Assassin’s Creed is one of the best known franchises that got its start in games. Outside of Call of Duty, there isn’t much that comes close to the status and abundance of games, spin-offs, and projects using the IP.
With so many games throughout its almost two decade long life, it can be hard to keep track of the Assassin’s Creed order. Thankfully, we have put them all below in release order, with time periods for each one too, so you can see where it is in the overall timeline.
All ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games in release order
The full list of Assassin’s Creed games in release order is as follows:
Assassin’s Creed Jade – To be released (iOS, Android)
Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe – To be released (platforms TBA)
Assasssin’s Creed Codename Invictus – To be released (platforms TBA)
Keep in mind that some of these are spinoff games or small mobile titles. However, games which came out on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, are usually considered to be main entries in the series.
‘Assassin’s Creed’ games in chronological order
You can find an overview of each mainline game and where it sits in the timeline of the series below:
Credit: Ubisoft
1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 B.C. – 422 B.C.)
Set in Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War (431-422 BC). Players choose to play as either Alexios or Kassandra, descendants of the Spartan king Leonidas I. The story follows their journey as mercenaries seeking to reunite their family and dismantle the Cult of Kosmos. The game features a vast open world, naval combat, and a dynamic narrative influenced by player choices, leading to multiple possible endings.
The modern-day storyline continues with Layla Hassan’s quest involving the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus and Atlantis
Credit: Ubisoft
2. Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 B.C. – 44 B.C.)
Taking place in Ancient Egypt during the end of the Ptolemaic period (49-43 BC). The game follows Bayek of Siwa, a Medjay, and his wife, Aya as they seek vengeance for their son’s murder and uncover the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood.
As players control Bayek, they explore a vast open world that includes deserts, lush oases, the Great Pyramids, and bustling cities like Alexandria and Memphis. The narrative interweaves historical events and characters, such as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, with Bayek’s personal quest for justice. Throughout the game, Bayek and Aya fight against the Order of the Ancients, a precursor to the Templar Order, which seeks to control Egypt and its people.
Credit: Ubisoft
3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861)
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set in 861 CE during the Islamic Golden Age in Baghdad. The game explores the early life of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character known from Assassin’s CreedValhalla. Basim starts as a street thief haunted by visions and aspires to join the Hidden Ones. His journey begins after a failed theft attempt in the Caliph’s palace, which results in significant personal loss and leads him to the Hidden Ones’ fortress at Alamut for training under Roshan, a master assassin.
As Basim matures, he is sent to Baghdad to dismantle the Order of the Ancients’ influence within the Caliphate. The story delves into Basim’s inner conflict: the discovery of his true identity.
Credit: Ubisoft
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872 – 878)
Taking place in the 9th century amongst the reign of the Vikings, the protagonist, Eivor, is a fierce Viking warrior driven from Norway due to conflicts and dwindling resources. Eivor leads their clan to England to establish a new settlement amid the tumultuous landscape of warring kingdoms and political intrigue.
Players can choose Eivor’s gender and customize their appearance and combat style. The game features a vast open world encompassing various regions of Norway and England, each with unique environments and challenges. Core gameplay revolves around building and upgrading the settlement, raiding Saxon fortresses, and forming strategic alliances to strengthen the Viking foothold in England.
Credit: Ubisoft
5. Assassin’s Creed (1191)
Desmond Miles is a modern-day bartender abducted by the mysterious Abstergo Industries. Desmond is forced into the Animus, a device that allows him to relive the genetic memories of his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, an Assassin during the Third Crusade.
Set in 1191 AD, the story follows Altaïr as he is tasked with assassinating nine key figures across the cities of Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus to regain his status within the Assassin Brotherhood. These targets are part of the Knights Templar, who seek control through a powerful artifact, the Apple of Eden.
Credit: Ubisoft
6. Assassin’s Creed 2 (1476 – 1499)
Assassin’s Creed 2 follows Desmond Miles as he delves into the genetic memories of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young nobleman in Renaissance Italy. After his family is betrayed and executed, Ezio embarks on a quest for revenge against the Templars who framed them.
Guided by fellow Assassins and historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Ezio unravels a conspiracy involving the powerful Borgia family and a mysterious artifact known as the Apple of Eden. The game spans multiple Italian cities, including Florence, Venice, and Rome, offering players a richly detailed open world to explore.
In the modern-day storyline, Desmond, with the help of Assassin Lucy Stillman, uses the Animus 2.0 to train and gain the skills of his ancestors through the Bleeding Effect. The narrative builds towards uncovering secrets of the First Civilization and their technology, setting the stage for future conflicts between the Assassins and Templars.
Credit: Ubisoft
7. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (1499 – 1507)
Brotherhood continues the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze. After the events of the second game, Ezio returns to his family villa in Monteriggioni. However, his respite is short-lived as the Templar forces, led by Cesare Borgia, attack, killing his uncle Mario and seizing the Apple of Eden.
Ezio then travels to Rome to dismantle the Borgia’s grip on the city and rebuild the Assassin Brotherhood. Throughout the game, Ezio recruits and trains new assassins, using their help to overthrow Borgia influence by destroying their towers and eliminating key figures. Players experience an expanded Rome, filled with diverse missions and opportunities for upgrading the city.
Meanwhile, in the modern-day storyline, Desmond Miles and his allies, including Lucy Stillman, Rebecca Crane, and Shaun Hastings, are hiding from the Templars and continue using the Animus to explore Ezio’s memories. Their goal is to locate the Apple of Eden to prevent a catastrophic event predicted by the First Civilization.
