The Evolution of Assassin’s Creed (2003-2023)

Packed with amazing combat and immersive stories, the Assassin’s Creed franchise is without a doubt one of the most beloved in the world. Even though it had its ups and downs, the series is still going strong even after 15 years.

Brief History of Assassin’s Creed

After Ubisoft completed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the developers were tasked to make a new Price of Persia game. At that time, there was news regarding the next-gen consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

As they heard about the capacity of these consoles, they decided to make some changes in the gameplay. They introduced open-world gameplay along with acrobatics and parkour and planned on naming the game Prince of Persia: Assassin. Thus after two years of development, the team prepared the gameplay fundamentals.

The initial plan was to make the protagonist Altair a Prince’s bodyguard who is tasked to protect him in different scenarios. But the game was not ready to feature a different protagonist. Thus, the name was then changed to Assassin’s Creed.

The Evolution of Assassin’s Creed

Let’s look at how Assassin’s Creed changed over the years. Let’s start by checking out the first evolution from the last.

1. Assassin’s Creed (2007)

The first installment of Assassin’s Creed was back in 2007, released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. As a result, the video game amassed plenty of popularity among the gamers.

The very first Assassin's Creed game introduced us to a world of hidden blades and parkour. You play as Altair Ibn-La'Ahad who is an assassin during the Third Crusade.

In this game, you could run, jump, and climb through the Holy Land's cities like Jerusalem and Acre. The game's story follows Altair's journey to redemption as he aims to solve a Templar conspiracy.

The game was also met with some criticism as some players found the mission structure somewhat repetitive. This would later drive the series to evolve and diversify its gameplay.

Despite its flaws, the original Assassin's Creed marked the birth of an iconic series that would go on to captivate the gaming world for years to come.

2. Assassin's Creed: II (2009)

In 2009, Assassin's Creed II took players to the world of Renaissance Italy. In the game, you play as Ezio Auditore who is a charming young man seeking revenge for the wrongs that were done to his family.

This sequel was much more improved from the original game in many ways. The cities of Florence and Venice were beautifully recreated, and you could now swim and even fly Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine. The game was praised for its intriguing story and more varied gameplay.

The game remains a standout title in the Assassin's Creed series and a testament to Ubisoft's dedication to delivering historical and authentic gameplay.

3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2010)

The third installation, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood continued Ezio's story in 2010. This time, you become the leader of the Brotherhood in Rome and you are tasked to defend it against the Templars.

The game also featured an interesting new multiplayer mode which allowed you to compete against other players as an assassin.

The city of Rome was a vast playground for your parkour and stealth skills. This unique addition diversifies the gameplay and gives the game a distinctive edge.

The game does not introduce revolutionary changes, but it offers a better and expanded experience. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood provides players with engaging gameplay and a compelling narrative.

This installment showcases Ubisoft's commitment to improving and expanding the franchise, making it a notable addition to the series.

4. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (2011)

In 2011, Assassin's Creed Revelations was the end of Ezio's tale. You find Ezio in the beautiful city of Constantinople who is now an older and wiser assassin.

This game introduced a tower defense mini-game which had Altair's memories as a side story. It offered a satisfying conclusion to Ezio's journey while expanding on the overall Assassin's Creed story.

"AC Revelations" went deep into the Assassin's Creed universe and shed light on the First Civilization and the ongoing struggle between Assassins and Templars.

Ezio's matured character and personal growth were the main aspects of the story. Overall it offered a satisfying and emotional conclusion to his adventures.

Despite not being as groundbreaking as its previous installments, the game proved a worthy send-off to Ezio. It delivered an engaging mix of history, action, and storytelling that fans of the series expected.

5. Assassin's Creed: III (2012)

Assassin's Creed III took a leap in time to the American Revolution in 2012. This time, you play as Connor, a Native American assassin. The game introduced new features like hunting and naval battles.

"Assassin's Creed III" has both fans and critics divided. On one hand, it was appreciated for its ambitious narrative as it explored themes of freedom and betrayal. The game also went deep into the complex nature of the Assassin-Templar conflict.

On the other, the game faced criticism for the less charismatic protagonist Connor, which made it challenging for some players to emotionally invest in his story.

Nevertheless, it was not a complete flop. Ubisoft’s commitment to delivering a deeper narrative and expanding the game's mechanics proved to be the foundation for the series to evolve in the future.

6. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)

In 2013, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag introduced a whole new setting of the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. In this game, you play as Edward Kenway, a pirate and assassin.

