Eleven main games in thirteen years. One movie and millions of fans worldwide. It's none other than action/stealth video game series, Assassins Creed. Throughout, this thirteen years, we, as players, played as Altair, arguably one of the most liked characters in the series, Ezio, the cover guy of the series to some and many more. After thirteen years, the series and developers continue to provide new content to the players and manage to keep the hype alive.
As always, before starting, I should say that this is a list of ranking based on solely my own opinions. Therefore, it should not be taken as a definitive ranking. With that being said, here is my list of the eleven main games of the famous stealth game series, Assassins Creed.
11. Assassins Creed Unity (2014)
During the French Revolution, the story takes place in Paris; the single-player plot involves Arno Victor Dorian in his attempts to uncover the actual powers behind the Revolution. The game retains open-world exploration from a third-person perspective as well as adding a revised fighting, parkour, and stealth framework. The game also expands the franchise to cooperative multiplayer, allowing up to four players to participate in narrative-driven missions. This also has let players navigate through the open world map.
At the time of its release, the game received mixed reception. Critics praised its graphics, enhanced gameplay, options for customization, multiplayer-oriented structure, mission design, atmosphere, characterization, and narration. On the other hand, the game was criticized on release for lack of gameplay creativity, unrefined control mechanics, and various graphic issues and bugs.
10. Assassins Creed Revelations (2011)
The background story takes place in the 21st century. It features the series' protagonist Desmond Miles who relives the memories of his ancestors. Miles is tasked with finding a way to stop the 2012 apocalypse with the aid of a system known as the Animus. Revelations stars two other returning protagonists: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad at Masyaf in the 12th and 13th centuries, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze in Constantinople in the 16th century. The main story follows the journey of Assassin Ezio to unlock the secret of Altaïr's vault in Masyaf using disc-like objects that carry memories of Altaïr.
However, Ubisoft introduced a completely irrelevant tower defense mini-game and the ability to make bombs in a vain effort to keep things interesting. This led to the low rank of this game despite its branched and well-written story.
9. Assassins Creed (2007)
As in my other lists, the original one cannot rise too much due to the merciless nature of time. The original Assassins Creed is no exception to this sad phenomenon. The setting is mainly the Third Crusade in 1191, with the story centred around a secret order of trained assassins, based on the Hashshashin cult. The player plays as a modern-day man named Desmond Miles, who is allowed to view and control the genetic memories of his ancestors. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a member of the Assassins is controlled by his descendant through the use of a machine called the "Animus". Details emerge through this plot device from a fight between two factions: the Templar Knights and the Assassins, for an object known as the "Apple of Eden" an ancient artefact.
The game generally received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its storyline, graphics, art design, and uniqueness, though the game was also criticized for its gameplay's repetitiveness. However, as I stated before, it is overcome by most of its successor due to limitations of then-modern technology.
8. Assassins Creed III (2012)
Continuing from where the story was ended in the previous game, the third game also follows the memories of Desmond Miles' ancestors. Opening the world of an Assassins Creed title, the game offered players the Eastern United States to free roam, including both the soil and the sea.
Switching between New York, Boston, "The Wilderness" to the Eastern Seaboard, it was the start of the naval adventures of series. However, all of its innovative and grand ideas were doomed to fail due to the slow advancement of the game's main element, assassinations. As it was during the first Assassins Creed, it felt like a warm-up for something greater.
7. Assassins Creed Syndicate (2015)
Arguably the second worst one among the modern titles of the series. The game introduces new transportation mechanisms and enhanced techniques of fighting and stealth. Players control the two main protagonists, twins Jacob and Evie Frye. The game introduces the twins throughout the story, as players switch between them during missions and outside.
The reason why Syndicate's place is relatively so low in this list is its lack of uniqueness. As much as it managed to overcome its predecessor, Unity, Syndicate failed to offer something new to the players and settled with the fundamental characteristics of the series.
6. Assassins Creed Rogue (2014)
The story takes place during the Seven Years War in the mid-18th century and focuses on Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin-turned-Templar. During the game's story, he hunts members of his ex-Brotherhood after they have betrayed him. The gameplay that Rogue offers is very close to what Black Flag did with a combination of ship-based naval adventure and third-person land-based gameplay with some new elements.
