Every Assassin’s Creed Game, Ranked

Starting in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has had its ups and downs, with Ubisoft being criticized for annualizing the games and not taking their time. That’s understandable since a long-running series such as this needs to constantly evolve to stay relevant. Honestly, though, Ubisoft hasn’t necessarily made a “bad” Assassin’s Creed game. Even the disappointing ones are still great games in their own right. Some are just better than others. While this matter is definitely subjective, players can still form rankings that fall under the general perception of these games and their quality, with most people agreeing that some Assassin’s Creed games are the worst of the bunch while others are a blast to play through and have occupied a comfortable spot in the hearts of most fans as well.

While objectively ranking the Assassin’s Creed games can be hard, there are certain parameters that govern this success and then some. However, a person’s individual preference will always hold more weight. Of course, there are some games in the series that aren’t of the highest quality, leading to most people finding it pretty challenging to try and defend these games. The prolific nature of this series means that some games that are rushed out without any proper thought end up being reviled by the masses, which ends up tainting the Assassin’s Creed name for good. However, there are also some great Assassin’s Creed games that have aged like a fine wine and continue to wow fans to this day.

Updated October 9, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: The Assassin’s Creed franchise has seen lots of ups and downs throughout its nearly 20 years of history. In the beginning, the series started to grow in popularity with every new entry until Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, which is considered as the peak of the series by some of the fans.

However, the franchise started to slowly move downwards since then, until Ubisoft decided to add more RPG elements to Assassin’s Creed with Origins, and since then, everything has changed for the franchise. The following iterations developed by expanding the world’s size significantly and adding more RPG elements along with some mythical elements.

Every Assassin’s Creed Game

23 Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles

The First Time Ever That Assassin’s Creed Series Hit Mobile

There was a time when Ubisoft used to develop Assassin’s Creed games for handheld consoles that boasted some unique ideas and fun gameplay mechanics. After the immense success of the first-ever game in the series, Ubisoft went all out with the Assassin’s Creed IP, with the company developing a handheld Assassin’s Creed game that’s pretty engaging in its own right.

While Altair’s Chronicles may be far from a perfect game, fans of Assassin’s Creed will find something to like about the first Assassin’s adventures. The exploration and combat featured in this game are fairly serviceable, even if it may not be as mind-blowing as most people would want or expect.

22 Assassin’s Creed: Memories

A Card-Based Assassin’s Creed That Was Exclusively Launched On iOS

Assassin’s Creed: Memories uses the characters and setting of the franchise rather than delivering the gameplay experience that the series is known for. The game offers card-battler gameplay with added strategy elements in a multiplayer environment.

Players can join guilds and compete against other groups of gamers. Collecting new and powerful cards is a major gameplay loop in Memories as it widens the arsenal of weapons for each player and gives them more freedom in choosing their battle crew.

21 Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines

A Direct Sequel To Altair’s Story That Remained Exclusive To PSP

The PlayStation Portable is a legendary handheld that was home to many excellent, quality games during its lengthy lifespan. Fans of the biggest IPs around would love the idea of playing many quality games from their favorite franchises on this handheld, and Ubisoft wasn’t far behind here with a PSP Assassin’s Creed game made from the ground up.

Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines may struggle a bit with problems revolving around repetition and poor environmental design, but that shouldn’t take away anything from the game’s impressive achievement in terms of letting players enjoy a bonafide Assassin’s Creed game on portable systems.

20 Assassin’s Creed: Pirates

Another Mobile Experiment With Assassin’s Creed That Only Focuses On Sea Battles

With the release of games like Black Flag, it was clear that players were more than willing to engage in piracy and ship combat. These gameplay loops were especially engaging for fans of Assassin’s Creed. Ubisoft decided to capitalize on this fan appeal by releasing a game for mobile devices that allowed players to become pirates during the golden age of piracy.

While there’s no overarching story, Assassin’s Creed: Pirates lets players take on missions and form a massive crew to help them in their adventures. The gameplay loop of sailing and earning a fortune makes it a great fit for mobile devices. Players can clock in a few minutes into this experience whenever they have the time to spare.

19 Assassin’s Creed Identity

A Visually Impressive Adventure For Mobile Gamers

There are many mobile games that were made to capitalize on Assassin’s Creed‘s popularity. One such title that deserves its plaudits is Assassin’s Creed Identity. It may be a far cry from the best Assassin’s Creed game, but this title made the most of a mobile interface and let players become stealthy killers on the fly.

The game takes place in tandem with the story of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, focusing on an Assassin named Lo Sparviero who must weaken the presence of the Templars in Italy by completing a wealth of missions. Players must face off against a mysterious organization called The Crows, who somehow sport the same skills as the Assassins themselves.

