Assassin’s Creed has been running since 2007, and with fifteen mainline games now out, figuring out where to start can feel like a job on its own. This guide breaks down the Assassin’s Creed games in order, both by release date and by the in game timeline, so you can pick a path and jump in without spoiling the story for yourself.
Assassin’s Creed Games in Release Order
This is the order Ubisoft actually launched the games in. It is also how most veteran players experienced the series, watching the gameplay and the modern day story evolve one entry at a time.
| # | Game | Release Year | Setting | Protagonist |
| 1 | Assassin’s Creed | 2007 | Holy Land, Third Crusade | Altair Ibn La’Ahad |
| 2 | Assassin’s Creed II | 2009 | Renaissance Italy | Ezio Auditore |
| 3 | Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood | 2010 | Rome | Ezio Auditore |
| 4 | Assassin’s Creed Revelations | 2011 | Constantinople | Ezio Auditore |
| 5 | Assassin’s Creed III | 2012 | American Revolution | Ratonhnhake:ton (Connor) |
| 6 | Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag | 2013 | Caribbean | Edward Kenway |
| 7 | Assassin’s Creed Rogue | 2014 | North Atlantic | Shay Cormac |
| 8 | Assassin’s Creed Unity | 2014 | French Revolution | Arno Dorian |
| 9 | Assassin’s Creed Syndicate | 2015 | Victorian London | Jacob and Evie Frye |
| 10 | Assassin’s Creed Origins | 2017 | Ptolemaic Egypt | Bayek of Siwa |
| 11 | Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | 2018 | Ancient Greece | Alexios or Kassandra |
| 12 | Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 2020 | Viking Age England | Eivor |
| 13 | Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 2023 | Abbasid Baghdad | Basim Ibn Ishaq |
| 14 | Assassin’s Creed Shadows | 2025 | Feudal Japan | Naoe and Yasuke |
| 15 | Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced | 2026 | Caribbean (remake) | Edward Kenway |
Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order
If you would rather follow the story in the order it actually happens, from ancient Greece to Victorian England, use this timeline instead. Note that Black Flag Resynced retells the same story as the original Black Flag, so it sits in the same spot on the timeline.
| # | Game | In Universe Period |
| 1 | Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | 431 to 422 BCE, Greece |
| 2 | Assassin’s Creed Origins | 49 to 43 BCE, Egypt |
| 3 | Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 861 CE, Baghdad |
| 4 | Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 872 to 878 CE, England |
| 5 | Assassin’s Creed | 1191, Holy Land |
| 6 | Assassin’s Creed II | 1476 to 1499, Italy |
| 7 | Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood | 1499 to 1507, Rome |
| 8 | Assassin’s Creed Revelations | 1511, Constantinople |
| 9 | Assassin’s Creed Shadows | 1579 to 1581, Japan |
| 10 | Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag / Black Flag Resynced | 1715 to 1722, Caribbean |
| 11 | Assassin’s Creed Rogue | 1752 to 1760, North Atlantic |
| 12 | Assassin’s Creed III | 1754 to 1783, America |
| 13 | Assassin’s Creed Unity | 1789 to 1794, France |
| 14 | Assassin’s Creed Syndicate | 1868, London |
Release Order or Chronological Order: Which Should You Play First?
Now that you have the Assassin’s Creed games in order both ways, the real question is which list to actually follow. There is no wrong answer here, it really comes down to what you care about more.
Play in release order if you want to see the series grow. You will notice the parkour, combat and open world design get more ambitious with every game, and the Desmond Miles modern day arc actually makes sense the way it was written.
Play in chronological order if you are only in it for the historical settings and want a smoother sense of world building, from Bronze Age Greece all the way to Industrial Revolution London. Just know that a few games reference earlier releases, so some plot twists will land differently.
For a first timer, starting with Assassin’s Creed II is still the easiest way in. It is the point where the series found its identity, and everything from Brotherhood onward builds on it directly.
Every Mainline Assassin’s Creed Game Explained
This is where the game shifts hardest from its predecessor. Instead of a sprawling open e exploration and puzzle solving kept most reviewers engaged without feeling repetitive.
The Altair and Ezio Era (2007 to 2011)
Assassin’s Creed (2007) introduces Altair and the core idea of reliving ancestral memories through the Animus. The stealth and climbing systems feel dated now, but this is where the whole franchise began.
Assassin’s Creed II (2009) swaps Altair for Ezio Auditore and Jerusalem for Florence and Venice. Better combat, a stronger cast and a genuinely gripping revenge story make this the game most fans point new players toward.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (2010) keeps Ezio in Rome, adds the ability to recruit and train your own assassins, and introduces the series first multiplayer mode. It plays like a direct, tighter continuation of AC2.
