Assassin's Creed: Chronological Play Order Guide

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed franchise has captivated players for 18 years, exploring the epic saga of the Assassin-Templar conflict across five continents. From Ancient Greece to Victorian London, the series spans an impressive 2,300 years of history through 13 mainline games. As we approach the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we've compiled a detailed chronology of the Assassin’s Creed timeline, focusing solely on the mainline games to provide a clear narrative thread.

For a deeper dive into the historical settings of each game, check out our comprehensive 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

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How Many Assassin's Creed Games Are There?

The Assassin's Creed series boasts 14 mainline games, with an additional 17 spinoff titles. 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 your entry point into the Assassin's Creed timeline can be daunting. For a compelling start, consider the era that intrigues you most. The Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is renowned for its rich storytelling. If you prefer more recent entries, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers thrilling pirate adventures, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey immerses you 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 experience the Assassin’s Creed saga. The first is by following the modern-day storylines, which progress chronologically with each game release. This approach is ideal for understanding the overarching narrative and witnessing the franchise's evolution from stealth-action to open-world RPGs. If you're committed to playing through the entire series, this method is recommended.

Alternatively, you can explore the games based on their historical settings. While these narratives are less interconnected, they offer a fascinating journey through various eras of human history.

The Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order

Here's a chronological list of the mainline Assassin's Creed games, with brief plot summaries to guide you through the series. These synopses contain only mild spoilers, focusing on 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 fully embraces RPG mechanics, shifting the series from stealth-based action to open-world exploration. As Cassandra or Alexios, grandchildren of King Leonidas I, you navigate the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens, encountering historical figures like Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato. The game blends history with mythology, introducing creatures such as the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa. Although it precedes the formation of the Assassin and Templar orders, it features 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

After a year's hiatus, Ubisoft returned with Assassin's Creed Origins in 2017, introducing RPG elements and serving as a soft reboot for the franchise. Set during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, the game follows Bayek and Aya as they seek vengeance for their son's death, uncovering the Order of the Ancients, a proto-Templar group, and forming the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassins. The modern-day story introduces Layla Hassan, who continues her arc in 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 the latest installment, returning to a more focused, stealth-driven experience reminiscent of the series' early entries. It follows 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with "nightmarish visions," on his journey to becoming a key figure in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Guided by his mentor Roshan, Basim's story unfolds as he escapes Baghdad for the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut. Unlike other entries, Mirage does not feature a prominent 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 is the series' largest game, delving into Norse history and mythology. As Eivor, you guide your clan from resource-scarce Norway to the fertile lands of England, encountering historical figures like King Harald Fairhair and mythological beings like Odin. The game continues the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients while also exploring Eivor's personal journey. The modern-day story concludes 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 and establishes foundational gameplay elements like climbing and assassinations. It introduces key narrative concepts such as the Pieces of Eden and the Animus. Altair's mission to hunt nine Templars during the Third Crusade intertwines with Desmond Miles' modern-day 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, whose saga spans three games. Seeking vengeance for his father and brother, Ezio uncovers a broader conspiracy, navigating Italy from Florence to the Vatican and interacting with historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli. In the present, Desmond begins his work 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 as he rebuilds Rome's weakened Assassin Guild and pursues the Apple of Eden. In the present, Desmond and the modern Assassins seek 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 chapter of the Ezio trilogy sees an older Ezio journeying to Constantinople in search of Altair's hidden library. Revelations connects Ezio's story with Altair's, revealing crucial elements of the Assassin's Creed narrative. In the present, a comatose Desmond navigates the Animus to escape the "Black Room" 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

Set during the late Sengoku period in Feudal Japan, Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. Their paths converge in the Iga province as they seek vengeance. Unlike Mirage, Shadows doesn't have its own modern-day protagonist but introduces the Animus Hub, a platform that enhances the series' modern-day storytelling.

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 is renowned for its naval gameplay, set two centuries after the Ezio trilogy. As pirate Edward Kenway, grandfather of Connor Kenway from Assassin's Creed III, you navigate the Caribbean, encountering infamous pirates like Blackbeard and seeking the Observatory, a First Civilization site. The modern-day narrative follows an Abstergo employee reliving Connor’s life to create a film.

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 Irish-American Assassin-turned-Templar Shay Patrick Cormac as he hunts a Piece of Eden. The modern-day story involves another Abstergo employee, referred to as "Numbskull," working for the 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

Set during the American Revolution, Assassin's Creed III follows Connor Kenway as he protects his tribe and the First Civilization's Grand Temple from the Templars. The game features historical figures like George Washington and concludes Desmond's arc as he and the modern-day Assassins attempt to avert 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 as he navigates the Assassin-Templar conflict and seeks vengeance. Historical figures like Napoléon Bonaparte and King Louis XVI appear. The modern-day narrative, devoid of gameplay, involves a Helix player experiencing Abstergo's Animus-powered 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 introduces twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye, who work to clear London of Templar control and seek a Piece of Eden. Set primarily in 1868, the game features historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell. The modern-day story follows the same Helix player from Unity, working with the Assassins to locate 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

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

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