From hidden blades to climbing across rooftops in different periods, the Assassin’s Creed games have given players some great adventures. Now, we have put together an Assassin’s Creed Games tier list, ranking the series from worst to best. If you’re new to the series, this list will help you see which games are worth playing and which ones you might want to skip.
Table of Contents
13. Assassin’s Creed Rogue
- Release Date: November 11th, 2014
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox 360
- Score: 72 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Playing as a Templar • Connections to Unity • Occasionally fun combat | • Short campaign • Dull environments • Weak modern-day storyline |
Playing as a Templar had a lot of potential, but Rogue doesn’t make the most of it. The areas you explore, like the North Atlantic, feel dull and not fun to travel through. The story shows the Assassins as simple villains, missing the chance to explore the complicated gray area between good and bad.
The modern-day storyline hits its lowest point here because it is weak and feels out of place. The campaign is short, so the main character, Shay, doesn’t get enough time to fully grow, even though he’s an interesting character. The combat can be fun at times though, and the connection to Assassin’s Creed Unity is nice, but overall, Rogue feels like a missed opportunity.
12. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Release Date: October 5th, 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
- Score: 83 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Beautiful Ancient Greece setting • Impressive visuals • Large open world | • Excessive grinding • Microtransactions • Bland protagonists • Out-of-place magical elements |
Set in ancient Greece, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey actually looks amazing, with beautiful places to explore and famous landmarks. However, the game makes you level up a lot just to move forward, which can get pretty slow and annoying. And just when you’re tired of the grind… hello microtransactions! Want to skip the slog? You can buy a shortcut.
The two main characters, Alexios and Kassandra, feel kind of plain and don’t stand out like other heroes in the series. Also, the magical powers, like flaming swords just feel out of place and don’t really fit with what Assassin’s Creed is usually about. If you play Odyssey as just a fun open-world game, it can be enjoyable, but as an Assassin’s Creed game, it feels like it forgot what made the series special.
11. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Release Date: November 10th, 2020
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series XS, and Xbox One
- Score: 80 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Stunning visuals • Viking fantasy • Some interesting settlement mechanics | • Excessive length (200+ hours) • Minimal Assassin storyline • Repetitive content |
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla looks amazing, but the world feels empty and quickly gets repetitive. Just like Odyssey, the game is way too long, taking over 200 hours with very little reward. Eivor, the main character, is not very interesting either and doesn’t grow much during the story. The mythological parts, like going to Asgard and meeting Thor, Loki, and Odin, also feel out of place. Worst of all, the Assassin part of the story barely matters and feels forgotten.
10. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
- Release Date: October 23rd, 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One
- Score: 76 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Victorian London setting • Playing as the Frye twins is fun • Creative assassination missions | • Forgettable story • Weak combat |
Set in Victorian London, Syndicate is a solid game but not very memorable compared to the best in the series. The city looks great, with smoky streets and big factories that give it a unique feel. The Frye twins are fun to play as—Jacob focuses on fighting, while Evie is more about stealth—but Jacob’s character isn’t as interesting as his sister’s.
The assassination missions are a highlight, letting you take out targets in different ways, which is really cool. However, the combat feels weak. The grappling hook is fun but takes away from the classic parkour movement since buildings are spaced to make you rely on it instead of climbing. Overall, Syndicate is fun while it lasts, but it doesn’t really stick with you after you finish it.
9. Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Release Date: October 5th, 2023
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XS, iOS, and iPadOS
- Score: 76 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Return to classic Assassin’s Creed gameplay • Excellent stealth and parkour • Beautiful Baghdad setting | • Slow middle section • Weak story connections between targets |
The newest game in the series tries to go back to the classic style, with a smaller, focused experience built around stealth and parkour. Baghdad looks amazing and feels like the old, tightly packed cities from the early games where you can climb almost everything. The parkour feels smooth again, bringing back the fun of free-running.
