All Assassin’s Creed Games, Ranked Chronologically

This guide provides a complete list of all the mainline Assassin’s Creed games, ranked chronologically based on their in-game timeline.

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed franchise is renowned not only for its stealth-based action but also for exploring the timelines of various historical events and incorporating them into its installments. So far, the series has launched thirteen major installment titles with Assassin’s Creed Shadows now set to join the club as the fourteenth installment. 

While the timeline was easy to follow in the earlier titles, the release of the later games made it quite challenging to put all of the games in chronological order. This article aims to list all the Assassin’s Creed games in chronological order, based on the timeline in which each game takes place.  

1) Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Released as the eleventh major installment on October 5, 2018, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey stands first in chronological order. It is set in an era before the Assassins and Templar conflict. AC Odyssey takes place in Ancient Greece between 431 B.C. to 422 B.C. during the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens.

It expands the stealth-focused title to an action-adventure RPG by exploring Greece’s Golden Age by visiting Sparta and witnessing Athens in one of the biggest maps of the series. The game introduces real historical figures of the era, such as Hippocrates, Socrates, and Pericles, while also featuring mythical creatures from Greek mythology, including the Sphinx, Cyclops, and Medusa. Players take the role of siblings Alexios or Kassandra, the descendants of Sparta’s King Leonidas I. 

Timeline: 431 B.C. to 422 B.C.

2) Assassin’s Creed Origins

Assassin’s Creed Origins, the second game in chronological order, is the tenth major installment of the series released on October 27, 2017. AC Origins is the first of the Ancient trilogy, followed by Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Set in Ancient Egypt between 49 B.C. – 43 B.C. during the era of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra, the game explores the story of the origin of the Assassins, referred to as ‘the Hidden Ones’ in this installment.

In AC Origins, players traverse the mysterious lands of Ancient Egypt, exploring great Pyramids, hidden tombs, deserts, and oases. Bayek of Siwa and Aya serve as the protagonist of the game, seeking vengeance against the Order of the Ancients for the murder of their son. 

Timeline: 49 B.C. – 43 B.C.

3) Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the most recent installment of the franchise, was released on 5 October 2023. The thirteenth major installment of the series follows the chronicles of Basim Ibn Ishaq narrating how a 17-year-old street thief becomes a master Assassin. Basim, a unique and interesting character from AC Valhalla, got his own mainline game.

The title doesn’t feature any modern characters like the other games and is also considered one of the shortest titles of the series. Set in 861 A.D during the Golden Age of Baghdad, players traverse four unique districts and Alamut, the legendary home of the Assassins. 

Timeline: 861 A.D.

4) Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the twelfth major installment of the series, launched on November 10, 2020. Players assume the role of a fearless Vikings warrior, Eivor Varinsdottir in ninth-century England and Norway. As a member of the Vikings clan, you can build your settlements to improve the welfare of your clan members.

The intense raids against Saxon armies deliver the authentic Viking experience adding more depth to the Norse theme. The title also brings popular Norse mythology figures such as Loki, Thor, Odin, Fenrir, and Freyja while Eivor teleports to Asgard. AC Valhalla is one of the longest games of the franchise, blending Norse Mythology with Viking lore while focusing on the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients. 

Timeline: 872 A.D. – 878 A.D.

5) Assassin’s Creed

Released on November 13, 2007, Ubisoft’s beloved stealth-action RPG franchise started with the original Assassin’s Creed. It is the fifth game in chronological order and takes place 300 years after AC Valhalla. Situated in the Holy Land in the 12th century during the Third Crusade, players take the role of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad. The franchise starts with Desmond Miles, the modern-day character and the descendant of Altaïr.

It reveals the millennium-long conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order through the Animus, a memory-sharing mechanism. The title also establishes the distinctive elements of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, including the stealth-based associations blended with parry-based combat alongside the flexible parkour mechanics, which stand as the hallmarks of the series to date. 

Timeline: 1191 A.D.

6) Assassin’s Creed II

Assassin’s Creed II, the second installment, introduces one of the iconic protagonists of the series, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The title narrates the chronicles of Ezio, who becomes an assassin and joins the Assassin Brotherhood to seek vengeance for the murder of his father and brother.

Released on November 17, 2009, the game takes place in 15th-century Renaissance Italy during the era of Pope Alexander VI. Players navigate the streets of Florence, and the Vatican, making it an ideal setting for a historical action-adventure. It also features popular real-life figures like Leonardo Da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli.

Timeline: 1467 A.D. – 1499 A.D.

7) Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, released on November 16, 2010, is the third major installment and the direct sequel to the Assassin’s Creed II. As the second installment of Ezio’s trilogy, it continues the chronicles of the protagonist battling against the Templars to liberate Rome City. The game takes place in the capital of Italy between the end of the 15th and the start of the 16th century.

While Ezio battles against the Borgia Family, Desmond Miles searches for the Apple of Eden through Ezio’s memories. It also made the returns of real-life characters from the prequel such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli. Additionally, the game introduced a multiplayer mode, the first in the franchise, which was highly praised, alongside the core single-player campaign. 

Timeline: 1499 A.D. – 1507 A.D.

