Assassin's Creed: Chronological Play Guide

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Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has captivated players over the past 18 years, taking them on a thrilling journey through five continents and spanning 2,300 years of history across 13 mainline games. From the ancient streets of Greece to the foggy alleys of Victorian London, the series has explored diverse settings while weaving a rich narrative around the eternal conflict between Assassins and Templars.

With the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we've compiled a comprehensive chronology of the Assassin's Creed timeline to date. This timeline focuses solely on the mainline games, as the spinoffs, while entertaining, do not significantly contribute to the overarching narrative.

For a deeper dive into the historical contexts of each Assassin's Creed game, be sure to check out our detailed guide on the Assassin's Creed timeline.

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How to play in chronological order How to play in release order

Mainline Assassin's Creed Games in Chronological Order

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How Many Assassin's Creed Games Are There?

There are currently 14 mainline Assassin's Creed games, complemented by 17 spinoff titles. Beyond the realm of video games, fans can also look forward to an Assassin's Creed board game and an anticipated TV series in development at Netflix.

Which Assassin's Creed Game Should You Play First?

Choosing where to start in the Assassin's Creed universe can be daunting, but selecting a game that aligns with your historical interests is a great approach. For those drawn to compelling narratives, the Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is highly recommended due to its exceptional storytelling. If you're more interested in modern entries, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers an engaging pirate-themed experience, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey invites you to explore the vast landscapes of ancient Greece.

PS4, Xbox One, PC

Assassin's Creed: Ezio Trilogy

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Nintendo Switch

Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Trilogy

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PS4, Xbox One, PC

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

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Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

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How to Play the Assassin’s Creed Games In Order

The Assassin's Creed series can be approached in two primary ways: by the modern-day storyline or by the historical settings. Following the modern-day narrative is ideal for understanding the series' overarching plot, as each game progresses the present-day story chronologically. This method is particularly beneficial if you're committed to experiencing the entire franchise, as it showcases the series' evolution from stealth-action to expansive open-world RPGs.

Alternatively, playing the games in the order of their historical settings offers a fascinating journey through time, though the historical narratives are less interconnected than the modern-day ones. This approach is more about exploring different historical periods rather than a practical guide for gameplay.

The Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order

With new players in mind, the following plot summaries include only mild spoilers, such as broad plot points, historical settings, and character introductions.

1. Assassin's Creed Odyssey (431 B.C.–422 B.C.)

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 expands on the RPG mechanics introduced in Origins, marking a complete transition to an open-world RPG experience. Players can choose to play as Cassandra or Alexios, the grandchildren of Sparta's King Leonidas I. The game is set during the Peloponnesian War, featuring interactions with historical figures like Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato, and mythological creatures like the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa.

Odyssey is set before the establishment of the Assassin and Templar orders but includes a significant Piece of Eden, the Spear of Leonidas.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Odyssey Wiki

2. Assassin's Creed Origins (49 B.C.–44 B.C.)

Primary setting: Ancient Egypt
Historic Protagonist: Bayek of Siwa
Modern Protagonist: Layla Hassan

After a year-long hiatus following annual releases from 2009-2015, Ubisoft returned with Assassin's Creed Origins in 2017, marking a soft reboot of the series and introducing RPG elements. Set in Ancient Egypt during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, Origins follows Bayek and Aya as they seek vengeance for their son's death, uncovering the proto-Templar organization, 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 role in Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.

Available on: PS4, Xbox, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Origins Wiki

3. Assassin's Creed Mirage (861–???)

Primary setting: 9th Century Baghdad
Historic Protagonist: Basim Ibn Ishaq
Modern Protagonist: N/A

Released in 2023, Assassin's Creed Mirage is the latest entry in the series. Priced at $50 USD, it's a stealth-focused adventure designed as a homage to the original Assassin's Creed games, offering a more narrative-driven experience. The game follows 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with nightmarish visions, as he navigates his path to the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut under the guidance of his mentor, Roshan.

Unlike other entries, Mirage does not prominently feature the present-day storyline. For more details, you can read our full review of Assassin's Creed Mirage.

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Mirage Wiki

4. Assassin's Creed Valhalla (872–878)

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, with an average main story completion time of 60 hours. The game intertwines the historical setting with mythology, featuring real-life characters like King Harald Fairhair and King Aelfred the Great, alongside mythological figures like Fenrir and Odin.

Valhalla continues the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients while also exploring Eivor's personal journey from Norway to England. The modern-day story concludes Layla Hassan's arc.

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wiki

5. Assassin's Creed (1191)

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, set 300 years after Valhalla, introduces Altair Ibn'La-Ahad, the series' first protagonist. It lays the foundation for the franchise's enduring success, introducing key elements like climbing and assassinations, as well as the time-hopping narrative between Assassins and Templars.

The game introduces the Pieces of Eden and the Animus, the device that allows modern-day protagonists to relive their ancestors' memories. Altair's past story involves hunting nine Templars during the Third Crusade, while the present-day narrative introduces Desmond Miles and the ongoing Assassin-Templar conflict.

