The Assassin’s Creed series can feel huge and a bit confusing with its long history and many games spanning centuries. I remember opening the first game years ago and wondering where to start next.
Playing them out of order can make the story confusing, while following a certain sequence gives a clear sense of how the Assassins and Templars shaped history.
That’s why knowing the order of Assassin’s Creed games is so helpful.
From Ancient Greece to Victorian London, each title builds on the last in its own way. I want to share the best ways to experience the main games, so you can enjoy the story and gameplay without getting lost along the way.
How Many Assassin’s Creed Games Are There?
The Assassin’s Creed series started in 2007 and has grown into one of Ubisoft’s biggest gaming franchises. There are currently 14 Assassin’s Creed games, each set in a different time period with unique characters and stories.
In addition to these, several spin-offs and smaller titles have been released for handhelds and other platforms, but the mainline games hold the key storylines.
Because the series spans so many historical periods, the games can feel a bit confusing to new players.
That’s why most people follow one of two main ways to play the series to get the full story.
Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order (Story Timeline)
The Assassin’s Creed series spans centuries of history, from ancient Greece to Victorian London. Playing the games in chronological order allows players to follow the story of the Assassins and Templars across time.
1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 B.C.–422 B.C.)
Set during the Peloponnesian War, you play as Alexios or Kassandra, a mercenary with Spartan roots. The story takes you across the Aegean Sea, engaging in battles between Athens and Sparta, political intrigues, and personal choices that affect the world.
Though the Assassin Brotherhood doesn’t yet exist, early hints of its philosophy and ideals are present, showing that the conflict between freedom and control began in the distant past.
- Primary Setting: Ancient Greece
- Release Date: October 5, 2018
2. Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 B.C.–43 B.C.)
Follow Bayek of Siwa in Egypt as he becomes one of the first Hidden Ones. The story explores revenge, political corruption, and the foundations of the Assassin Brotherhood.
Bayek and his wife, Aya, face a secret organization manipulating the Ptolemaic dynasty as they navigate deserts, temples, and cities along the Nile.
Origins shows the origins of the Brotherhood and how personal loss drives the fight against oppression.
- Primary Setting: Egypt
- Release Date: October 27, 2017
3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861 C.E.)
You step into the shoes of Basim, a street thief in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Over the course of the story, Basim becomes a skilled Assassin, uncovering plots by a secretive cult.
The game emphasizes stealth, parkour, and smaller, focused missions compared with later RPG entries, highlighting the rise of the Hidden Ones in a bustling, historical city.
- Primary Setting: Baghdad, Iraq
- Release Date: October 5, 2023
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872 C.E.–878 C.E.)
Play as the Viking Eivor, leading raids from Norway to England while forming alliances and establishing settlements. The story blends Norse culture, political intrigue, and the early conflict between the Assassins and the Templars.
Eivor learns about the Hidden Ones and engages in battles that shape England’s future. The game also explores family bonds, leadership, and moral choices amid a harsh and changing world.
- Primary Setting: England & Norway
- Release Date: November 10, 2020
5. Assassin’s Creed (1191 C.E.)
You play Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land. Tasked with recovering artifacts and eliminating key figures, Altaïr navigates cities, deserts, and fortresses while enforcing the Assassins’ code.
This game establishes the conflict with the Templars and the principles of the Brotherhood. Altaïr’s journey highlights loyalty, redemption, and the beginnings of a centuries-long struggle between Assassins and Templars.
- Primary Setting: Holy Land (Middle East)
- Release Date: November 13, 2007
6. Assassin’s Creed II (1476 C.E.–1499 C.E.)
Ezio Auditore starts as a young noble in Renaissance Italy and evolves into a master Assassin. Traveling through Florence, Venice, and other cities, Ezio uncovers betrayal, family tragedy, and larger conspiracies.
He interacts with real historical figures as he fights the Templars. This game is known for its rich story, character development, and the early shaping of the Brotherhood’s influence.
- Primary Setting: Renaissance Italy
- Release Date: November 17, 2009
7. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (1499 C.E.–1507 C.E.)
Ezio continues his story in Rome, rebuilding the Assassin Brotherhood and confronting the Borgia family. The game emphasizes strategy, teamwork, and managing allies as you battle a powerful, corrupt political force.
Brotherhood expands on the Assassin-Templar conflict while deepening Ezio’s personal growth and legacy as a key figure in the series’ history.
- Primary Setting: Rome, Italy
- Release Date: November 16, 2010
8. Assassin’s Creed Revelations (1511 C.E.–1512 C.E.)
Ezio travels to Constantinople to uncover Altaïr’s secrets, connecting the past with the present. He works to understand the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood while confronting Templar threats in the city.
