7 Best Assassin’s Creed Games To Play If You’re New To The Series
Topics: List, Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft
Featured Image Credit: Ubisoft
Topics: List, Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft
With the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake on the horizon, we thought we’d let you know some of the best games for newbies in the series that you can check out before we set sail.
The Assassin’s Creed series has been one of the most popular franchises since its inception in 2007. Sure, it’s not always been plain sailing for the Ubisoft property, but for the most part, it’s created countless memories for long-standing fans.
Before we proceed, I will mainly recommend games from 2014 onwards, primarily due to their gameplay and visuals. Most games below are part of the RPG era, due to the gameplay mechanics, quests and huge open worlds. Then once you’re done, I wholeheartedly suggest checking out the early games in the series, especially the Ezio trilogy.
This July, the remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag arrives, and with that, it might bring many new fans to the series. So, if you are new to this series and are looking for a place to start, here are some recommendations before Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced seduces you with the endlessly charming Edward Kenway.
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Oh, and finally, all games from 2014 to 2018 have benefited from a new-gen, 60 frames-per-second update on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Right, now let’s get into it.
Not only is this a tale of how the Brotherhood of Assassins began, but it’s also the first entry to kickstart the RPG era. Set in ancient Egypt around 49 BCE, before the collapse of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, play as Bayek of Siwa, a defender of his people, alongside his wife, Aya. Both are hellbent on revenge following a heartbreaking tragedy. However, will the cost of vengeance for the soul mates be too much to bear?
Play as either Kassandra or Alexios, twin brothers and sisters born during the Spartans’ war with Athens in 431 BCE. It’s a tale of destiny, morality and quite frankly, brutality. After all, much of this game centres around Spartan Warriors. The world of Athens is gorgeous, and it still holds up today, especially with the new-gen update. Just prepare to lose ungodly hours exploring its world.
It’s fair to say that when Assassin’s Creed Unity launched in 2014, it was a buggy mess. Not only with graphic issues, but also with performance. Ubisoft did patch the game over the following months, but much of the damage was already done with its fans. Which was a shame, because underneath those issues was a fantastic game.
It’s set during the French Revolution between 1789 and 1794, and you play as Arno Dorian, a resident of Paris. When his father is brutally murdered, his sole purpose in life is a thirst for justice. Even for its time, and its troubles, Assassin’s Creed Unity’s version of Paris was stunning, and it features some of the best parkour gameplay in the series. Following post-launch patches and a recent new-gen update, this game is well worth a visit today.
Set during the London Revolution in 1868, you play as the deadly twin duo, Jacob and Evie Frye. Following on with AC Unity, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate had an uphill challenge releasing just a year later. For that reason, it’s always felt like this game was unfairly overlooked. But the twin duo dynamic is fantastic, the gameplay is fun, and its version of a grimy London is a sight to behold. Do not skip this underrated entry.
For several different reasons, Assassin’s Creed Shadows had an uphill battle of its own to win over fans. Set in a stunning 16th-century Sengoku-period Japan, the stories of Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a samurai from foreign lands, are a tale of perceived justice and what lengths they would go to enforce their version of justice against those who have wronged them and those they love.
However, it’s not long before Naoe and Yasuke realise that destiny has other plans for the duo. Varied gameplay and tactical approaches, in-depth RPG levelling up mechanics, and a gorgeous world. There’s a lot to like about this game, and if you’re new to this series, other than Origins, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of the best places to start.
Out of all the games on this list, while one of the best, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is probably the most overwhelming. Largely due to the sheer amount of content in its huge open-world, which grew even bigger with its free content updates and expansions. Don’t get me wrong, I love extra content, but sometimes, too much can feel overwhelming. That being said, that doesn't hinder the fact that this game is awesome. Play as either a male or female version of the 9th-century Viking raider, Eivor.
Invade Anglo-Saxon England and claim the land for your Raven Clan. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is probably the most RPG-like game on this list, which is either good or bad, depending on your perspective. It’s also heavily inspired by Norse Mythology, something that God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök fans might appreciate. So if you have time, add this to your to-do list in the coming months.
As for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, that arrives on 9 July 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
READ MORE: 9 Games You’re Bound to Enjoy if You Loved Assassin's Creed Black Flag