Assassin’s Creed is one of the most legendary franchises in gaming history, with a series stretching back over fifteen years. It’s an iconic, open-world collection that boasts ambitious adventures, immersive stories, and memorable characters. But, given that there are dozens of games in the series, we’re asking (and answering) an all-important question: ‘Can you play Assassin’s Creed in any order?’
Some die-hard fans might have their ideal chronology, but in this guide, we’re looking at a more general scale. If you’re wondering what order to play Assassin’s Creed in, look no further than this guide.
How Many Assassin’s Creed Games Are There?
It’s a rich and storied franchise that can be traced back to 2007. It’s a little-known fact, but Assassin’s Creed’s origins rest with Prince of Persia. It was later revealed that 2007’s Assassin’s Creed title, which kicked off the franchise, was an experiment, with the project being twisted from the failed development of a Prince of Persia game.
In total, there are 14 major Assassin’s Creed games and several more spin-off titles that were typically released on handheld consoles and mobile devices. It’s a franchise that has taken players from Ancient Greece to Victorian London, and with each new release, the lore gets richer, deeper, and more immersive.
With that in mind, can you play Assassin’s Creed in any order?
Related: Ubisoft Has 11 Assassin’s Creed Games Planned
Can You Play Assassin’s Creed in Any Order?
Technically, no restrictions are blocking you from playing Assassin’s Creed in whatever order you so desire, but some barricades might make the experience a little confusing.
For instance, if you wanted to soak up the entire timeline in order of release, you’d start with Assassin’s Creed (2007) and end with Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025). But, if you wanted to play the series in chronological order, you’d start with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) and end with Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015).
With the most recent releases, Ubisoft pivoted to an RPG-based model, with each game more or less being a standalone title with only a few concepts and aspects connecting them. For instance, Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017), Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018), Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020), and Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025) can all be experienced as standalone games, but there is an underlying story that connects them.
It’s not as jarring an experience as if you were to play the older games as standalone titles, though. For example, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (2010) was a direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed II (2009). The former game starts in the exact scenes where the latter game ends, so if you’ve not played Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood will be disorienting until you’ve managed to catch up on the story.
All Assassin’s Creed Games in Order
Here’s a quick rundown of all the Assassin’s Creed games in the order they were released:
- Assassin’s Creed (2007)
- Assassin’s Creed II (2009)
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (2010)
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (2011)
- Assassin’s Creed III (2012)
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (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: Shadows (2025)
And now, in order of chronology:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 – 422 BC)
- Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 – 44 BC)
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872 – 878)
- Assassin’s Creed (1191)
- Assassin’s Creed II (1476 – 1499)
- Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (1499 – 1507)
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations (1511 – 1512)
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows (1579 – 1581)
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (1715 – 1722)
- Assassin’s Creed Rogue (1752 – 1776)
- Assassin’s Creed III (1754 – 1783)
- Assassin’s Creed Unity (1789 – 1794)
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (1868)
If you’ve been wondering what order to play Assassin’s Creed in, we hope that’s cleared things up. There are a few ways to soak up the franchise, but ultimately, it’s up to you in which order you play the games. Realistically, if you were to play them in order of release, you’d be neck-deep in Assassin’s Creed games for several hundred hours.
Perhaps it’s best to start with the most recent titles and track backwards if you want to learn about the origins of the series and what it all means. You can also skip some games if you don’t feel like they’d interest you. It’s your journey, after all. There might not be any one ‘best Assassin’s Creed order’.
Let me know what your favorite Assassin’s Creed game is on the Insider Gaming forum
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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