The story follows his final steps toward mastery through bustling streets, grand palaces, and hidden passages, as he faces political intrigue, ancient mysteries, and the challenges of power, knowledge, and personal growth.
- Primary Setting: Constantinople (Istanbul)
- Release Date: November 15, 2011
9. Assassin’s Creed Shadows (1579 C.E.)
Set in feudal Japan, you play as Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke, each with a different perspective on the Assassin’s fight against a secretive enemy.
Shadows combines stealth, combat, and political intrigue during a time of samurai warfare. It highlights the spread of Assassin ideals outside Europe while exploring loyalty, honor, and hidden threats within Japanese society.
- Primary Setting: Japan
- Release Date: March 20, 2025
10. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (1715 C.E.–1722 C.E.)
Play as Edward Kenway, a daring pirate and skilled Assassin navigating the vast Caribbean Sea.
You raid enemy ships, explore hidden islands, uncover secret treasures, and face dangerous rivals while getting pulled into the larger conflict with the Templar order.
The story blends high-seas piracy, intense naval battles, treasure hunting, and political rivalries, showing how the Assassin Brotherhood’s influence expands across the oceans during this turbulent era.
- Primary Setting: Caribbean
- Release Date: October 29, 2013
11. Assassin’s Creed Rogue (1752 C.E.–1760 C.E.)
Shay Patrick Cormac turns from Assassin to Templar during the mid-1700s in North America.
His story gives the Templar perspective while showing the consequences of missteps within the Assassin Brotherhood. The narrative covers naval battles, colonial conflicts, and missions that challenge traditional loyalty.
- Primary Setting: North Atlantic/Colonial America
- Release Date: November 11, 2014
12. Assassin’s Creed III (1754 C.E.–1783 C.E.)
Follow Connor Kenway during the American Revolution. He fights to protect his people while engaging in battles between colonists, British forces, and Templars.
The game combines stealth, combat, and historical events to depict a pivotal era of rebellion and the growth of the Assassin Brotherhood in the New World.
- Primary Setting: Colonial America
- Release Date: October 30, 2012
13. Assassin’s Creed Unity (1789 C.E.–1794 C.E.)
Arno Dorian navigates Paris during the French Revolution, learning the Assassin ways and engaging in missions that intertwine with historic uprisings.
Unity emphasizes crowd stealth, teamwork, and revolutionary conflict while highlighting personal loss, justice, and the expanding Assassin Brotherhood in a rapidly changing society.
- Primary Setting: Paris, France
- Release Date: November 11, 2014
14. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (1868 C.E.)
Jacob and Evie Frye fight to free London from Templar influence during the Industrial Revolution. They lead gangs, protect the oppressed, and navigate the city’s streets, trains, and factories.
Syndicate focuses on strategy, parkour, and twin protagonists while showing how the Brotherhood continues to grow into the modern age.
- Primary Setting: London, England
- Release Date: October 23, 2015
Assassin’s Creed Order: If You Want to Skip Some Games
Not everyone has time to play all 14 mainline Assassin’s Creed games. If you want a shorter playthrough that still covers the main story and key events, you can focus on the most important titles.
- Assassin’s Creed II: Start with Ezio’s story to get a strong introduction to the Brotherhood and its ideals.
- Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood: Continue Ezio’s journey and see the Assassin Brotherhood grow in Rome.
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations: Complete Ezio’s arc while uncovering Altaïr’s secrets.
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag: A fun, action-packed pirate story that ties into the modern Assassin lore.
- Assassin’s Creed Origins: Learn about the founding of the Hidden Ones and early Assassin history.
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Explore the earliest historical period of the series in Ancient Greece.
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Experience the Viking era and see the Brotherhood’s influence expand further.
This shorter order focuses on story-critical games, letting you enjoy the key arcs without playing every single entry.
Should You Follow Chronological Order or Assassin’s Creed Release Order?
Choosing between chronological order and release order depends on what you want from the games.
If you follow the timeline chronologically, you see the story unfold from the earliest historical events to the latest, making the overall plot easier to follow.
On the other hand, the release order lets you experience how the games evolved over time, showing improvements in gameplay, graphics, and mechanics.
Many players enjoy starting with the original games to feel the series grow, while others prefer the historical flow of the story.
Either way, both orders offer a satisfying experience, so it comes down to whether you want story continuity or a sense of progression in the games themselves.
Final Thoughts
Figuring out the order of Assassin’s Creed games can make a big difference in how much you enjoy the series.
I’ve tried both chronological and release orders, and each has its own appeal: story clarity versus seeing the games evolve over time.
Even skipping a few less essential titles can still give a strong experience.
Now it’s your turn to choose how to play. I’d love to hear which order you prefer or if you have your own personal favorites. Drop a comment below and share your Assassin’s Creed experience.
I’m always curious how other fans approach the series!