Which Game Should I Play? Must-Play Assassins Creed Games

Assassins Creed, the award-winning historical fiction and action-adventure-stealth game developed by mainly by Ubisoft, is arguably one of the most successful game franchises of our generation. Each game has led to the creation of adaptations and novelizations that added to the background of the game, and while each version is slightly different from the other, the main emphasis remains on stealth and combat.

The question now is: Which Assassins Creed Game should I play? If you are new to Ubisoft’s gaming Juggernaut: Assassins Creed, you might need a little help deciding what game to choose. There are six major entries, six mobile ones,  11 novels (6 graphic & 5 written), a live-action short and two animated shorts.

Before we take a look at the chapters worth playing, let’s take a look at the most important game editions:

• Assassins Creed (2007) – the first game of the franchise
• Assassins Creed II – with Battle of Forli & Bonfire of the vanities
• Assassins Creed Brotherhood – with the Copernicus Conspiracy & The Da Vinci Dissapearance
• Assassins Creed Revelations – with the trilogy: The Ancestors Character Pack, Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack and the Lost Archive
• Assassins Creed III – with Benedict Arnold, The Tyranny of King Washington and more.
• Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag – with Aveline, Blackbeard’s Wrath, Crusader & Florentine and Freedom Cry
• Assassins Creed Rogue
• Assassins Creed Unity

What it’s About & Where to Start

All the Assassins Creed games revolve around the battle between two factions: The Assassin Order (the Brotherhood) which believes that all men should be free, and the Templars, who consider that true peace can only be achieved through order. The unique thing about Assassins Creed games is the fact that you are not directly in control of the assassins of an era. Each game has a modern game component. Shortly put, you are a descendant of the most powerful assassins in history (Desmond, Altair & Ezio) and with the help of the Animus, you live through their memories.

If you are thinking of starting from game one, stop right there. While it is true that Assassins Creed 1 represents the start of the franchise, it is extremely slow and methodical. If you are new to the game, you should definitely consider Assassins Creed II as your first attempt at the game (because it’s faster, easier and cheaper). It also has a short summary of what happens in the first game. If you are a hardcore gamer who wants to be immersed in a complex story, you should pick up Ezio’s limited trilogy, which consists of Assassins Creed II, Assassin Creed Brotherhood and Assassins Creed Revelations.

Now that you know where to start, let us take a look at all of them, and assess whether or not you should try them out. Keep in mind that these are not reviews, just personal opinions based on how I perceived the games:

• Assassins Creed 1 – NO: as we already mentioned, this might not be the ideal choice. The story takes place in the Holy Land, during the Third Crusade. Your protagonist, Altair ibn-La’Ahad is demoted and tasked with the murder of nine Templars in order to regain honor. You can use different weapons, rings, armor etc., explore interesting locations, gain knowledge of books, find out secrets and more.

• Assassins Creed II – YES: This game presents Ezio Auditore da Firenze for the first time. The action takes place in Reinassance Italy. It can be played on PS3, XBOX and PC. Unlike its previous sequel, it is more dynamic and fast-paced. Another bonus would be the friendship with Leonardo Da Vinci, who creates many cool items and artifacts.
• Assassins Creed Brotherhood – Definitely YES: If you’ve just finished Assassins Creed 2, this is the game that you will want to play. The plot revolves around the revenge of Ezio against the Borgia family. With the help of Machiavelli, you will be able to rebuild the brotherhood and call fellow assassins to your aid.
• Assassins Creed Revelations – Maybe: I didn’t consider Revelations one of the better games in the series, but it will permit you to finish Ezio’s story, after he comes to Constantinople. Ezio also meets his future wife, Sofia Sartor, in this chapter.
• Assassins Creed III – Maybe: The story in this sequel jumps 200 years from Ezio’s time. The plot revolves around the American Revolution, in the Eastern United States. For the first time, you will be presented with a nautical sailing system, which will become a major part of the series. Oh, and you can also parkour on trees.

• Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag – Yes: The sailing system released in Assassins Creed III becomes pivotal in the development of Black Flag. This game follows the gameplay Pattern of the previous one. This chapter of the game is a definite must-play.
• Assassins Creed Freedom Flag – Maybe: if you enjoyed Black Flag, you should also play this one. It’s relatively short.
• Assassins Creed Unity – Maybe: Your protagonist, Arno Dorian, operates during the French Revolution. His goal is to stop the Templars from burning Paris to the ground.  The plot thickens when he falls in love with Elise, a Templar.

That’s all kids. In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the trailer for Assassins Creed 4.