Published on: 26/01/2022
Which Assassin’s Creed Game Should I Play First?
Since 2007, Assassin’s Creed has been one of the most dominant open-world action-adventure games on the market. It’s a legendary franchise, operating as a flagship series for its developer, Ubisoft. In the last decade or so, twelve major Assassin’s Creed titles have launched, covering a wide variety of settings and timelines. However, with that vast collection, it can sometimes be hard to figure out which Assassin’s Creed game you should play first.
So, with that fact in mind, we’re here today to let you know where you should get started with Assassin’s Creed.
Which Assassin’s Creed Game Should You Start With?
Let’s be honest, it’s often best to start a series at the beginning.
Would you necessarily start a brand new television series in the second season? No, so why would you start a game – particularly one as lore heavy as Assassin’s Creed – further down the line? While these games are made to be more accessible, there’s still plenty you need to learn from playing the older titles.
So, with that in mind, we’d say that the best Assassin’s Creed game to play first would be Assassin’s Creed, the original 2007 title.
It’s the perfect introduction to the franchise, and while the game has aged, it has stood the test of time remarkably well. Although, if you want to play it, you’ll need access to a PS3, an Xbox 360, a PC, or something backward compatible. It was never remastered or re-released, so what you’ll be playing is the original game.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Assassin’s Creed and it serves as a remarkable introduction to the franchise. It lays the groundwork for all the games to come, it sets the scene impeccably, and it offers an unforgettable experience. If you’re wondering which Assassin’s Creed game to play first, there’s no harm in starting at the beginning.
More Modern Experiences
However, if you’re not interested in starting at the very beginning of the Assassin’s Creed timeline, then you’ll want something a little ‘fresher’. In 2017, Ubisoft reinvigorated the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise, introducing an all-new style of gameplay. In Assassin’s Creed Origins, an action-RPG style of gameplay was introduced, along with a staggeringly huge map, multi-branching stories, and a refreshed engine.
It was a turning point for the franchise, but many age-old fans were left disappointed with the immense changes. In many ways, Assassin’s Creed Origins wasn’t an Assassin’s Creed game at all, as it featured a timeline that existed before the Assassin’s Brotherhood was even a thing.
Regardless, it serves as a viable entry point for new players wondering which Assassin’s Creed game they should play first. It’s welcoming, it boasts a simple learning curve, and it introduces an all-new storyline that doesn’t bear too many connections to the older titles. It effectively re-writes the franchise to some extent and still manages to introduce new players to the vibrant and diverse world of Assassin’s Creed.
From there, the games retained their action-RPG style, moving on with 2018’s Odyssey, and 2020’s Valhalla. While these games are by no means amongst the worst-rated games of all time, they’re not the most highly rated Assassin’s Creed games of all time.
Those are the choices, we’d say – either start at the beginning or jump into the timeline with the action-RPG reboot.
