Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has taken players on an epic journey through 2,300 years of history, spanning five continents from Ancient Greece to Victorian London. As we eagerly await the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, let's delve into the chronology of the Assassin's Creed timeline. This guide focuses solely on the mainline Assassin's Creed games, as the spinoffs, while entertaining, are less integral to the overarching narrative.
For a deeper dive into the historical eras featured in Assassin's Creed, explore our comprehensive guide to the Assassin's Creed timeline.
Jump to:
- How to play in chronological order
- How to play in release order
Mainline Assassin's Creed Games in Chronological Order
14 Images
How Many Assassin's Creed Games Are There?
The Assassin's Creed series currently boasts 14 mainline games and an additional 17 spinoffs. Beyond video games, the franchise has expanded into a board game and a forthcoming TV series on Netflix.
Which Assassin's Creed Game Should You Play First?
With numerous entry points into the Assassin's Creed timeline, selecting a starting point can be daunting. If you're drawn to historical settings, choose a game that aligns with your interests. For those seeking a narrative-rich experience, the Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations) stands out with its compelling storytelling. For fans of more recent entries, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers thrilling pirate adventures, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey immerses players in the world of ancient Greece.
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Assassin's Creed: Ezio Trilogy
0See it at Amazon
Nintendo Switch
Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Trilogy
0See it at Amazon
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
0See it at Amazon
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
0See it at Amazon
How to Play the Assassin’s Creed Games In Order
There are two approaches to experiencing the Assassin's Creed chronology. The first follows the modern-day storylines, which connect each game's narrative. Playing in release order allows you to witness the franchise's evolution from stealth-action to open-world RPGs, making it ideal for those committed to the entire series.
The second option arranges the games by their historical settings, offering a thematic journey through time. While these historical narratives are less interconnected than their modern-day counterparts, they form the bulk of your gameplay experience.
The Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order
The following summaries are designed with newcomers in mind, containing 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 fully embraces RPG elements, transforming the series into an open-world adventure. You play as Cassandra or Alexios, descendants of King Leonidas I of Sparta, during the Peloponnesian War. The game weaves historical figures like Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato with mythological elements, including the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa. Although set before the Assassin and Templar orders, it features the Spear of Leonidas, a crucial Piece of Eden.
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's hiatus, Ubisoft returned with Assassin's Creed Origins in 2017, introducing RPG mechanics and serving as a soft reboot. Set during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, the story follows Bayek and Aya as they seek vengeance for their son's death, ultimately uncovering the proto-Templar Order of the Ancients and forming the Hidden Ones, the precursors to the Assassins. The modern-day story introduces Layla Hassan, who continues her arc through 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 a $50 USD stealth-focused adventure, serving as an homage to the series' roots. It follows 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with nightmarish visions, as he escapes Baghdad and journeys to the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut. Unlike other entries, Mirage does not prominently feature a modern-day storyline.
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 ventures into Norse history and mythology, offering the series' largest game yet. It blends historical figures like King Harald Fairhair and King Aelfred the Great with mythological beings such as Fenrir and Odin. The game continues the Hidden Ones vs. Order of the Ancients conflict, while telling the personal story of Eivor's clan's migration from Norway to England. The modern-day storyline 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 first Assassin's Creed game introduces Altair Ibn'La-Ahad and sets the stage for the franchise's success. It establishes core gameplay mechanics like climbing and assassinations, while introducing key narrative elements such as the Pieces of Eden and the Animus. Altair hunts nine Templars during the Third Crusade, while the modern-day story 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, a beloved protagonist whose story spans from 2009's AC II to 2011's Revelations. Ezio's quest for vengeance leads him to uncover a broader conspiracy and immerse himself in the Assassin-Templar conflict across Italy. The modern-day story sees Desmond working 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 Ezio's story, with him rebuilding Rome's Assassins Guild and seeking the Apple of Eden. In the present, Desmond and the modern Assassins search for the same artifact to prevent the world's end.
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, Revelations, connects Ezio's story with Altair's as Ezio searches for Altair's hidden library in Constantinople. The present-day narrative follows Desmond, who, while comatose, navigates the Animus to escape "the Black Room."
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 transports players to Feudal Japan during the late Sengoku period, featuring dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. Their intertwined paths of vengeance unfold against the backdrop of civil wars. Shadows does not introduce a new modern-day protagonist but coincides with the Animus Hub, enhancing the franchise's interconnectivity.
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 follows Edward Kenway, a pirate and grandfather of Connor Kenway from AC III. Set two centuries after Ezio's trilogy, it features real-life pirates like Blackbeard and introduces the Observatory, a First Civilization site. The modern-day story involves an unnamed Abstergo employee exploring Connor's memories for a film project.
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 acts as a bridge between AC III and AC IV, following Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin turned Templar. The story features Templar Grand Master Haytham Kenway and involves a hunt for a Piece of Eden. The modern-day narrative involves another Abstergo employee, nicknamed "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
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 follows Connor Kenway during the American Revolution, as he seeks to protect his tribe and the First Civilization's Grand Temple. The game features historical figures like George Washington and concludes Desmond's modern-day arc as he prevents the world's end.
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
Set during the French Revolution, Assassin's Creed Unity follows Arno Dorian as he navigates the Assassin-Templar conflict and seeks vengeance. The modern-day story involves a Helix player, but it's less impactful on the overarching narrative.
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 features twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye, who work to free London from Templar control. Set primarily in 1868, the game also includes a future sequence set during WWI. The modern-day story continues with the same Helix player from Unity, now aiding the Assassins.
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
Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to release on March 20. While no new mainline games have been announced, Ubisoft is working on remakes of older titles. Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in development at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile-exclusive Assassin's Creed Jade has been delayed to 2025.
Related Content:
- Far Cry Games in Order
- God of War Games in Order
- The Legend of Zelda Games in Order
- Final Fantasy Games in Order
- Shop the coolest Assassin's Creed merch at the IGN Store