Even though critics praised the twist in the story of this game, like its predecessor, Rogue lacked uniqueness. As relatively more deep and complex conflicts gave players to chance to experience a more mature game experience.
5. Assassins Creed II (2009)
The second game was good. It was actually very good but like the original one, it had to face the even-handed time. The settings were diverse. Venice, the Vatican, the Tuscan countryside were ready for the players. They were colourful, while its predecessors are famous for optimizing first-and third-person shooters with a viscous tint. Also, the title comes with a quirky, conspiratorial paranoia that feels created with profound honesty.
The game also begins an unlikely trilogy around his character, Ezio. Ezio is a rogue Italian assassin who has a style that other titles and protagonists failed to surpass. Moreover, the great Leonardo da Vinci and his flying machines gave the entire format of parkour mixed with murders a welcoming feeling of playfulness and momentum.
4. Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)
Black Flag was arguably the most innovative the series could get. It is safe to say that it has created or radically improved the series, contrary to all expectations. The game delivered the largest and richest game world the franchise has ever seen. It also offered an incredible variety of addictive missions, unexpectedly enjoyable ship combat. Last but not least, an effortlessly beautiful soundtrack you've already heard at least once elsewhere.
Furthermore, Black Flag goes beyond the fundamentals of the video game, offering an accurate portrayal of an often misrepresented historical period.
Moreover, the Brotherhood's recruitment system returned, complementing the naval fighting now mastered. However, as I stated before, it changed a lot in the series. Thus, if I may be so bold, it was more than a game about pirates instead of assassins.
3. Assassins Creed Origins (2017)
The game that shifted, rebooted without a reboot, the series. Origins basically flipped every standard and tradition the series' created and nurtured over the years.
Setting up on the forgettable small RPG concepts found in the first few titles, Origins took steps to make stat progress a fundamental part of the game. These included mechanics like upgrading weapons and armour to develop stats.
Sending players back to ancient times of Egyptian rule around the Nile. Ancient Egypt was a period that fans have been desperate to explore since the first game. The story followed Bayek's story, a charming, well-developed protagonist who has steadily let every player love him. In short, it offered a great experience to players, both visually and story-wise, however, surprisingly the sequel was better.
2. Assassins Creed Brotherhood (2010)
To be honest, originally Origins won second place before its successor. However, the memories that Brother gave me were too strong to let this one go. The reason needs a bit explaining. I love games in the tycoon and simulation genres. The main reason why I love them is the control they bestow upon the player, me. Even though Brotherhood definitely was not a tycoon or simulation game, it featured a great mechanism. It offered a revolutionary new mechanism that changed the feeling of the cult which was always a part of the series. You could rule Rome as a leader of a mob of assassins. You could commit murders in a shocking way, horse to horse.
In addition to all of these, the motion is quicker, the weaponry more lethal, including a crossbow which was maybe a bit too much deadly. But, hey, the series is literally about assassins, so what is more fitting than a "deadlier" weapon? Also, the world is full of different things to do, including lots and lots of people to stab. This excess at the time of its release felt more like a webpt than the mandatory checklist of future titles. In short, Brotherhood definitely gave me one of the greatest gaming moments of my life. Thus, it is the winner of the top place.
1. Assassins Creed Odyssey (2018)
Here we are, the top of the list. Odyssey was arguably a bold move standing on the shoulders of its predecessor, Origins. Odyssey takes players back to a period even before the beginning. The story takes place in a time before the Order even became a thing. It tells a story about two new characters-Kassandra and Alexios. In reality, you can choose who you are playing right at the beginning. And then the rest of the narrative will proceed according to your preference. I must say, there are tons of paths you can take, lots of decisions you can make. The story is incredibly well-written and planed.
But not big in a way that you start to feel there is too much to get busy with, or none at all. This is a world full of side quests and aplenty distractions, each requiring the same quality and precision. Instead, the game features hours of visually pleasing cutscenes, lots of romance and well-written characters.
The combat mechanics have also had a lot of tweaking, ironing out some of the quirks of Origins. In favour of an expansive tree of abilities and upgradeable armour and weapons, the developers put a lot of work in the refining combat system. To sum it up, in my opinion, Odyssey is the apex of everything that defines the series and more. Its comprehensive story along with gameplay and, of course, the stunning landscapes of Ancient Greece lead Odyssey the top of this list.