This game was all about adventure on the high seas. You could sail your ship, explore different islands, and also engage in thrilling naval battles. The pirate theme in this game was also loved by the fans.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is often considered one of the series' highlights due to its amazing graphics and storyline.

This installment was a breath of fresh air as it offered a uniquely immersive gaming experience. The star of the show was undoubtedly the ship; the Jackdaw, which became your faithful companion on the open seas.

While "Black Flag" was a thrilling game, it did face some criticism for perhaps being less focused on the traditional Assassin-Templar conflict. However, it remains a standout title in the series which is loved for its adventurous and historical gameplay.

7. Assassin's Creed: Rogue (2014)

Assassin's Creed Rogue was released in 2014 and it offered players a unique perspective. You get to play as Shay Cormac, a former assassin turned Templar.

This game explored the other side of the age-old Assassin-Templar conflict. It was well-received for its fresh take on the series but got less attention compared to previous titles.

The game was able to maintain the franchise's production values and attention to historical detail. The compelling characters and well-crafted narrative added depth to Edward Kenway's personal story which made players more invested in his journey.

The game did face some criticism for not introducing revolutionary gameplay changes. However, its approach to storytelling and character development made it a good addition to the Assassin's Creed universe.

8. Assassin's Creed: Unity (2014)

Assassin's Creed Unity aimed to revolutionize the series in several ways. This installment of the game transported players to the heart of the French Revolution in Paris.

One of the standout features of the game was its detailed and realistic recreation of the city of Paris. Even the parkour mechanics were more refined which allowed for a smooth and elegant movement through the city.

Another major addition to the game was the four-player cooperative mode, which allowed friends to team up as assassins. This multiplayer element added a layer of excitement to the series despite some technical issues upon launch.

The game developers featured a beautiful city recreation but the game faced some criticism for technical issues at launch. Nevertheless, it was praised for its new co-op mode which allowed friends to team up as assassins.

9. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (2015)

In 2015, Assassin's Creed Syndicate brought us to Victorian London. This time, you could play as two characters, twins Jacob and Evie Frye. Both of these characters have different skill trees and playstyles which also reflects their personality.

The game, in many ways similar to Unity but it does add a new traveling system which includes carriages and trains. Unlike the previous installation, the game does not have any multiplayer mode.

The game was well-received for its depiction of London and the more dynamic and relatable protagonists. However, it also received a fair share of criticism as some call it an utter shame. The game sold just 5.5 million copies which makes it one of the worst-selling Assassin’s Creed games in history.

10. Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017)

Assassin's Creed Origins took us to ancient Egypt where you play as Bayek, who is an Egyptian Medjay. The game features a tale of revenge and the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood.

The game was set in the open world of Egypt where players can roam, explore, and complete side quests. This installment changed the series significantly as it introduced RPG elements, a new combat system, and a vast open world.

Compared to previous installments, Syndicate and Unity, the game received a higher score and positive feedback for the story. Bayek's personal story resonated with players, and Origins was a fresh start for the franchise.

11.  Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (2018)

In 2018, Assassin's Creed Odyssey continued the RPG transformation. You could now choose to play as either Alexios or Kassandra and explore ancient Greece. Instead of focusing on the conflict between templars and assassins, the game focused on Greek mythology.

There are plenty of in-game choices that can influence the ending of the game. Other than the plot, there are plenty of aspects similar to Origins such as RPG elements.

Many gamers loved it for its open world and role-playing aspects. However, it was criticized for its slow pace and microtransactions. Nonetheless, the game proved to be a successful addition to the franchise.

12. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (2020)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla which was released in 2020, took us to the Viking Age. You play as Eivor, a Viking warrior who leads a group of Norsemen to settle in England.

Compared to Odyssey, the game focused more on the stealth aspect. Overall, the game proved to be a huge success for Ubisoft with over 1.7 million copy sales within the first week.

The game is packed with amazing features such as an excellent story, music, visuals, and narrative. These aspects made it another standout entry in the series.

13. Assassin’s Creed: Mirage (2023)

The new game is inspired by the features and gameplay of the classic Assassin’s Creed which came out 15 years ago. Mirage is set in Baghdad and brings back the stealth-focused gameplay. The installation also features the journey to Alamut, which is a home for the assassins who started it all.

The game was launched earlier this month and the sales are already soaring. With an intriguing story and thrilling gameplay, the game is a huge success so far.

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