by Charlotte May 20,2025
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has been a thrilling journey through history, spanning 18 years and covering five continents. From the ancient streets of Greece to the bustling Victorian London, the series has explored over 2,300 years of history across 13 mainline games. The ongoing conflict between the Assassins and Templars has captivated players worldwide, and with the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, it's the perfect time to revisit the saga.
For those looking to dive into the Assassin's Creed timeline, we've compiled a comprehensive chronology of the mainline games. Note that this list excludes spinoff games, as they do not significantly contribute to the overarching narrative.
For more in-depth information on the historical eras featured in Assassin's Creed, explore our full guide to the Assassin's Creed timeline.
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The Assassin's Creed series boasts 14 mainline games and 17 spinoffs, with additional expansions into a board game and an upcoming TV series at Netflix.
Embarking on the Assassin's Creed journey can be daunting, but choosing a game set in an era that piques your interest is a great starting point. The Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is renowned for its compelling narrative and character development. For those interested in more recent entries, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers engaging pirate adventures, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey immerses players in the world of ancient Greece.
PS4, Xbox One, PC
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There are two approaches to experiencing the Assassin's Creed timeline:
Modern-Day Storyline Order: This method follows the narrative progression of the modern-day stories, which are crucial for understanding the overarching plot. Playing the games in their release order allows you to witness the evolution of the series from stealth-action to open-world RPGs.
Historical Setting Order: This approach arranges the games by their historical periods, which are less interconnected but provide a fascinating tour through different eras of human history.
Below, we provide brief plot summaries with mild spoilers focusing on broad plot points, settings, and characters to help series newcomers navigate the timeline.
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 elements, transforming the series into an open-world experience. Players can choose between Cassandra or Alexios, the grandchildren of Sparta's King Leonidas I, and navigate the Peloponnesian War. The game blends historical accuracy with Greek mythology, featuring figures like Hippocrates and mythical beings such as the Sphinx. It's set before the Assassin and Templar orders, yet 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
Primary setting: Ancient Egypt
Historic Protagonist: Bayek of Siwa
Modern Protagonist: Layla Hassan
Assassin's Creed Origins, released in 2017, marked a soft reboot and introduced RPG mechanics to the series. Set during the Ptolemaic era in Egypt, it follows Bayek and Aya as they seek vengeance for their son's death, eventually uncovering the Order of the Ancients and founding the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassins. The modern-day narrative introduces Layla Hassan, who continues through Odyssey and Valhalla.
Available on: PS4, Xbox, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Origins Wiki
Primary setting: 9th Century Baghdad
Historic Protagonist: Basim Ibn Ishaq
Modern Protagonist: N/A
The latest addition to the series, Assassin's Creed Mirage, released in 2023, focuses on stealth and is a more narrative-driven experience. It follows Basim Ibn Ishaq, a young thief in Baghdad, who later becomes pivotal in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The game 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
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, offering the series' largest game to date. Players follow Eivor and their clan's journey from Norway to England, continuing the battle against the Order of the Ancients. The game concludes Layla Hassan's modern-day arc.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wiki
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 introduces Altair and the foundational elements of the series, such as climbing and assassinations. It's set during the Third Crusade, with Altair hunting Templars. The modern-day story introduces Desmond Miles, setting the stage for future narratives.
Available on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC | IGN's Assassin's Creed Wiki
Primary setting: 15th Century Italy
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin's Creed II introduces Ezio, who becomes a fan-favorite protagonist across three games. His journey begins with vengeance and evolves into a broader conflict with the Templars. Set in Italy, the game features encounters with historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed 2 Wiki
Primary setting: 15th-16th Century Italy
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Continuing Ezio's story, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood sees him rebuilding Rome's Assassin Guild and pursuing the Apple of Eden. The modern-day narrative follows Desmond as he searches for the same artifact to avert an impending catastrophe.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Wiki
Primary setting: 16th Century Constantinople
Historic Protagonist: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
The final chapter of the Ezio trilogy sees him seeking Altair's hidden library in Constantinople. The game intertwines Ezio's and Altair's stories, while Desmond navigates his own trials within the Animus.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch (The Ezio Collection); PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Original Release) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Revelations Wiki
Primary setting: Feudal Japan
Historic protagonist: Naoe and Yasuke
Modern protagonist: N/A
Set during Japan's Sengoku period, Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists with unique gameplay styles. Naoe and Yasuke's paths cross in a quest for vengeance. The game does not feature its own modern-day protagonist but ties into the broader narrative through the Animus Hub.
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC | IGN's Assassin's Creed Shadows Wiki
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 and follows Edward Kenway, a pirate who becomes entangled in the Assassin-Templar conflict. The modern-day story involves an Abstergo employee reliving Connor's memories 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
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 Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin who turns Templar. The modern-day story features another Abstergo employee.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Stadia; Switch (The Rebel Collection) | IGN's Assassin's Creed Rogue Wiki
Primary setting: 18th Century Colonial America
Historic Protagonist: Ratonhnhaké "Connor" Kenway
Modern Protagonist: Desmond Miles
Assassin's Creed III follows Connor Kenway during the American Revolution, blending historical events with the Assassin-Templar conflict. The modern-day narrative concludes Desmond's storyline.
Available on: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, Stadia | IGN's Assassin's Creed 3 Wiki
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's quest for vengeance amidst the Assassin-Templar conflict. The modern-day story is minimal, featuring a Helix player.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Unity Wiki
Primary setting: Victorian London
Historic Protagonists: Jacob and Evie Frye
Modern Protagonist: Unnamed Helix Player
Assassin's Creed Syndicate features dual protagonists, Jacob and Evie Frye, as they fight to free London from Templar control. The modern-day story continues with the same Helix player from Unity.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna | IGN's Assassin's Creed Syndicate Wiki
For those who prefer to follow the series' release order and witness its evolution:
Assassin's Creed Shadows is slated for release on March 20. While no information is available on future mainline games, remakes of older titles are in development. Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in production at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile-exclusive Assassin's Creed Jade has been delayed to 2025.
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