18 Assassin’s Creed 2: Discovery

A Side-Scroller Spin-Off Featuring Ezio On Nitnendo DS

It’s a shame that more people haven’t played Assassin’s Creed 2: Discovery. Many fans consider this title to be one of the best Assassin’s Creed games on portable devices. Players who felt that there room for improvement in Altair’s Chronicles will find this side-scrolling action game to be right up their alley.

With Normal, Chase, and Stealth levels to break up the monotony, it’s easy to see why the variety in Assassin’s Creed 2: Discovery is a blast to play through. The flaws of this title can rear their heads from time to time, but Discovery is an impressive title that fans of the series can have a great time with.

17 Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Series

Traveling Around The World With Assassins In A 2.5D Adventure

The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles series began in April 2015 with Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. The spin-off game offered a complete change in gameplay direction to the main series, implementing a 2.5D side-scrolling style that emphasized the platforming, stealth, and sword-fighting elements of the series.

The game struggled to impress critics, as evidenced by its 69 Metascore for PS4. The series’ fortunes with critics didn’t see any improvement, as this 69 Metascore is the spin-off series’ highest on the review aggregator site. Despite the lackluster reception though, the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy holds some importance in the franchise, as it provides a change of style that its hardcore fans will appreciate.

16 Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation

The First Ever Assassin’s Creed Game To Feature A Female Protagonist

As the name suggests, Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation is a spin-off to Assassin’s Creed 3 and takes place in the same period. The game was initially released as a PlayStation Vita exclusive. However, the HD re-release saw it come to PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360, and it was then remastered on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as part of the Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered package.

Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation is best known to Assassin’s Creed fans for having one of the best and most fleshed-out protagonists. However, the game does little else to entice players today when there are so many other better Assassin’s Creed games to play.

15 Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry

A Standalone Expansion To Assassin’s Creed 4 With Compelling Storytelling

Many fans consider Black Flag to be one of the best Assassin’s Creed games around, so it’s easy to see why a standalone expansion to this game should invoke a ton of interest. While Freedom Cry can be a bit short and doesn’t feature too many new gameplay changes, it’s still one of the better expansions for a video game.

Adewale is a great character to control as a protagonist. The harrowing story that portrays the inhumanity of slavery makes for one of the most engaging narratives in an Assassin’s Creed title. Fans of the series should make it a point to check out Freedom Flag whenever they get a chance.

14 Assassin’s Creed: Rogue

A Trip To The North Atlantic With A Shady Protagonist

Assassin’s Creed: Rogue definitely didn’t get the attention it deserved. It was released alongside Unity in 2014 but only for Xbox 360 and PS3, making it look like an inferior product. That is a shame because Rogue tells perhaps the best story in the series.

On top of that, Shay is one of the most interesting protagonists since he chooses to abandon the Assassin Order and become a templar. Players genuinely sympathize with Shay’s motivations and why he’s conflicted. Gameplay-wise, it plays almost the same as Black Flag without many innovations.

13 Assassin’s Creed: Unity

A Great Entry To The Eighth Generation Of Consoles Overshadowed By Technical Issues

Considering its botched release in 2014, it may come as a shock to see Unity so high on the list. The thing is, Unity is awesome! Yes, it did release with a ton of bugs but playing it now in 2020 is a more polished experience. Despite its rocky launch, Unity is still the best-looking Assassin’s Creed game.

What makes Unity one of the best Assassin’s Creed games is its mission and world design. There are multiple ways to tackle each task similar to something found in Hitman. Unity has also had the most fluid parkour movement to date which, for some reason, the following games seem to have downgraded.

12 Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate

Introducing Small New Gameplay Mechanics Before Turning Into A Full RPG

Syndicate had a lot to work to do to win fans back after the disastrous launch of Unity the prior year. Luckily, Ubisoft did not disappoint with this new adventure set in London during the Industrial Revolution.

The biggest change that Syndicate made was the inclusion of two protagonists, Jacob and Evie Frye, that players can switch between. The Frye twins play off each other very well, with Evie’s calm and collected demeanor complementing Jacob’s riotous personality. The recreation of 19th-century London is also something to behold.

11 Assassin’s Creed Mirage

A Return To The Origins After Taking A Break From The Old Format

After the low sales numbers of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Ubisoft decided to put the franchise on hiatus for a year as they figured out the best possible way to revitalize interest in the games once more. This came in the form of an RPG-heavy approach and the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins, which features a massive world full to the brim with secrets and numerous side quests; a formula that has since been replicated in both Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

However, for the next game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Ubisoft promised a return to the series’ roots of classic assassination and stealth gameplay as opposed to the RPG elements that have become somewhat commonplace in the titles. Set in the city of Baghdad, players play as Basim, a street thief who gets roped into the life of an Assassin. While the game felt rather barren compared to other titles in the series’ past, Mirage was still a step in the right direction. Fans can only hope that Ubisoft builds upon this foundation instead of reverting back to the RPG-esque gameplay that has become commonplace in the series.

