Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise has taken players on an epic journey across five continents and over 2,300 years of history through 13 mainline games. With the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we've compiled a comprehensive timeline of the series so far. This guide focuses solely on the mainline entries, as the spinoffs do not significantly impact the overarching narrative.

For a deeper dive into the historical settings of each game, be sure to check out our detailed guide to the Assassin's Creed timeline.

Jump to:

How to play in chronological orderHow to play in release order

Mainline Assassin's Creed Games in Chronological Order

14 Images

How Many Assassin's Creed Games Are There?

There are currently 14 mainline Assassin's Creed games and 17 additional spinoffs. Beyond video games, the franchise has expanded into a board game and a rumored TV series in development at Netflix.

Which Assassin's Creed Game Should You Play First?

Choosing where to start in the Assassin's Creed saga can be daunting, but it's wise to begin with a game set in an era that fascinates you. The original Ezio trilogy (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is renowned for its compelling storytelling. For fans of more recent entries, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers an engaging pirate-themed experience, while Assassin's Creed Odyssey transports you to the enchanting world of ancient Greece.

PS4, Xbox One, PC

Assassin's Creed: Ezio Trilogy

0See it at Amazon

Nintendo Switch

Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Trilogy

0See it at Amazon

PS4, Xbox One, PC

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

0See it at Amazon

PS4, Xbox One, PC

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

0See it at Amazon

How to Play the Assassin’s Creed Game In Order

There are two ways to approach the Assassin's Creed timeline. You can follow the modern-day storyline, which progresses with each game's release, offering a cohesive narrative arc. This method is ideal for experiencing the series' evolution from stealth-action to open-world RPGs. Alternatively, you can explore the games based on their historical settings, which provide the bulk of gameplay but are less interconnected in terms of plot.

The Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order

Below are brief plot summaries with mild spoilers to help newcomers understand the broad strokes, historical settings, and main characters.

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 the RPG genre. You play as either Cassandra or Alexios, descendants of Sparta's King Leonidas I, during the Peloponnesian War. The game intertwines historical figures like Hippocrates and Socrates with mythological elements such as the Sphinx and Medusa. While predating the Assassin and Templar orders, it features a crucial Piece of Eden, the Spear of Leonidas.

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

Assassin's Creed Origins, released in 2017, marked a soft reboot with the introduction of RPG elements. Set in Ancient Egypt during the reigns of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, the game follows Bayek and Aya as they seek vengeance for their son's death. Their journey uncovers the proto-Templar Order of the Ancients and leads to the formation of the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassins.

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 a $50 USD stealth-focused adventure designed as a tribute to the original games. It follows 17-year-old Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief with haunting visions, as he escapes Baghdad and journeys to the Hidden Ones' fortress of Alamut. Unlike other entries, Mirage does not emphasize the 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 delves into Norse history and mythology, making it the series' largest game. Set during the Viking Age, it follows Eivor and their clan as they migrate from Norway to England. The game balances the ongoing conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients with Eivor's personal journey.

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 first Assassin's Creed game introduces Altair Ibn'La-Ahad during the Third Crusade. It sets the stage for the series' foundational gameplay mechanics and narrative elements, including the Animus and Pieces of Eden. The game establishes the ongoing Assassin-Templar conflict and introduces Desmond Miles, the modern-day protagonist.

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, who becomes a fan-favorite protagonist. Ezio's journey begins with a quest for vengeance after his father and brother's deaths, leading him into the heart of the Assassin-Templar conflict. The game takes players across Italy, introducing 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

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 seeks to rebuild Rome's Assassins Guild and retrieve the Apple of Eden. In the present day, Desmond and the modern Assassins search for the same artifact to avert the prophesized end of the world.

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, Assassin's Creed Revelations, sees an older Ezio seeking Altair's hidden library in Constantinople. The game intertwines Ezio's story with Altair's memories, revealing their roles in the broader narrative. In the present, Desmond navigates the Animus to escape the Black Room.

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

Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, set during Japan's late Sengoku period. The game explores their intertwined paths of vengeance amidst the civil wars. It coincides with the Animus Hub, a platform that enhances the Assassin's Creed experience with modern-day subplots and rewards.

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 and pirate-themed setting. It follows Edward Kenway, grandfather to Connor Kenway from AC III, as he becomes embroiled in the Assassin-Templar conflict while seeking the Observatory. The modern-day story involves an Abstergo employee reliving Connor's life for a film project.

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 serves as a narrative bridge between AC III and AC IV, following Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin turned Templar. The game features Haytham Kenway, connecting it to the Kenway family saga. In the present, you play as another Abstergo employee known as "Numbskull."

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

Assassin's Creed III follows Connor Kenway during the American Revolution as he seeks to protect his tribe and the First Civilization's Grand Temple. The game features historical figures like George Washington and concludes Desmond's modern-day arc as they work to prevent the world's end.

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 such as Napoléon Bonaparte and King Louis XVI feature prominently. The modern-day story involves a Helix player, but it lacks significant gameplay and narrative impact.

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 features twin protagonists, Jacob and Evie Frye, as they work to liberate London from Templar control. Set in 1868, the game includes historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Darwin. The modern-day story follows the same Helix player from Unity, searching for 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 slated for release on March 20. While there's no information on future mainline titles, Ubisoft is working on remakes of older games. Additionally, a live-action Assassin's Creed series is in development at Netflix, and Tencent's mobile-exclusive Assassin's Creed Jade has been delayed to 2025.

Related Content:

• Far Cry Games in Order
• God of War Games in Order
• The Legend of Zelda Games in Order
• Final Fantasy Games in Order
• Shop the coolest Assassin's Creed merch at the IGN Store