Assassin's Creed Games In Order: Release And Chronology

Navigating a sprawling franchise with nearly two decades of history requires a clear map. Playing every title isn't just about following a single storyline; it's about watching an interactive sandbox evolve from tight stealth puzzles into massive open-world role-playing games.

Choosing whether to experience the series by launch date or historical timeline changes how the overarching modern-day sci-fi plot unfolds. Let's break down the exact sequence of every mainline entry so you can jump in without getting lost.

Release Order vs. Chronological Order

Before diving into the list, you have to make a choice. Should you play in the order Ubisoft published the games, or should you follow the historical calendar of the settings?

Release order remains the safest route for first-time players. Developers built the framing narrative—the modern-day conflict between the Assassins and the Templars—assuming you would experience technical improvements, mechanical overhauls, and lore reveals sequentially. Jumping straight to ancient Greece first might spoil historical context or leave older mechanics feeling clunky by comparison.

Chronological order, on the other hand, appeals to history buffs who want to witness the historical eras unfold from antiquity through the industrial age. Just keep in mind that jumping around in publication years means bouncing back and forth between different game engines and user interfaces.

All Mainline Games in Release Order

The franchise kicked off in 2007 with a gritty historical stealth experiment and grew into a global empire. Here is every major release in the order they hit store shelves:

1. Assassin's Creed (2007)
2. Assassin's Creed II (2009)
3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2010)
4. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (2011)
5. Assassin's Creed III (2012)
6. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)
7. Assassin's Creed Rogue (2014)
8. Assassin's Creed Unity (2014)
9. Assassin's Creed Syndicate (2015)
10. Assassin's Creed Origins (2017)
11. Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018)
12. Assassin's Creed Valhalla (2020)
13. Assassin's Creed Mirage (2023)
14. Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025)

All Mainline Games in Historical Chronological Order

If you prefer to march through history step-by-step, the games span thousands of years across various continents. Here is how the historical timelines stack up:

• Assassin's Creed Odyssey (Set in 431 BCE – 422 BCE) – Explores the Peloponnesian War in ancient Greece.
• Assassin's Creed Origins (Set in 49 BCE – 44 BCE) – Details the birth of the Assassin Brotherhood in Ptolemaic Egypt.
• Assassin's Creed Mirage (Set in 861 – 870) – Follows Basim ibn Ishaq during the Golden Age of Baghdad.
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Set in 872 – 878) – Tracks Viking expansions into Anglo-Saxon England.
• Assassin's Creed (Set in 1191) – Centers on Altaïr Ibn-La'dâh during the Third Crusade.
• Assassin's Creed II (Set in 1476 – 1499) – Introduces Ezio Auditore da Firenze across Renaissance Italy.
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Set in 1499 – 1507) – Continues Ezio's fight against the Borgia family in Rome.
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Set in 1511 – 1512) – Concludes Ezio's journey in Constantinople.
• Assassin's Creed Shadows (Set in 1579 onward) – Transports players to feudal Japan through the eyes of a shinobi and a samurai.
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Set in 1715 – 1722) – Sails the Golden Age of Piracy with Edward Kenway.
• Assassin's Creed Rogue (Set in 1752 – 1760) – Follows turncoat Shay Patrick Cormac during the Seven Years' War.
• Assassin's Creed III (Set in 1754 – 1783) – Stars Connor Kenway during the American Revolution.
• Assassin's Creed Unity (Set in 1789 – 1794) – Explores the French Revolution through Arno Dorian.
• Assassin's Creed Syndicate (Set in 1868) – Takes over Victorian London with twins Jacob and Evie Frye.

Sub-Series and Spin-offs Worth Noting

Beyond the main historical blockbusters, several side projects fill narrative gaps. The Assassin's Creed Chronicles trilogy—comprising China, India, and Russia—offers 2.5D side-scrolling stealth action. Meanwhile, games like Assassin's Creed Liberation originally bridged handheld ecosystems before receiving home console ports. If you want official data sheets on release histories and technical updates, you can browse the Ubisoft official website or check detailed franchise entries on the Assassin's Creed Wiki.

Common Mistakes When Playing the Series

Many players make specific missteps that ruin their immersion or burn them out. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Trying to play every single spin-off immediately: You don't need mobile games or minor tie-in comics to understand the core narrative. Stick to the main console releases unless you fall in love with the lore.
• Skipping the Ezio trilogy: Jumping straight from the original 2007 game to Assassin's Creed III means missing out on the fan-favorite arc of Ezio Auditore, which many consider the narrative peak of the franchise.
• Treating RPG entries like linear action games: Modern entries like Odyssey and Valhalla rely heavily on character levels, gear stats, and side quests. Rushing through the main story path without exploring will leave you severely under-leveled.
• Ignoring modern-day plot fatigue: If the sci-fi Animus framing device bores you, don't sweat it. Most recent entries downplay the modern segments, letting you focus entirely on the historical tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to play the games in order to understand the story?

Not strictly. While an overarching sci-fi plot connects the titles, most historical settings feature self-contained stories. You can pick up a standalone entry like Black Flag or Origins without playing the 2007 original.

Which game should a complete beginner start with?

Assassin's Creed II remains the best starting point for classic stealth gameplay. If you prefer modern open-world RPG mechanics, start with Assassin's Creed Origins for its rich Egyptian setting.

How long does it take to beat the entire series?

Finishing every single mainline title from start to finish requires well over 500 hours of gameplay, especially because recent entries like Valhalla feature massive open worlds exceeding 100 hours each.

Are the older games playable on modern consoles?

Yes. Thanks to remasters like The Ezio Collection and backward compatibility features on modern PlayStation and Xbox hardware, nearly the entire catalogue is accessible on current-generation systems.