Basim is an interesting main character, especially if you played Valhalla since he connects to that story. However, the middle part of the game is slow, with again, little story progress, and the targets you assassinate don’t feel tied to a strong plot. The best part of Mirage is the return to classic stealth missions, which is refreshing after all the recent RPG-style combat. Overall, Mirage is a solid but safe game—a nice throwback for fans, but not quite as good as the series’ best.
8. Assassin’s Creed 3
- Release Date: October 30th, 2012
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, and Nintendo Switch
- Score: 84 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • American Revolution setting • Excellent combat • Haytham Kenway’s character • Conclusion to Desmond’s story | • Less visually interesting environments • Uneven storytelling |
Set during the American Revolution, Assassin’s Creed 3 tried new ideas but had mixed results. The combat is one of the best in the series, with smooth moves and cool finishers that make fights fun and exciting. Haytham Kenway is the standout character—his charm and complex morals make him more interesting than the main hero, Connor.
The setting has variety, from forests to cities, but many players found it less visually exciting than earlier games. The modern-day story with Desmond comes to a big end here, with some major moments, though not everyone liked how it wrapped up. The game focuses a lot on big historical events, which makes the Assassin storyline feel a bit lost, leaving the story feeling uneven even though it has some great moments.
7. Assassin’s Creed 1
- Release Date: November 13th, 2007
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox One
- Score: 81 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • The original experience • Altair’s character growth • Al Mualim is an awesome villain • Philosophical themes | • Repetitive mission structure • Dated gameplay mechanics • Less refined than later entries |
The first game started it all, and even though it feels old now, it still offers something special. Altair’s journey from a proud assassin to a wiser, more thoughtful one is interesting to watch and helped shape the heroes in later games. Al Mualim is one of the best villains in the series, with his surprise betrayal and deep conversations adding a lot to the story.
The mix of history and sci-fi creates a cool, mysterious vibe that became a trademark of the series. The game also explores big ideas like free will, control, and what true peace means, which gives it more depth than some of the later games. While the missions can feel repetitive, the main gameplay that defines Assassin’s Creed is all here.
6. Assassin’s Creed Unity
- Release Date: November 11th, 2014
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
- Score: 72 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Revolutionary Paris setting • Top-tier parkour • Excellent assassination mission design • Stunning visuals | • Story weakens after early sections • Forgettable main villain • Initial technical issues (though fixed now) |
After a rough launch, the fixed version of Assassin’s Creed Unity became one of the best-looking games in the series. The parkour is top-tier, with smooth moves and tight controls that make running across Paris super fun. Revolutionary Paris is stunning, packed with detail, big crowds, and beautiful buildings that still look great today.
The story starts off strong with cool characters and political drama, but it loses steam after Bellec, a key character, is gone. After that, the plot isn’t as interesting. The assassination missions are a highlight, letting you take out targets in different ways and giving you real choices. If Unity kept its early story quality and hadn’t launched full of bugs, it could have been one of the best in the series.
5. Assassin’s Creed Revelations
- Release Date: November 15th, 2011
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
- Score: 80 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Emotional conclusion to Ezio and Altair’s stories • Unique Constantinople setting • Mature storytelling | • Not as visually impressive as Assassin’s Creed 2 or Brotherhood |
Revelations wraps up Ezio’s story while connecting it nicely to Altair’s, giving a solid and emotional end to the first chapter of Assassin’s Creed. Both characters’ journeys are finished in a way that feels respectful and satisfying. Constantinople is a lively and unique setting, with cool architecture and a different vibe from the cities in past games.
Playing as an older Ezio shows how much he’s grown, now more focused on finding answers than getting revenge. The flashbacks to Altair’s life bring back great memories and let players see more of his story. While the villain and main plot aren’t as strong as in earlier games, Revelations does a great job of giving Ezio a proper and meaningful conclusion.