10 Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR

A Brand-New Way To Experience Some Of The Previous Assassin’s Creed Games

Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is one of the best VR games on the market right now, proving everyone wrong who wondered if a VR Assassin’s Creed game was even viable. The concerns about motion sickness and restrictive gameplay were warranted, but it didn’t take too long for Ubisoft to prove doubters wrong with the muted brilliance of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR.

Players can actually step into the shoes of an Assassin and relive their wildest fantasies, which most people have had ever since they played their Assassin’s Creed game. Sure, the experience is far from perfect, but it’s a promising start for Assassin’s Creed‘s future in the realm of virtual reality.

9 Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

A Well-Deserved Finale For Ezio And His Saga

Revelations is where the fatigue started to become noticeable. The series had now become an annual franchise and players started to criticize Ubisoft for churning out sequel after sequel. Revelations just didn’t add anything worthwhile to the series, especially the tacked-on “tower-defense” minigame.

It was essentially the same game as Brotherhood but in a different setting. Story-wise, it’s a fitting end to Ezio’s story. Old man Ezio was a welcoming change. It was great to see him grow and mature over the course of three games.

8 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Improving Upon The New RPG Format And Pushing The Boundaries In World Design

The latest entry into the Assassin’s Creed franchise was released in November 2020 and took players to the Viking invasion of Britain in 873 AD. Although this was a true historical event, the story that Ubisoft tells in Valhalla is predominantly fictional. Like many of the series’ entries Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken and instead finds ways to improve upon the winning formula that Ubisoft created with 2007’s Assassin’s Creed and fine-tuned with the next release Assassin’s Creed 2.

In a nutshell, this makes Valhalla yet another Assassin’s Creed game that provides a solid and enjoyable experience but struggles to reach the heights of its respective year’s best releases. The game is certainly not without its upsides though, as Valhalla’s interpretation of England provides one of the best open worlds in the entire series. Furthermore, the game doesn’t disappoint with its brutal Viking combat, which brings sword fighting close to the realms of the hack-and-slash genre.

7 Assassin’s Creed

A Solid Beginning For A Long-Living Franchise

When it comes to video game franchises, the first one isn’t always the best. Games build off their predecessors, figuring out what worked and what didn’t. Such is the case with 2007’s Assassin’s Creed.

Ubisoft’s first entry in the beloved series clearly had a lot of potential and was overall a good game for its time. It hasn’t aged well, though. It’s extremely repetitive and Altair, despite being important to the lore, is pretty bland compared to the protagonists that would follow. Still, it would lay the groundwork for several excellent sequels.

6 Assassin’s Creed: Origins

The Turning Point For The Entire Series

Origins is where Ubisoft finally decided to take a year off, leading to a complete overhaul of the series. They tripled down on the RPG elements with a heavy emphasis on loot similar to The Division. This is still a controversial decision since it almost feels like a new game. That being said, it still has that classic Assassin’s Creed flavor fans can expect.

Bayek is a fantastic addition to the Assassin roster and his motives are very personal. The real standout here is the open world. There’s a constant sense of wonder when exploring Ancient Egypt. Scaling down one of the pyramids never gets old! Some people curse this game for starting the trend of these titles being bloated, but Origins came at a time when players were begging for the formula to be overhauled, which made the release of this title far more important than most people give it credit for.

5 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Expanding The RPG Foundation And Revealing The Origins Of Templars

Odyssey follows the new RPG formula established in Origins. Odyssey took those foundations and dialed them up to one hundred with an evolved combat and loot system. It also brings back the naval system from Black Flag, which players will need since the map is absolutely gigantic.

Being able to choose between a female and male protagonist was definitely welcome, even if they are the same person story-wise. It tells a nice family drama that, despite being a little too long, was worth it in the end. It may have deviated greatly from the original Assassin’s Creed formula but that doesn’t change the fact that it was a fantastic open-world adventure.

4 Assassin’s Creed 3

Rewriting History In The United States During The American Revolution

Fans have to give this one some credit. Assassin’s Creed 3 was bold and ambitious but was, by and large, a disappointing sequel. Ubisoft clearly wanted this game to be special with its unique narrative structure. As a video game, though, it had terrible pacing.

After all of the excellent marketing material, players couldn’t wait to step into the shoes of Connor. It turns out, they had to wait even longer once they had the game, with Connor not becoming a full-fledged assassin until a third of the game had passed. All that being said, Assassin’s Creed 3 plays great and still has a special place in fans’ hearts.