Even if you’re a casual gamer, you’ve likely heard of Assassin’s Creed – a franchise juggernaut with over 200 million copies sold. It’s basically the gaming equivalent of the Roman Empire, complete with mobile spin-offs, a feature film I’d rather not discuss, and enough merch to make you wonder if you can have too many hooded capes.
With Assassin’s Creed Mirage dropping on Steam, now’s the perfect time to dive in. To catch those who need it up:
Assassin’s Creed blends historical fiction with action-adventure. It features the Assassins, a secret brotherhood that has disrupted significant world events since 49 BC, and their nemeses, the Templars, who are basically history’s conspiracy theorists.
It’s a 2,000-year-long battle of ideologies – chaos versus control – and while the Assassins might seem like the good guys, they cause their fair share of havoc in their quest for justice. Think of them as Robin Hoods but with more rooftop parkour.
Every game follows a modern-day character using the Animus, a nifty machine that lets you relive your ancestors’ memories. While most games stand-alone, the Ezio Collection is an epic trilogy that should be played in its entirety.
With so many games, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But fear not, future assassin, I’ve got you.
Let’s break down the best entry points into this sprawling world of parkour, hidden blades, and historical conspiracies.
Ready? Hood up, hidden blade primed? Let’s go!
Assassin’s Creed for Beginners: Where to Start in This Epic, Hooded Saga
Assassin’s Creed II
Grab It On Steam
Wait, what? Not the first one? Yep. Unless you’ve been around from the start, skipping Assassin’s Creed and going straight to its Renaissance love child is best.
Assassin’s Creed II is where the franchise really hit its stride. While the first game felt more like a tech demo for its parkour, Assassin’s Creed II delivered a story worth sticking around for.
Enter Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the Italian Han Solo you never knew you needed. He’s brash, charming, and has more one-liners than hidden blades.
Set in beautiful Renaissance Italy, Assassin’s Creed II gives you Florence, Venice, and some good old-fashioned revenge.
The game does an excellent job of explaining what happened in the first game to newcomers. Plus, the world is a perfect size – just big enough to explore without getting overwhelmed.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
Grab It On Steam
As I mentioned in the intro, if you plan on diving into the Ezio collection, which kicked off with Assassin’s Creed II, you need to stick the entire journey out, bringing us to Brotherhood.
Brotherhood is Assassin’s Creed II’s direct sequel. Ezio’s back, now a Master Assassin, and this time, he’s rebuilding the Brotherhood (yes, it’s as dramatic as it sounds).
You’ll roam Rome (pun intended) and experience the joy of recruiting your very own band of assassins.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood also introduces multiplayer for the first time, so you can compete in a weirdly addictive cat-and-mouse game where everyone’s hiding and everyone’s hunting.
Assassin’s Creed Revelations
Grab It On Steam
The final game in the Ezio trilogy is Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Set in Constantinople, Revelations has Ezio on a quest for truth, looking to wrap up his story and connect with the franchise’s original protagonist, Altair.
Assassin’s Creed Revelations is a more reflective, emotional journey, and the game’s new mechanics- like the hookblade – make getting around the rooftops more fun.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Grab It On Steam
Now it’s time to head to ancient Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins. This game reboots the entire franchise, giving it an open-world RPG makeover.
The combat is overhauled, the map is massive, and you’ll find yourself taking on Egyptian gods.
Set in 49 BCE, Origins tells the story of Bayek and his journey to form the very first Assassin Brotherhood. Even though Assassin’s Creed Origins will definitely make you feel like the game has lost its “assassination” roots, it’s still breathtaking in scope and gorgeous in execution.
Plus, Bayek is easily one of the best protagonists in the series.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Grab It On Steam
If you played Assassin’s Creed Origins but found yourself longing to return to the franchise’s assassin core, Mirage offers a return to classic Assassin’s Creed form.
Set in 9th-century Baghdad, Mirage focuses on Basim, a character you’ll later meet in Valhalla, and strips away the RPG mechanics in favour of more traditional stealth and parkour gameplay.
It’s the most back-to-basics the series has been in years, and if you’re missing the feel of the older games, Mirage will be a breath of fresh air.
Honorable Mentions:
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Grab It On Steam
Set during the Viking invasion of England, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has all the RPG elements you’d expect but ups the scale.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag
Grab It On Steam
The open seas, naval combat, and treasure hunts make Black Flag one of the most beloved entries in the series. And it’s the perfect palate cleanser if you’re looking for something completely different.
With your hidden blades sharpened and your hood secured, you’re ready to dive into the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Just remember – there’s always another haystack to jump into and always another Templar to hunt down.
