Do I Need to Play Other Games Before Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
The short, direct answer is: no, you do not absolutely need to play any other Assassin’s Creed game before diving into Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. While the Assassin’s Creed series is known for its overarching narrative and interwoven storylines, Valhalla is designed to be accessible to newcomers and veterans alike. You can jump into the Viking adventure without prior knowledge of the series and still enjoy the rich historical setting, engaging gameplay, and compelling story. However, there’s more to consider if you want the full experience.
The Standalone Nature of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, like Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, is structured in such a way that the primary storyline can be understood and enjoyed without prior exposure to other games in the series. These recent titles emphasize a more standalone narrative, focusing on specific historical periods and characters. Valhalla immerses you in the Viking Age of England, and its core plot concerning Eivor’s clan, their conquest of new territories, and their struggle against both Saxon and Templar threats is self-contained.
This design choice allows new players to step into the series at any point without feeling lost or confused. You won’t be missing out on key plot points or character relationships essential to enjoying Valhalla’s main story. The game provides sufficient context for its own narrative, so you can enjoy the exploration, combat, and world-building right from the start.
The Underlying Connections
While Valhalla works well as a standalone experience, it is undeniably part of the larger Assassin’s Creed universe, and it does feature connections to previous games. These connections are not critical to understanding Valhalla’s primary plot, but they add layers of depth and context for those familiar with the series.
The modern-day storyline, which is a recurring element in all Assassin’s Creed games, does tie Valhalla back into the larger narrative arc involving the Isu, the forerunners, and the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and Templars. Furthermore, narrative threads from Origins and Odyssey, involving characters such as Layla Hassan, play a role in Valhalla’s modern-day segments.
These connections are more about adding to the richness of the overall narrative and rewarding long-time fans than requiring previous playtime. According to developers, Valhalla’s story was conceived as something of a recap of the entire Assassin’s Creed history, providing a way for players to understand the core elements that connect all the games, even if they haven’t played them all.
Should You Play Other Games for a Deeper Experience?
So, while you don’t need to play other Assassin’s Creed games before Valhalla, should you? That depends on what kind of experience you’re seeking. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits of playing other titles:
Understanding the Lore
Playing through the series provides a deeper understanding of the intricate lore, including the Isu, the origins of the Assassins and Templars, and the recurring conflicts across history. This background information can enhance your appreciation of the nuances and references in Valhalla.
Familiarity with Characters
While Valhalla introduces its own cast of characters, many recurring figures or their historical counterparts appear, and a familiarity with their backgrounds can enrich the experience. Understanding Layla’s character arc, for example, from her introduction in Origins is beneficial for Valhalla’s modern day segment.
Appreciation of the Series Evolution
Playing through the series in order allows you to appreciate the evolution of gameplay mechanics, storytelling styles, and world-building techniques. You can see how the series has changed and what elements remain consistent.
Richer Modern-Day Experience
For players who appreciate the modern-day aspect of the series, experiencing the story unfold through previous games will make Valhalla’s modern-day narrative that much more impactful.
Ultimately, if you’re interested in the bigger picture and want a richer, more contextualized experience, playing some of the earlier titles, especially Origins and Odyssey, can be valuable. However, if you’re simply looking for a great Viking adventure, you can confidently jump straight into Valhalla.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about playing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and its relationship to the rest of the series:
1. Can I start with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
Absolutely! You can absolutely start your Assassin’s Creed journey with Valhalla. It’s designed to be a standalone experience, providing you with a full and satisfying Viking epic.
2. Is Valhalla connected to previous games?
Yes, Valhalla is connected to previous games, primarily through the overarching narrative of the Isu and the modern-day story involving Layla Hassan. However, these connections are not critical for understanding and enjoying the main story of Valhalla.
3. Do I need to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey before Valhalla?
No, you do not need to play Odyssey before Valhalla. They are both standalone experiences with their own unique historical settings and narratives. However, playing Odyssey will provide more context for some of the modern-day events in Valhalla.
4. Is the modern-day story important in Valhalla?
The modern-day story is present in Valhalla and does tie into the overarching Assassin’s Creed universe. While not crucial for enjoying the main Viking story, it does provide context for those interested in the wider lore.
5. In which order should I play Assassin’s Creed games?
There are two main ways to consider order: release date and chronological order within the game’s lore. The release order is usually recommended for first-time players of the franchise as it goes in order of story development. The chronological order of the main games, based on their historical settings, starts with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, followed by Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The first Assassin’s Creed game in this timeline would then be the original Assassin’s Creed game.
6. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla the end of the series?
No, Valhalla is not the intended final game in the series, although its story was written to act as a type of recap of all previous games, connecting them in significant ways. Ubisoft has released other Assassin’s Creed titles since then and has announced several more in development.
7. Is Valhalla more fun than Odyssey?
The enjoyment of either game is highly subjective. Valhalla has been praised for its main story, while Odyssey often receives accolades for its more vibrant and populated open world. Whether one is more “fun” depends on individual preferences.
8. Is Valhalla map bigger than Odyssey?
Yes, the map in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is reported to be larger than that of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
9. Can I play Valhalla without knowing the Vikings series?
Yes, you absolutely can! Vikings: Valhalla is a new series unrelated to the History Channel series and has a different storyline. It doesn’t require any prior knowledge of the show.
10. Do you play as Eivor in all of Valhalla?
While Eivor is the main character of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, a DLC called Dawn of Ragnarok has you play as Havi, or Odin, as he is more commonly known, and the storyline takes place in a mythological setting.
11. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla connected to Assassin’s Creed Mirage?
While both are part of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, they have their own standalone storylines. The main connection is through the common lore and overall story of the Assassin’s Creed Universe, but not directly through characters or events.
12. What is the best early game armor set in Valhalla?
The Raven Clan Armor set is considered to be one of the best early-game armor sets in Valhalla, particularly due to its health-related buffs, which are helpful during combat learning phases.
13. Are all the Assassin’s Creed games connected?
Yes, all Assassin’s Creed games are connected by the overall narrative involving the Assassins, Templars, the Isu, and the modern-day story and its recurring characters. However, each game features its own self-contained story.
14. Who is the first assassin in the Assassin’s Creed universe?
This is a debated question as technically there is no one answer. Darius is considered the first user of the hidden blade and a precursor to the assassins, however, Bayek is the founder of the Hidden Ones, which became the Assassin Brotherhood.
15. Should I finish the main story of Valhalla before the DLC?
It is generally recommended to finish the main story of Valhalla before starting the DLCs, as they often include major story elements and can change the ending. You will also have a more complete understanding of the overall story and the main characters.