How to Play the Assassin's Creed Games in Chronological Order

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series has captivated gamers for 18 years, taking them on thrilling journeys across five continents and through 2,300 years of history. From the ancient streets of Greece to the bustling cityscape of Victorian London, the Assassin-Templar conflict has been a central theme across 13 mainline games. With the imminent release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we present a comprehensive timeline of the series. This guide focuses solely on the mainline entries, as spinoffs do not significantly impact the overarching narrative.

For a deeper dive into the historical settings of the Assassin's Creed games, explore our complete 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?

There are currently 14 mainline Assassin's Creed games and 17 additional 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?

Choosing where to start in the Assassin's Creed timeline can be daunting, but selecting a game based on an era that intrigues you is a great approach. For those interested in the series' narrative peak, the Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations) offers some of the most compelling storytelling. If you prefer more recent titles, Assassin's Creed Black Flag immerses you in pirate adventures, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey lets you explore 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 primary ways to experience the Assassin's Creed series: by the order of the modern-day storylines or by the historical settings. Playing in release order follows the modern-day narrative, which evolves with each game and is crucial for understanding the overarching story. This approach also showcases the franchise's shift from stealth-action to expansive open-world RPGs.

Alternatively, playing in chronological order based on historical settings can be engaging for those interested in specific historical periods. While less interconnected than the modern-day stories, these historical narratives form the bulk of the gameplay experience.

The Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order

The following summaries provide a brief overview of each game's setting and plot, with mild spoilers limited to broad themes, historical contexts, 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. Players can choose to play as either Cassandra or Alexios, descendants of King Leonidas I of Sparta. The game unfolds during the Peloponnesian War, intertwining historical figures like Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato with mythological beings like the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa. Although set before the Assassin and Templar orders existed, it features the Spear of Leonidas, a significant 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

Assassin's Creed Origins, released in 2017 after a year-long hiatus, marks a soft reboot for the franchise and introduces RPG mechanics. Set during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, the game follows Bayek and Aya, who seek vengeance for their son's death and uncover the Order of the Ancients, the precursor to the Templars. Their journey leads to the formation of the Hidden Ones, the first iteration of the Assassins. Layla Hassan's modern-day story begins here, spanning 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 returns to the series' roots with a more focused stealth adventure priced at $50 USD. It follows a young Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with prophetic visions, as he navigates Baghdad and eventually joins the Hidden Ones at Alamut. Unlike other entries, Mirage lacks a significant 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 delves into Norse history and mythology, making it the largest game in the series to date. Players control Eivor, navigating the clan's migration from Norway to England amidst the ongoing conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients. The game integrates historical figures like King Harald Fairhair and mythological elements like Fenrir and Odin. Layla Hassan's modern-day arc concludes here.

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 during the Third Crusade, introduces Altair Ibn'La-Ahad and the foundational elements of the series. It establishes the Assassin-Templar narrative, the Animus, and the Pieces of Eden. In the past, Altair hunts Templars, while in the present, Desmond Miles begins his journey into the 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 series' most beloved protagonists. His journey spans from 2009's AC II to 2011's Revelations, seeking vengeance and uncovering a broader conspiracy against the Assassins. The game takes players across Italy, introducing historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci and Pope Alexander VI. In the present, Desmond starts 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

Continuing Ezio's story, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood sees him rebuilding Rome's Assassin Guild while pursuing the Apple of Eden. The modern-day plot follows Desmond and the Assassins in Italy, seeking the same artifact to avert an apocalyptic prophecy.

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, sees an aging Ezio seeking Altair's library in Constantinople. The game intertwines Ezio's journey with Altair's memories, revealing their roles in the larger narrative. In the present, Desmond navigates the Animus to escape a comatose state.

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

Set during Japan's late Sengoku period, Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. Their paths cross in Iga province amid civil wars, leading to a shared quest for vengeance. While lacking a dedicated modern-day protagonist, the game integrates with the Animus Hub, offering additional modern-day subplots and rewards.

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 introduces naval gameplay and follows Edward Kenway, a pirate entangled in the Assassin-Templar conflict. Set two centuries after Ezio's trilogy, it features historical pirates like Blackbeard and introduces Edward's grandson, Connor Kenway, from AC III. The modern-day story follows an Abstergo employee uncovering Connor's life 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 bridges the narratives of AC III and AC IV, following Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin turned Templar. The game features Haytham Kenway, connecting it to Edward and Connor's stories. The modern-day plot involves another Abstergo employee, dubbed "Numbskull," serving Templar interests.

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 protects his tribe and seeks a First Civilization temple. The game features historical figures like George Washington and concludes Desmond's arc in the modern-day, culminating in a race against time to prevent an apocalypse.

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's journey of vengeance and his involvement in the Assassin-Templar conflict. Historical figures like Napoléon Bonaparte appear. The modern-day story features a player using Helix, Abstergo's gaming software, with minimal impact on the overall 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 introduces twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye, who fight to liberate London from Templar control. The game features historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Darwin. The modern-day plot involves the same Helix player from Unity, now working with 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

The next Assassin's Creed game, Shadows, is set to launch on March 20. While no details on future mainline titles are available, Ubisoft's CEO has confirmed that remakes of older games are in development. Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in production at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile title, 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