Available on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC | IGN's Assassin's Creed Wiki

6. Assassin's Creed II (1476–1499)

Primary setting: 15th Century Italy
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles

Assassin's Creed II introduces Ezio Auditore da Firenze, one of the franchise's most beloved protagonists, whose story spans from 2009's AC II to 2011's AC: Revelations. Ezio's journey begins with a quest for vengeance following the death of his father and brother, leading him to uncover a larger conspiracy and place him at the heart of the Assassin-Templar conflict.

Set in 15th-century Italy, from Florence to the Vatican, Ezio interacts with historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli. In the present day, Desmond begins his work with the Assassins.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed 2 Wiki

7. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (1499–1507)

Primary setting: 15th-16th Century Italy
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood continues both Ezio's and Desmond's stories from AC II. Ezio faces a new antagonist while rebuilding Rome's weakened Assassin Guild and pursuing the Apple of Eden. In the present day, Desmond and the modern Assassins travel to Italy in search of the same Apple of Eden, a crucial artifact in their quest to prevent the prophesized end of the world.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Wiki

8. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (1511–1512)

Primary setting: 16th Century Constantinople
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles

The final chapter of the Ezio trilogy, Assassin's Creed Revelations, unites Ezio's narrative with that of Altair. An older Ezio journeys to Constantinople in search of Altair's hidden library, believed to hold invaluable wisdom. The game features Ezio's search for keys to the library, each key containing a memory from Altair's life, ultimately revealing Ezio's role in the broader Assassin's Creed narrative.

In the present, Desmond, trapped in the Animus, works to escape "the Black Room" and regain consciousness.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Revelations Wiki

9. Assassin's Creed Shadows (1581)

Primary setting: Feudal Japan
Historic Protagonists: Naoe and Yasuke
Modern Protagonist: N/A

Assassin's Creed Shadows, set during the late Sengoku period in Feudal Japan, introduces dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, each with unique gameplay styles. Yasuke, an African mercenary turned samurai, and Naoe, a shinobi-in-training, are brought together by tragedy in their quest for vengeance.

Like Mirage, Shadows does not feature a modern-day protagonist but coincides with the launch of the Animus Hub, a platform that unifies the Assassin's Creed franchise and introduces additional modern-day subplots and a reward system.

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC | IGN's Assassin's Creed Shadows Wiki

10. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (1715–1722)

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 and stars Edward Kenway, a pirate and grandfather of AC III's protagonist, Connor Kenway. Set two centuries after Ezio's trilogy and roughly 40 years before AC III, the game features historical pirates like Blackbeard and introduces Adéwalé, the protagonist of the Freedom Cry DLC.

The modern-day story follows an unnamed Abstergo employee tasked with reliving Connor's life to create a film, though Abstergo's true intentions are far more sinister.

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

11. Assassin's Creed Rogue (1752–1760)

Primary setting: 18th Century American Northeast
Historic Protagonist: Shay Patrick Cormac
Modern Protagonist: Abstergo Employee "Numbskull"

Assassin's Creed Rogue serves as a bridge between AC III and AC IV, starring Shay Patrick Cormac, an Irish-American Assassin turned Templar, as he hunts a Piece of Eden. The story features Haytham Kenway, son of Edward and father of Connor.

In the present, you play as another Abstergo employee, dubbed "Numbskull," working for the modern-day Templars.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Stadia; Switch (The Rebel Collection) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Rogue Wiki

12. Assassin's Creed III (1754–1783)

Primary setting: 18th Century Colonial America
Historic Protagonist: Ratonhnhaké "Connor" Kenway
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles

Assassin's Creed III begins with a sequence set in 1754 featuring Haythem Kenway, before shifting focus to his son, Ratonhnhaké:ton, known as Connor. Set during the American Revolution, Connor's mission is 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 present-day narrative concludes Desmond's arc as he and the modern Assassins work to prevent the prophesized end of the world on December 21, 2012.

Available on: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, Stadia | IGN's Assassin's Creed 3 Wiki

13. Assassin's Creed Unity (1789–1794)

Primary setting: 18th Century France
Historic Protagonist: Arno Dorian
Modern Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Player

Primarily set during the French Revolution, Assassin's Creed Unity follows Arno Dorian, a French Assassin embroiled in the Assassin-Templar conflict and a quest for vengeance. Historical figures include Napoléon Bonaparte and King Louis XVI.

Unity's modern-day story is less impactful, featuring cutscenes of a Helix player, Abstergo's Animus-powered gaming software designed to spread Templar propaganda and collect DNA.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Unity Wiki

14. Assassin's Creed Syndicate (1868)

Primary setting: Victorian London
Historic Protagonists: Jacob and Evie Frye
Modern Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Player

Assassin's Creed Syndicate introduces twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye, who work to clear London of Templar control while seeking a Piece of Eden. Set in 1868, the game features historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Darwin.

The modern-day narrative follows the same character from Unity, working with the Assassins to locate another Piece of Eden in London.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Syndicate Wiki

How to Play The Assassin’s Creed Games By Release 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)
Assassin's Creed Shadows (2024)

Upcoming Assassin's Creed Games

Ubisoft's latest addition to the franchise, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is set to release on March 20. While no information is available on future mainline games, Ubisoft's CEO has confirmed that several remakes of older Assassin's Creed titles are in development.

Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in the works at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile-exclusive title, Assassin's Creed Jade, has been delayed to 2025.

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