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Assassin's Creed: Chronological Gameplay Guide

Author：Kristen Update：May 17,2025

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has covered extensive ground over its 18-year history. The ongoing conflict between Assassins and Templars has taken players across five continents, from Ancient Greece to Victorian London, spanning over 2,300 years through 13 mainline games.

With the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we've compiled this detailed chronology of the Assassin's Creed timeline, focusing solely on the mainline games that drive the central narrative.

For more information on the historical eras in Assassin's Creed games, check out our full guide to 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, alongside 17 spinoff titles. Beyond video games, the franchise extends into other media, including an Assassin's Creed board game and a forthcoming TV series at Netflix.

Which Assassin's Creed Game Should You Play First?

Starting the Assassin's Creed journey can be daunting due to the series' breadth. For newcomers, choosing a game set in an era that fascinates you can be a great entry point. The original Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is renowned for its compelling narrative. For those interested in more recent titles, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers an engaging pirate experience, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey immerses players in the world 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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PS4, Xbox One, PC

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

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How to Play the Assassin’s Creed Games In Order

There are two primary ways to approach the Assassin’s Creed chronology: by the order of the games' modern-day storylines or by their historical settings.

Option 1: Modern-Day Storyline Order

This approach follows the progression of the overarching narrative through the present-day storyline, which evolves with each game release. To experience the franchise's evolution from stealth-action to open-world RPGs, play the games in the order of their release, as detailed in the section below.

Option 2: Historical Setting Order

This method arranges the games according to their historical periods. While the historical narratives are less interconnected than their modern counterparts, they provide a deep dive into various eras and cultures. Below, you'll find the games listed in chronological order of their historical settings.

The Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order

With series newcomers in mind, the brief plot synopses below contain 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 embraced RPG mechanics, transitioning the series from stealth-based action to a full-fledged open-world RPG. Players control Cassandra or Alexios, the grandchildren of Sparta's King Leonidas I, during the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. The game blends historical figures like Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato with mythological elements, including encounters with the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa. Though set before the establishment of the Assassin and Templar orders, it introduces the Spear of Leonidas, a key 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

Following a year-long hiatus after annual releases from 2009 to 2015, Ubisoft returned with Assassin's Creed Origins in 2017, marking a soft reboot and the introduction of RPG mechanics. Set during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, with extensions to Rome and Julius Caesar's rule, Origins follows Bayek and Aya's quest for vengeance against the proto-Templar Order of the Ancients, ultimately leading to the formation of the Hidden Ones, the first incarnation of the Assassins. The modern story introduces Layla Hassan, who continues as the protagonist 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, described as an homage to the original games. It follows 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with nightmarish visions, as he escapes Baghdad under the guidance of his mentor Roshan, en route to the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut. Unlike other entries, Mirage does not prominently feature the present-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, becoming the series' largest game to date. Players explore 9th-century England and Norway through the eyes of Eivor, who leads their clan from resource-barren Norway to fertile English lands. The game intertwines historical figures like King Harald Fairhair and mythological elements such as Fenrir and Odin. The ongoing conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients continues, with the modern-day story seemingly concluding 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 during the Third Crusade. This game laid the foundation for the franchise's success, introducing core gameplay elements and narrative concepts like the Pieces of Eden and the Animus. In the past, Altair hunts down nine Templars, while the present-day storyline introduces Desmond Miles and the modern 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 characters, whose story spans from 2009's AC II through 2011's AC: Revelations. Ezio's journey begins with a quest for vengeance following his father and brother's deaths, leading him into the heart of the Assassin-Templar conflict across Italy. The present-day storyline 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 and the modern-day narrative from AC II. Ezio seeks to rebuild Rome's Assassins Guild and retrieve the Apple of Eden, while Desmond and the modern Assassins pursue the same artifact to prevent a prophesized apocalypse.

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 installment of the Ezio trilogy, Revelations, connects Ezio's story with his predecessor, Altair. An older Ezio travels to Constantinople in search of Altair's hidden library, uncovering memories of Altair's life and revealing Ezio's role in the broader narrative. The modern storyline involves Desmond, trapped in the Animus, working to escape and return to 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

The latest addition to the franchise, Assassin's Creed Shadows, transports players to Feudal Japan during the late Sengoku period. Featuring dual protagonists, Yasuke, an African mercenary turned samurai, and Naoe, a shinobi-in-training, the game follows their quest for vengeance. Like Mirage, Shadows does not have a standalone modern-day protagonist but coincides with the Animus Hub, which integrates the franchise into a single platform and adds modern-day subplots.

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 stars Edward Kenway, a pirate and grandfather of AC III's Connor Kenway. Set two centuries after Ezio's trilogy, Black Flag features real-life pirates like Blackbeard and Mary Read, as Edward becomes entangled in the Assassin-Templar conflict and the search for The Observatory, a First Civilization site. The modern-day story follows an unnamed Abstergo employee creating a film from Connor's life.

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, following Shay Patrick Cormac, an Irish-American Assassin turned Templar, as he hunts a Piece of Eden. The story features Haytham Kenway, connecting to the broader narrative. In the present, you play as another Abstergo employee, "Numbskull," serving 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, set during the American Revolution, follows Connor Kenway, who seeks 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 modern-day storyline concludes Desmond's arc as he and the Assassins work to prevent the world's end 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

Set during the French Revolution, Assassin's Creed Unity follows Arno Dorian, who becomes embroiled in the Assassin-Templar conflict. Historical figures like Napoléon Bonaparte and King Louis XVI appear. The modern-day narrative, reduced to cutscenes, involves a player using Helix, Abstergo's gaming software.

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 liberate London from Templar control and find a Piece of Eden. Set in 1868, the game includes notable historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Darwin. The modern-day storyline continues with the same Helix player from Unity, searching for another Piece of Eden.

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 next mainline Assassin's Creed game, Shadows, is set to release on March 20. While no details on future mainline games are available, remakes of older titles are in development. Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in progress at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile-exclusive title, Assassin's Creed Jade, has been delayed to 2025.

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