8. Assassin’s Creed Revelations (1511 – 1512)
Revelations follows the later years of Ezio Auditore’s life. The game opens with Desmond Miles in a coma, connected to the Animus to stabilize his mind by reliving the final memories of his ancestor, Ezio.
Ezio’s journey begins in 1511 as he travels to the former Assassin fortress in Masyaf to uncover the secrets left by Altair. There, he learns about the five keys needed to access Altair’s library, which are hidden in Constantinople, now Istanbul. Upon arriving, Ezio discovers that the city is under threat from the Templars, who are also seeking the keys.
Ezio allies with local Assassin Yusuf Tazim and befriends historical figures like Suleiman the Magnificent. The narrative intertwines with Altair’s memories, revealing significant moments in his life and providing deeper insights into the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood.
In the modern storyline, Desmond witnesses these revelations and gains crucial knowledge about the impending global catastrophe.
Credit: Ubisoft
9. Assassin’s Creed Shadows (1579)
Set in 1579, Shadows takes players to Feudal Japan, specifically during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and features two protagonists: Yasuke and Naoe.
Yasuke is a historically inspired character, the first Black samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga. His gameplay is characterized by direct, combat-heavy encounters using samurai techniques. Naoe, on the other hand, is a fictional female shinobi whose gameplay emphasizes stealth and agility, aligning with the traditional Assassin’s Creed style. She hails from the Iga province, known for its ninja heritage, and her storyline revolves around political strife and defending her home from invasion.
Credit: Ubisoft
10. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (1715 – 1722)
Black Flag follows Edward Kenway, a charismatic and ambitious pirate captain who becomes embroiled in the centuries-old conflict between the Assassins and Templars.
Edward’s journey begins in the Caribbean, where he seizes an Assassin’s robes and identity, leading him into the secret war over the fate of civilization. He forms a motley crew, including famous pirates like Blackbeard and Charles Vane, as he sails his ship, the Jackdaw, across a vast open world of tropical islands, bustling port cities, and underwater shipwrecks.
Throughout the game, Edward struggles with his dual identity as a pirate and an Assassin, grappling with his own selfish desires for wealth and glory versus the greater good.
Credit: Ubisoft
11. Assassin’s Creed Rogue (1752 – 1760)
Rogue explores the darker side of the Assassin-Templar conflict through the eyes of Shay Patrick Cormac. Set during the Seven Years’ War in the mid-18th century, the game offers a unique perspective by placing the player in the role of a former Assassin who becomes a Templar.
Shay Patrick Cormac begins as a young and talented member of the Assassin Brotherhood. Disillusioned by the Assassins’ methods and the collateral damage caused by their missions, he starts to question their true motives. His turning point comes during a mission in Lisbon, where an artifact causes a catastrophic earthquake, leading to the deaths of thousands. Horrified and feeling betrayed by the Brotherhood’s indifference to the loss of innocent lives, Shay decides to leave the Assassins.
Betrayed by his former comrades and left for dead, Shay is rescued by the Templars, who offer him a chance to fight for what he believes is a more just and orderly world.
Credit: Ubisoft
12. Assassin’s Creed 3 (1754 – 1783)
Set in the American Revolution, the story focuses on Connor, a half-Mohawk, half-English Assassin. The game weaves his personal quest for justice with the broader struggle for American independence.
The narrative begins in the mid-18th century, with Connor’s childhood in a Mohawk village. After witnessing the destruction of his home by colonial forces, Connor vows to protect his people and seek retribution. This quest leads him to join the Assassin Brotherhood, where he adopts the name Connor and trains under the mentorship of Achilles Davenport.
As an Assassin, Connor becomes deeply involved in the American Revolution, aligning himself with key historical figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Samuel Adams. He works to thwart the Templars’ plans to control the future of the newly formed nation. Connor’s journey takes him across a diverse range of environments, from bustling colonial cities like Boston and New York to the untamed wilderness of the Frontier.
The game also concludes the modern day storyline with Desmond, who relives Connor’s memories through the Animus, preventing a global catastrophe.
Credit: Ubisoft
14. Assassin’s Creed Unity (1789 – 1794)
This one takes place in the French Revolution, during the journey of Arno Dorian. Born to an Assassin father, Arno’s life takes a dramatic turn when his adoptive father is murdered, setting him on a path of vengeance and redemption.
The game starts in 1789 Paris, a city on the brink of chaos and revolution. Arno, initially unaware of his Assassin heritage, becomes embroiled in the conflict after joining the Assassin Brotherhood. Seeking justice for his adoptive father’s death, he navigates the turbulent political landscape, uncovering a deeper conspiracy involving both the Assassins and the Templars.
Arno’s quest is complicated by his romantic involvement with Élise de la Serre, a strong-willed noblewoman and Templar.
Credit: Ubisoft
15. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (1868)
Set in Victorian London during the Industrial Revolution, the game follows the adventures of twin Assassins, Jacob and Evie Frye. The game offers a dynamic dual-protagonist experience, where players can switch between the siblings, each with their own unique skills and personalities.
The story begins in 1868, with London under the oppressive control of the Templar Order, led by the ruthless industrialist Crawford Starrick. The city’s working class suffers under harsh conditions, while crime and corruption run rampant. Jacob and Evie, disillusioned by the Assassins’ passive stance, decide to take matters into their own hands and travel to London to liberate the city from Templar control.