Assassin’s Creed Revelations (2011) sends an older Ezio to Constantinople and closes out both his story and Altair’s in the same game. It is a fitting send off for two of the series most loved characters.
The Colonial and Industrial Era (2012 to 2015)
Assassin’s Creed III (2012) moves the story to the American Revolution with Ratonhnhake:ton, known as Connor. The setting is ambitious and the naval combat introduced here would go on to define the next game.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) turns Edward Kenway into a pirate captain sailing the Caribbean. Naval exploration, treasure hunting and a genuinely fun protagonist made this one of the most replayed games in the series.
Assassin’s Creed Rogue (2014) flips the formula and puts you on the Templar side for once, playing as Shay Cormac. It bridges the gap between Black Flag and AC3 and is often skipped, which is a shame since it fills in real story gaps.
Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014) heads to Paris during the French Revolution with Arno Dorian. The crowd density and city design were impressive for the time, even if the launch itself was rocky.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015) lets you swap between twins Jacob and Evie Frye in Victorian London. Grappling hooks and carriage chases gave traversal a fresh feel after five games of climbing rooftops.
The Colonial and Industrial Era (2012 to 2015)
Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017) rebuilt the series as an action RPG and sent Bayek of Siwa through Ptolemaic Egypt. Loot, skill trees and a huge open world reset expectations for what an AC game could be.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) doubled down on the RPG formula in Ancient Greece, letting you choose between Alexios and Kassandra. It is the longest game in the franchise and one of the most ambitious.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020) takes Eivor across Viking Age England, mixing raids, settlement building and a sprawling map. It leans further into RPG territory than any entry before it.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage (2023) intentionally scales things back, returning to a tighter, stealth focused format with Basim in Abbasid era Baghdad. It plays closer to the original games and is a good option if the RPG entries felt too long.
The Newest Chapters (2025 to 2026)
Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025) finally brings the series to feudal Japan, splitting gameplay between shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke. You can freely switch between their very different playstyles across most of the open world.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (2026) is a full remake of the original Black Flag built on a newer engine, with reworked combat, improved stealth and better ship customization. It retells Edward Kenway’s story rather than pushing the timeline forward.
Best Assassin’s Creed Game to Start With
Want the classic story experience? Start with Assassin’s Creed II. It is accessible, character driven and still holds up.
Prefer modern RPG mechanics? Start with Assassin’s Creed Origins. The combat and progression feel closer to what current games offer.
Short on time? Start with Assassin’s Creed Mirage. It is the most focused entry and easiest to finish without a huge time commitment.
Want the newest experience first? Start with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, since it does not require prior knowledge of earlier games to follow.
What’s Next for the Assassin’s Creed Series?
Ubisoft has confirmed that Codename Hexe is in development, reportedly set during the witch trials of 16th century Europe. As of now Ubisoft has not announced an official release date, and leaked timelines putting it in 2027 should be treated as unconfirmed until Ubisoft says otherwise.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. How many Assassin’s Creed games are there?
A. There are fifteen mainline Assassin’s Creed games as of 2026, along with several spin offs like the Chronicles trilogy and Liberation.
Q. What is the first Assassin’s Creed game?
A. The original Assassin’s Creed, released in 2007 and starring Altair Ibn La’Ahad, started the series.
Q. What is the newest Assassin’s Creed game?
A. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of Black Flag, released in July 2026.
Q. Do I need to play the games in order?
A. No. Each game tells a mostly self contained story, though playing in release order makes the modern day storyline easier to follow.
Q. Is Assassin’s Creed Mirage a good starting point?
A. Yes. It is short, stealth focused and does not require knowledge of earlier games.
Q. Are the Assassin’s Creed games connected?
A. Yes. Every game ties into the same overarching conflict between Assassins and Templars, even though the historical settings differ.
Q. Should I play Black Flag or Black Flag Resynced?
A. Black Flag Resynced is the recommended version for new players, since it retells the same story with modern mechanics and visuals.
Q. Is Assassin’s Creed Rogue worth playing?
A. Yes. It fills story gaps between Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed III and lets you experience the series from the Templar side.
Q. Which Assassin’s Creed game has the best story?
A. Assassin’s Creed II is widely considered the strongest story in the series, thanks to Ezio’s arc across three games.
Q. What platforms can I play Assassin’s Creed on?
A. Recent entries are available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and select Nintendo consoles, while older games are mostly available on PC and last gen consoles.
