Which Assassin’s Creed Should I Play First? A Comprehensive Guide for New Assassins
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So, you’re ready to leap into the sprawling, historically-rich world of Assassin’s Creed, but with over a dozen main entries, the question looms large: where do you begin? The answer, surprisingly, isn’t as straightforward as playing in chronological or release order. While that might appeal to the completionist in you, it’s not always the most rewarding starting point.
The Best Starting Point: The Ezio Collection (Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood, Revelations)
For a newcomer, the Ezio Collection is undeniably the best place to start. This trilogy offers a masterclass in narrative, character development, and gameplay evolution. You’ll follow Ezio Auditore da Firenze from his birth in Renaissance Italy through his growth as an Assassin, all the way to his mentorship role in Constantinople. The story is engaging, the setting is captivating, and the gameplay is accessible without being overly simplistic.
Here’s why the Ezio Collection is the ideal gateway:
- Compelling Narrative: Ezio’s story is arguably the most beloved in the entire franchise. It’s a tale of revenge, family, and dedication to the Assassin’s Creed, and the character development is exceptional.
- Historical Immersion: The Renaissance Italy setting is visually stunning and historically accurate, providing a rich backdrop for the conflict between Assassins and Templars.
- Gradual Gameplay Evolution: The gameplay mechanics evolve across the three games, introducing new features and refinements without overwhelming the player. Assassin’s Creed II refines the original’s clunky mechanics, Brotherhood introduces the Assassin recruitment system, and Revelations adds the hookblade for traversal.
- Accessibility: While not the easiest game in the series (Brotherhood generally holds that title), the Ezio Collection strikes a good balance between challenge and accessibility for new players.
- Definitive Assassin’s Creed Experience: The trilogy encapsulates many of the core themes and gameplay elements that define the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Exploring Alternative Starting Points
While the Ezio Collection is the strongest recommendation, other options might appeal depending on your preferences:
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: The Open-World Extravaganza
If you’re drawn to massive open-world RPGs with a heavy emphasis on exploration and combat, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey might be a good fit. Set in Ancient Greece, Odyssey offers a vast world to explore, a customizable protagonist (Alexios or Kassandra), and a sprawling storyline. Because it chronologically predates most other games, Odyssey works great as a first game, and probably the lightest in terms of the modern-day narrative.
Assassin’s Creed Origins: The Dawn of the Brotherhood
Assassin’s Creed Origins, set in Ancient Egypt, is another excellent starting point, especially if you enjoy historical settings and a more grounded narrative. Origins tells the story of Bayek and Aya, the founders of the Hidden Ones (the precursor to the Assassin Brotherhood). The gameplay is a blend of stealth, combat, and exploration, with a strong focus on RPG elements. Bayek and Aya are the first true Assassins, as they founded the Hidden Ones and established its creed.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: The Viking Saga
For those who are interested in Viking culture and grand sagas, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla presents a compelling entry point. You play as Eivor, a Viking raider leading their clan to England. Valhalla offers a sprawling open world, a complex storyline, and a heavy emphasis on settlement building and raiding. This game, however, has the longest story in the entire Assassin’s Creed series.
Why Not Start with the Original?
While starting with Assassin’s Creed (2007) might seem logical, it’s generally not recommended for new players. The gameplay is dated, the controls are clunky, and the story, while intriguing, is less engaging than later entries. People often say that Assassin’s Creed II is superior to the first game in every way. The original Assassin’s Creed laid the foundation for the franchise, but later games refined and improved upon its core concepts.
Assassin’s Creed Games in Chronological Order
For those who prefer to experience the story in chronological order, here’s the lineup:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 B.C.–422 B.C.)
- Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 B.C.–44 B.C.)
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861–???)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872–878)
- Assassin’s Creed (1191)
- Assassin’s Creed II (1476–1499)
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (1499–1507)
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
- Assassin’s Creed Rogue
- Assassin’s Creed III
- Assassin’s Creed Unity
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the best Assassin’s Creed to start with depends on your personal preferences. However, for the reasons outlined above, the Ezio Collection remains the strongest recommendation for most new players. It offers a compelling story, engaging gameplay, and a rich historical setting that will draw you into the world of Assassin’s Creed. After that, you can branch out and explore other entries based on your interests. No matter where you begin, prepare for a thrilling journey through history!
Remember that the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offers valuable resources and research on the educational aspects of gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it necessary to play Assassin’s Creed in order?
No, it’s not necessary to play Assassin’s Creed in order, especially for your first game. While there’s an overarching meta-narrative connecting the games, each entry largely tells its own self-contained story within a specific historical setting.
2. Does playing Assassin’s Creed in order matter?
Playing in order can enhance your understanding of the overarching lore and recurring characters, but it’s not essential for enjoying individual games. Starting with a later title won’t ruin the experience of playing earlier games.
3. What Assassin’s Creed is the easiest?
Many consider Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood to be the easiest game due to its forgiving combat and the ability to recruit and call upon fellow assassins for assistance.
4. Which Assassin’s Creed is the longest?
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the longest game in the series, with a main story that can take over 60 hours to complete.
5. Which Assassin’s Creed has the best story?
Many fans and critics consider Assassin’s Creed II to have the best story, followed closely by the other games in the Ezio Collection.
6. Can I play the Assassin’s Creed games in any order?
Yes, you can generally play the Assassin’s Creed games in any order, but starting with the Ezio Collection or Origins is recommended for new players.
7. What Assassin’s Creed is the most fun?
The “most fun” is subjective, but Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is often cited for its engaging pirate theme, naval combat, and open-world exploration. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey also comes to mind due to the Ancient Greek setting.
8. Can I start with AC Odyssey?
Yes, Odyssey works great as a first game because, due to it being the earliest game chronologically, it doesn’t have much dependency on understanding the plotline of the other games.
9. Who is the first assassin?
In the lore, Darius is considered by many to be the first assassin. In the main storyline, Bayek is actually the first Assassin, along with Aya.
10. Is Bayek the first assassin?
Yes, in the context of the main storyline, Bayek and Aya are considered the first true Assassins, as they founded the Hidden Ones.
11. How long does it take to beat all the Assassin’s Creed games?
It takes approximately 447.5 hours to beat all the main Assassin’s Creed games, and around 1164.5 hours for completionist playthroughs.
12. Which Assassin’s Creed is the darkest?
Assassin’s Creed 3 is often considered the darkest due to its depiction of the Revolutionary War and the treatment of Native American tribes.
13. Which Assassin’s Creed has the biggest open world?
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has the biggest open world, measuring approximately 45 square miles.
14. What Assassin’s Creed games can you skip?
While all games offer something unique, some players might skip certain entries based on their preferences. However, it’s generally recommended to play the main entries to experience the full scope of the franchise.
15. Which Assassin’s Creed is better 1 or 2?
Assassin’s Creed II is widely considered superior to the first game due to its improved gameplay, engaging story, and refined mechanics.