journey through time.
The following summaries contain mild spoilers such as broad plot points, historical settings, and character introductions, designed to be informative for series newcomers.
Primary setting: Ancient Greece
Historic Protagonist: Cassandra or Alexios
Modern Protagonist: Layla Hassan
Set nearly 400 years before any other mainline game, Assassin's Creed Odyssey fully embraces RPG elements, transforming the series into an open-world adventure. Players assume the role of Cassandra or Alexios, descendants of Sparta's King Leonidas I, navigating the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. The game intertwines historical figures like Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato with mythological creatures such as the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa. Although set before the Assassin and Templar orders, it introduces the Spear of Leonidas, a key Piece of Eden.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Odyssey Wiki
Primary setting: Ancient Egypt
Historic Protagonist: Bayek of Siwa
Modern Protagonist: Layla Hassan
After a brief hiatus, Ubisoft returned with Assassin's Creed Origins in 2017, marking a soft reboot and introducing RPG mechanics. Set during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, the game follows Bayek and Aya as they seek vengeance for their son's death, uncovering the Order of the Ancients and founding the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassins. The modern-day narrative introduces Layla Hassan, who continues her journey through Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.
Available on: PS4, Xbox, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Origins Wiki
Primary setting: 9th Century Baghdad
Historic Protagonist: Basim Ibn Ishaq
Modern Protagonist: N/A
Released in 2023, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a $50 USD stealth-focused adventure, paying homage to the series' origins. It follows 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with nightmarish visions, as he escapes Baghdad and joins the Hidden Ones at Alamut. Unlike other entries, Mirage does not feature a prominent modern-day storyline.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Mirage Wiki
Primary setting: 9th Century England and Norway
Historic Protagonist: Eivor Varinsson/Varinsdottir
Modern Protagonist: Layla Hassan
Assassin's Creed Valhalla delves into Norse history and mythology, offering the series' largest game to date. Players follow Eivor and their clan's journey from Norway to England, blending historical figures like King Harald Fairhair and King Aelfred the Great with mythological beings like Fenrir and Odin. The game continues the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients, concluding Layla Hassan's modern-day arc.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wiki
Primary setting: 12th Century Holy Land (Acre, Damascus, Jerusalem)
Historic Protagonist: Altair Ibn'La-Ahad
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
The inaugural Assassin's Creed game introduces Altair Ibn'La-Ahad during the Third Crusade, laying the foundation for the series' core gameplay and narrative elements. It introduces the Pieces of Eden and the Animus, setting the stage for the time-hopping Assassin-Templar conflict. The modern-day story introduces Desmond Miles, whose journey continues through AC III.
Available on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC | IGN's Assassin's Creed Wiki
Primary setting: 15th Century Italy
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin's Creed II introduces Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a beloved protagonist whose story spans three games. Ezio's quest for vengeance against those who wronged his family leads him to uncover a larger conspiracy and engage in the Assassin-Templar conflict. The game takes players through iconic Italian locales and introduces historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli. Desmond's modern-day journey with the Assassins begins here.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed 2 Wiki
Primary setting: 15th-16th Century Italy
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood continues Ezio's story as he seeks to rebuild Rome's Assassins Guild and retrieve the Apple of Eden. The modern-day narrative follows Desmond and the Assassins to Italy in pursuit of the same artifact, crucial to preventing a prophesized apocalypse.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Wiki
Primary setting: 16th Century Constantinople
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
The final chapter of the Ezio trilogy sees an older Ezio journeying to Constantinople in search of Altair's hidden library. The game intertwines Ezio's story with Altair's memories, revealing Ezio's role in the broader Assassin's Creed narrative. In the present, Desmond navigates the Animus to escape "the Black Room" and return to consciousness.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Revelations Wiki
Primary setting: Feudal Japan
Historic Protagonists: Naoe and Yasuke
Modern Protagonist: N/A
Assassin's Creed Shadows transports players to Feudal Japan during the late Sengoku period, featuring dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. Their paths cross in the Iga province, driven by a shared quest for vengeance. Unlike Mirage, Shadows introduces the Animus Hub, a platform that unifies the Assassin's Creed franchise and adds modern-day subplots.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC | IGN's Assassin's Creed Shadows Wiki
Primary setting: 18th Century Caribbean Islands
Historic Protagonist: Edward Kenway
Modern Protagonist: Unnamed Abstergo Employee
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is renowned for its naval gameplay, set two centuries after Ezio's trilogy. Players follow Edward Kenway, a pirate and grandfather to AC III's Connor Kenway, as he becomes entangled in the Assassin-Templar conflict and searches for The Observatory, a First Civilization site. The modern-day story follows an Abstergo employee reliving Connor's life to create a film.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, Stadia; Switch (The Rebel Collection) | IGN's Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Wiki
Primary setting: 18th Century American Northeast
Historic Protagonist: Shay Patrick Cormac
Modern Protagonist: Abstergo Employee "Numbskull"
Assassin's Creed Rogue serves as a narrative bridge between AC III and AC IV, following Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin turned Templar, as he hunts a Piece of Eden. The modern-day story involves another Abstergo employee, dubbed "Numbskull," working for the Templars.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Stadia; Switch (The Rebel Collection) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Rogue Wiki
Primary setting: 18th Century Colonial America
Historic Protagonist: Ratonhnhaké "Connor" Kenway
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin's Creed III follows Connor Kenway during the American Revolution, as he seeks to protect his tribe and the First Civilization's Grand Temple from the Templars. The game features historical figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. The modern-day narrative concludes Desmond's arc as he and the Assassins work to prevent the world's end.
Available on: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, Stadia | IGN's Assassin's Creed 3 Wiki
Primary setting: 18th Century France
Historic Protagonist: Arno Dorian
Modern Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Player
Set during the French Revolution, Assassin's Creed Unity follows Arno Dorian as he navigates the Assassin-Templar conflict and seeks vengeance. Historical figures like Napoléon Bonaparte and King Louis XVI feature prominently. The modern-day story, told through cutscenes, involves a player using Helix, Abstergo's Animus-powered gaming software.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Unity Wiki
Primary setting: Victorian London
Historic Protagonists: Jacob and Evie Frye
Modern Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Player
Assassin's Creed Syndicate features twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye, who work to liberate London from Templar control while seeking a Piece of Eden. Set primarily in 1868, the game includes historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Darwin. The modern-day narrative follows the same Helix player from Unity, now working with the Assassins to locate another Piece of Eden.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Syndicate Wiki
Ubisoft's latest addition to the Assassin's Creed series is Assassin's Creed Shadows, set to release on March 20. While no information is available on future mainline games, several remakes of older titles are in development, as confirmed by Ubisoft's CEO. Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in production at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile-exclusive title, Assassin's Creed Jade, has been delayed to 2025.
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