Related: 5 Assassin’s Creed Games to Play While Waiting For AC Shadows

8) Assassin’s Creed Revelations

Assassin’s Creed Revelations, released on November 15, 2011, is the fourth major installment and brings a perfect conclusion to Ezio’s trilogy.  Ezio’s search for Altair’s hidden library leads him to the city of Constantinople which ultimately marks the end of the chapter for the previous protagonist Altaïr. The game’s storyline takes place for one year during the rise of the Ottoman Empire.

AC Revelations is considered one of the best games of the series with the climax revealing the true purpose of Assassins while connecting Ezio, Altaïr, and Desmond Miles. Additionally, the series introduces a Hookblade, which allows faster and more flexible movements across the environments, opening up new possibilities for assassinations.  

Timeline: 1511 A.D – 1512 A.D

9) Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the latest and upcoming addition to the long-running franchise. The title is finally slated to be released on February 14, 2025, after facing several delays. Fans of the series have long awaited a Japan-based Assassin’s Creed game, and with AC Shadows, their wishes have been fulfilled.

Taking place in the 16th century in Feudal Japan during the Sengoku period, Ubisoft has done a brilliant job of creating Japanese-themed environments including huge castles, ports, and shrines. Akin to Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, AC Shadows features dual protagonists, a Stealthy shinobi Naoe and a Ruthless Samurai Yasuke, allowing players to switch between them seamlessly. 

Timeline: 1579 A.D.

10) Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag

The sixth major installment of Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag was released on October 29, 2013. It takes place in The Caribbean during the 18th century, two centuries after Ezio’s trilogy. Although the historical sequences of Black Flag occur before the events of Assassin’s Creed III, its modern-day sequence follows the events of the latter.

Widely regarded as one of the largest games in the franchise AC IV Black Flag introduces a unique focus on ship-based combat and exploration. The story is set roughly 40 years before the events of Assassin’s Creed III and follows Edward Kenway, a notorious pirate and assassin. Edward is the grandfather of Connor (the protagonist of AC III) and the father of Haytham Kenway (the antagonist of AC III).

While Edward explores the Bahamas in search of a mythical location called Observatory, the modern-day sequences revolve around Abstergo Industries’ attempt to promote the Templars’ perspective. The game also features real-life pirates, including Edward Thatch (Blackbeard), Benjamin Hornigold, Calico Jack, and Mary Read. 

Timeline: 1715 A.D – 1722 A.D

11) Assassin’s Creed Rogue

Assassin’s Creed Rogue, the seventh major installment, is a unique take on the franchise, as the title is the first to narrate the story from a Templar perspective. Shay Patrick Cormac, an Irish-American privateer, is a former Assassin and later becomes a Templar. The Templar Grandmaster Haytham Kenway plays a key role in the game.

Taking place in the 18th century during the French and Indian War, the game acts as a narrative bridge by connecting Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Assassin’s Creed III, and Assassin’s Creed Unity. Released on November 11, 2014, it is the second pirate-focused game following the AC IV Black Flag, featuring ship-based combat and naval explorations.

While Shay hunts down the Piece of Eden across the North Atlantic, the modern-day sequences follow another Abstergo employee, known as “Numbskull”. A sequence at the end of Assassin’s Creed Rogue takes place after the events of Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed Unity. 

Timeline: 1752 A.D – 1760 A.D

12) Assassin’s Creed III

Although Released on October 30, 2012, as the fifth major installment of the franchise, Assassin’s Creed III ranks 12th in chronological order. Set during the events of 18th century Colonial America, the story revolves around Templar Grandmaster Haytham Kenway and his son Connor. Players take the role of Connor Kenway, who becomes an Assassin to liberate and protect his Native American people during the American Revolution.

In Assassin’s Creed III, players traverse through various regions of Colonial America, including Boston, New York City, and the American frontier. The game also features a large number of real-life figures like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Sam Adams, and Charles Lee. AC III also brings an end to the modern-day chapter of Desmond Miles’ story arc. 

Timeline: 1754 A.D – 1783 A.D

13) Assassin’s Creed Unity

Assassin’s Creed Unity, the eighth major installment, takes place in Paris during the 18th-century French Revolution. Released on November 11, 2014, players assume the role of a French Assassin Arno Dorian, who fights against the Templars to liberate the people.

Although the title was buggy at the time of launch, with several patches Ubisoft polished the game into one of the best of the franchise with fluid parkour mechanics and extraordinary environmental design. Ubisoft meticulously crafted the title to deliver an authentic French Revolution experience, showcasing events such as the besieging of the Bastille and the execution of King Louis XVI.

It also features real-life figures like Napoléon Bonaparte and Marquis de Sade. The title introduces several new mechanisms such as cooperative multiplayer mode for certain missions and weapons like Phantom Blade. Narrated through cutscenes, AC Unity initiated a modern-day storyline, which continues in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. 

Timeline: 1789 A.D – 1794 A.D

14) Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate was released on October 23, 2015, as the ninth major installment of the franchise. For the first time, the franchise introduces a dual protagonist, featuring Twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye. The game is set in 19th-century England during the Industrial Revolution, with certain side missions extending to the 20th century. It brings life to Victorian London with iconic locations such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Thames River.

The addition of a rope launcher made the parkour mechanics more dynamic, allowing players to scale buildings at long distances with ease. Similar to most titles of the franchise, it also includes some real-life figures such as Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, and Winston Churchill, while its DLCs feature Jack the Ripper and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

Timeline: 1868 A.D

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