If the idea of leaping across centuries, uncovering ancient conspiracies, and mastering parkour in stunning historical settings excites you, the Assassin’s Creed series delivers exactly that. With 14 mainline games spanning from ancient Greece to feudal Japan, plus a rich modern-day framing story, knowing the right order transforms the experience from confusing to unforgettable.
Here’s your complete, up-to-date guide to playing every mainline Assassin’s Creed game.
Understanding Release Order vs Chronological Order
Two popular approaches exist:
Release order follows the games as they launched. This preserves the evolving modern-day narrative (Desmond Miles → Abstergo/Helix era → Layla Hassan → Animus Hub), character connections, and gameplay improvements. Most players and developers recommend this for first-timers.
Chronological order follows the historical timeline of the ancestors’ stories. It creates a satisfying “through history” journey but can disrupt the modern-day plot and some character reveals.
Recommendation for gamers: Start with release order unless you specifically want a pure historical timeline. The modern story gains emotional weight when experienced sequentially.
Assassin’s Creed Games in Release Order
Here’s every mainline game in the order they released, with key details to help you decide what to play next.
1. Assassin’s Creed (2007)
The game that started it all. You play as Desmond Miles reliving the memories of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad during the Third Crusade in 1191. Focuses on stealth, assassinations, and the core Assassin-Templar conflict in the Holy Land.
Main story: ~12-15 hours.
Still holds up as a foundational experience, though the modern-day sections feel dated by today’s standards.
2-4. The Ezio Trilogy (2009-2011)
- Assassin’s Creed II (2009): Renaissance Italy with Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Introduces deeper storytelling, Leonardo da Vinci, and massive improvements to parkour and combat.
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (2010): Ezio in Rome recruiting allies and fighting the Borgia. Adds the iconic recruit system.
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (2011): Ezio in Constantinople wrapping up his story while connecting back to Altaïr.
The Ezio trilogy is widely considered the peak of the classic formula. Play them back-to-back — the story flows beautifully. Combined playtime: ~45-60 hours.
5. Assassin’s Creed III (2012)
Introduces Connor (Ratonhnhaké:ton) during the American Revolution. Features naval combat for the first time, a massive open world, and concludes Desmond’s arc. Haytham Kenway’s prologue is a standout.
Main story: ~15-20 hours.
6. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)
It’s my personal favorite, and many fans love it too. Play as pirate Edward Kenway in the Golden Age of Piracy across the Caribbean. Outstanding naval gameplay, exploration, and story. Edward is Haytham’s father (and Connor’s grandfather).
Main story: ~20-25 hours.
The latest Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced remake launched with modern visuals, ray tracing, improved water physics, and new story content. Perfect for a first playthrough or replay.
7. Assassin’s Creed Rogue (2014)
A shorter bridge game set during the Seven Years’ War. You play as Shay Cormac, an Assassin who becomes a Templar. Strong naval focus and ties directly into Black Flag and III.
Main story: ~10-15 hours.
8. Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014)
Arno Dorian during the French Revolution in a stunning 1:1 recreation of Paris. Improved parkour and co-op missions (now mostly single-player friendly after patches).
Main story: ~15-20 hours.
9. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015)
Jacob and Evie Frye in Victorian London. Gang warfare, carriages, and the iconic rope launcher make traversal fun. Shorter and more focused than its predecessors.
Main story: ~12-18 hours.
10. Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017)
A soft reboot. Play as Bayek of Siwa in Ptolemaic Egypt as he helps found the Hidden Ones (early Assassins). Introduces RPG elements, leveling, and the eagle vision scouting system.
Main story: ~25-35 hours.
11. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018)
Even bigger RPG shift. Choose Kassandra or Alexios in Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. Mythology, ship combat, and massive world. Layla Hassan continues the modern story.
Main story: ~35-50 hours (much longer with side content).
12. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020)
Eivor leads Viking raids in England and Norway. Huge world, settlement building, and deep Norse mythology. Layla’s story reaches a major conclusion.
Main story: ~50-70 hours.
13. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (2023)
A return to roots. Play as Basim in 9th-century Baghdad. Shorter, stealth-focused, and narrative-driven with classic parkour and assassinations. No heavy RPG systems.
Main story: ~15-20 hours.
Great palate cleanser after the massive RPG entries.
14. Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025)
The latest mainline entry. Dual protagonists Naoe (shinobi) and Yasuke (samurai) in feudal Japan during the Sengoku period. Blends stealth and combat in a new setting with the Animus Hub for modern-day elements.
Main story: ~30-50+ hours depending on playstyle.
Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order
If you want to experience the ancestors’ stories in historical sequence:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431–422 BCE) – Ancient Greece
- Assassin’s Creed Origins (49–44 BCE) – Ptolemaic Egypt
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861 CE) – Abbasid Baghdad
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872–878 CE) – Viking Age England/Norway
- Assassin’s Creed (1191) – Third Crusade Holy Land
- Assassin’s Creed II + Brotherhood + Revelations (1476–1512) – Renaissance Italy to Constantinople (Ezio)
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows (~1579) – Feudal Japan
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (1715–1722) – Caribbean
- Assassin’s Creed Rogue (1752–1760) – North Atlantic/Seven Years’ War
- Assassin’s Creed III (1754–1783) – American Revolution
- Assassin’s Creed Unity (1789–1794) – French Revolution
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (1868) – Victorian London
Which Order Should You Choose?
- First time playing the series? → Release order.
- Want the best story flow and character development? → Release order.
- Love history and want a timeline journey? → Chronological order.
- Already played some games? → Fill gaps using release order or jump to unplayed entries.
- Short on time? → Start with Mirage or the Ezio trilogy for focused experiences.
Smart Tips for Starting or Returning to the Series
Ubisoft+ subscription gives access to nearly the entire catalog (including most DLC) for one monthly fee — excellent value for gamers.
Many older titles run great on modern hardware via backward compatibility or remasters. Black Flag Resynced is the easiest way to experience the pirate classic with current-gen polish.
Focus on the main story first if you’re new. Side content and DLC can be added later. Pay attention to the modern-day sections — they tie everything together across decades of games. Avoid major spoilers for the Desmond and Layla arcs if possible.
Notable Spin-Offs Worth Checking Out
- Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation — Aveline’s story in New Orleans (often bundled).
- Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry — Standalone expansion starring Adéwalé.
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy (China, India, Russia) — 2.5D stealth platformers.
- Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR — VR experience with Ezio, Kassandra, and Connor.
Final Thoughts
The Assassin’s Creed series has evolved dramatically — from tight stealth-action to sprawling RPG epics and back toward focused stealth with Mirage. No matter which order you choose, the blend of history, conspiracy, and fluid movement remains unmatched.
Start with the first game or jump straight into the Ezio trilogy if you want an immediate classic hit. By the time you reach Shadows, you’ll have traveled through over 2,000 years of history alongside unforgettable characters.
What is the chronological order of the Assassin’s Creed games?
The historical timeline begins with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ancient Greece), followed by Origins (Egypt) and Mirage (Baghdad). The narrative then progresses through Valhalla, the original Assassin’s Creed, the Ezio Trilogy, and the American and French Revolutions. It concludes with more modern eras, featuring Syndicate in Victorian London and Shadows in 16th-century feudal Japan.
Should I play Assassin’s Creed in release or chronological order?
Beginners should play in release order to seamlessly follow the overarching modern-day storyline involving Abstergo and the Animus. Playing chronologically by historical era can make the modern-day plot confusing because that specific timeline will jump back and forth. However, returning fans often prefer the chronological order to experience the evolution of the Assassin Brotherhood across the centuries.
Which Assassin’s Creed game comes first in history?
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is historically the earliest game in the franchise, taking place during the Peloponnesian War in 431 BCE. Although it is set centuries before the “Hidden Ones” were officially founded, it introduces crucial First Civilization (Isu) lore. It is directly followed by Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 BCE), which explores the actual creation of the first Assassin Brotherhood by Bayek.
Do you need to play the Assassin’s Creed games in order?
You do not strictly need to play every game in order, as most titles feature a completely standalone historical campaign. However, skipping mainline games might cause you to miss key context for the connected modern-day narratives of Desmond Miles and Layla Hassan. If you only care about exploring a specific historical setting, you can comfortably jump into that game without prior franchise knowledge.
What are the most recent Assassin’s Creed games?
The most recent mainline entry is Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025), which features dual protagonists in 16th-century Feudal Japan. Before that, Ubisoft released Assassin’s Creed Mirage (2023), designed as a back-to-basics stealth adventure set in 9th-century Baghdad. The franchise timeline continues to expand, with fans currently enjoying the 2026 release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Are the Assassin’s Creed spin-offs necessary to understand the story?
Spin-offs like the Chronicles trilogy and Liberation offer fun side adventures but are not essential to the main overarching storyline. They provide extra lore for dedicated fans who want to explore different global regions like China, India, and Russia. Casual players can safely stick to the mainline games without feeling lost in the grand Templar versus Assassin conflict.