4. Assassin’s Creed Origins
- Release Date: October 27th, 2017
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
- Score: 81 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Bayek’s compelling character • Birth of the Assassin Brotherhood • Detailed Ancient Egypt • Improved combat | • RPG elements feel like a departure from classic Assassin’s Creed • Some pacing issues |
Origins gave the series a fresh start by adding RPG elements and telling how the Assassin Brotherhood began in ancient Egypt. The world is huge and detailed—you can climb pyramids, explore the Library of Alexandria, and see a mix of Egyptian and Greek cultures. Bayek, the main character, is one of the best in the series. His story, driven by personal loss, makes his journey feel more meaningful. Fans get to see how the Assassins got started, with cool details about their symbols and traditions.
The new combat system feels more exciting and strategic than older games, and the side quests also tell real stories instead of just being random tasks. Origins does a great job of respecting what made Assassin’s Creed great while adding fresh ideas that helped the series move forward.
3. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag
- Release Date: October 29th, 2013
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch
- Score: 88 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Fun pirate experience • Naval combat • Awesome Edward Kenway’s character arc • Caribbean exploration | • Less focus on traditional Assassin elements |
Black Flag took a big chance by focusing more on pirates than assassins, and it totally worked. Sailing around the Caribbean while your crew sings sea songs is just plain fun, and the open world feels full of freedom and adventure. Edward Kenway starts off as a selfish pirate but slowly becomes a true Assassin, and his story feels real and earned.
The ship battles are exciting and never get boring, whether you’re fighting small boats or giant warships. The game mixes pirate life and Assassin missions really well, so nothing feels out of place. You also meet cool characters like Blackbeard and Mary Read, who make the pirate world feel alive. Black Flag is the ultimate pirate game but still feels like true Assassin’s Creed.
2. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
- Release Date: November 16th, 2010
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and OS X
- Score: 89 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Awesome Rome setting • Refined combat • Cesare Borgia is great as a villain • Improved Desmond storyline | • Less variety in environments compared to Assassin’s Creed 2 |
Brotherhood continues Ezio’s story in Rome and makes the gameplay even better. Rome is a huge, beautiful city full of places to explore, with old ruins and fancy buildings everywhere. Cesare Borgia is a great bad guy who keeps the story exciting with his constant threat. There’s also fun side stuff like helping Da Vinci with crazy machines and exploring secret tunnels.
Fighting feels smoother in this game with new moves that let you take down enemies quickly and stylishly. The modern-day part with Desmond also gets really interesting here, with more action and story development. Brotherhood takes everything great from Assassin’s Creed 2 and adds more, and some people even like it more than AC2!
1. Assassin’s Creed 2
- Release Date: November 17th, 2009
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and OS X
- Score: 90 on Metacritic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Skip |
| • Ezio’s iconic character journey • Perfect pacing • Renaissance Italy setting • Memorable villain • Standout soundtrack and music | • Outdated mechanics compared to newer entries |
Ezio’s first game is still the best in the series because it nails everything—story, gameplay, and historical setting. Watching Ezio grow from a reckless guy into a wise and skilled Assassin makes for one of the best character journeys in gaming. The story moves at a perfect pace with lots of surprises and emotional moments that keep you hooked.
Cities like Florence and Venice look amazing and are fun to explore. The music is also top-tier, matching every moment perfectly. The villain, Rodrigo Borgia, is smart and dangerous, with personal ties to Ezio that make their fight more intense. AC2 isn’t just the best Assassin’s Creed—it’s one of the best games ever, blending history and sci-fi in a way that’s still impressive today.
As we look back at the highs and lows of the Assassin’s Creed series, it’s worth remembering that the next game isn’t far away. Assassin’s Creed Shadows drops on March 20th, 2025, taking players to Japan—a setting fans have wanted for years. Will Shadows earn a spot at the top of this list? Time will tell, but with its long-awaited Japanese setting and dual protagonists, it has a real shot at becoming one of the best games in the series!
