There are certain things people expect in every Assassin's Creed game. They expect climbing mechanics, stealth, a hidden blade, Assassin targets, and to play as a hooded figure. Not all those things are included in every title, but they're fairly common.
Another regular sight is a historically significant location and time for the adventure to take place. Over the years, fans have experienced so many different important moments in history through the eyes of an Assassin, from revolutions to full-scale wars. These moments and the place they occur help add a layer of originality to each title. Here are the settings of them all.
Updated January 25, 2023 By Ben Jessey: Almost every Assassin's Creed game is set in a different time and place. This is one of the best aspects of each instalment, as it adds an extra flair to every entry and makes them feel unique.
However, as there have been so many AC titles over the years, the setting of each one can get confusing. So, we created this list to make it crystal clear when and where every game takes place. We've now gone back to the piece to improve a few things and make it as enjoyable to read as possible.
13 Assassin's Creed Odyssey (431 - 422 B.C.)
Assassin's Creed Odyssey starts the series off in a very familiar yet completely defined environment of Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. So, Athens and Sparta are embroiled in conflict throughout the entire adventure. And the protagonist is a mercenary who can help either side.
Along the way, the story takes you all across the land as you traverse the streets and rooftops of Greece in one of the most impressive open worlds in the series.
12 Assassin's Creed Origins (49 - 38 B.C.)
Ancient Egypt, with its sand-filled hillsides and deserts to its sprawling urban areas, makes for a fantastic setting. And that's just what Assassin's Creed Origins provides, as it places you in Egypt near the end of the Ptolemaic period.
The gameplay and storyline take us through the ups and downs of Ancient Egypt's lifestyle and rule. Camel riding, sailing, climbing, stealth, and combat. All the pieces are there to make the expansive world of Egypt a great place to be an Assassin.
11 Assassin's Creed Valhalla (873 - 878 AD)
Valhalla takes you back to the middle of the Viking Age, as you step into the boots of Eivor, who travels from their homeland of Norway to England. And like many Vikings of that time, they do plenty of raiding and killing in their new homeland.
From the frozen areas of Norway to the forests, villages, and cities nearby, this game offers many different ways to enjoy the environment. Raiding, stealth kills, and the all familiar parkour-style movement keep the Assassin's Creed familiarity while further indulging in the vast open-world Ubisoft is forever expanding on with every new iteration of Assassin's Creed.
10 Assassin's Creed (1191 AD)
This is where it all began. Assassin's Creed, the first one, is set in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. As such, the Templars in this one are actual members of the Knights Templar military order, who you oppose throughout the entire adventure.
Since it's the original game, it started the trend of AC games using real-life historical places and time periods. And the politics from that time serve as a major part of the game's narrative.
9 Assassin's Creed 2 (1459 - 1499 AD)
After the dark time of the Crusades, Ubisoft upped the color by having the second title take place during the Italian Renaissance. The time period alone gives this title a certain personality. It helps that you play as a very charismatic Italian nobleman known as Ezio.
The title depicts the start of his assassin adventure, which takes him to several different places in Italy, such as Tuscany and Venice. Yet, it's no vacation, as he finds himself opposing some of the most influential people in the country.
8 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (1499 - 1507 AD)
With the sequel to AC2, Ubisoft didn't take the series in a completely different direction. Instead, Brotherhood takes place right after the previous game, meaning it's set during the Italian Renaissance.
However, in this one, you don't spend time in the likes of Florence and Venice. The entire game is set in Rome, where Ezio goes to war with the famous Borgia family, who are running the Templar order in Rome. But the protagonist has historical figures on his side, too, including Niccolo Machiavelli.
7 Assassin's Creed: Revelations (1511 - 1512 AD)
A few years after the events of Brotherhood, Ezio sets out on his adventure in the series. This time, he's not in his home country. Instead, the protagonist travels to Constantinople in the 1500s. This means the game is set when the Ottoman Empire was running the land.
Yet, they have to deal with the Byzantines throughout the game. Ezio isn't too interested in the conflict, as he has his own objectives. However, he still gets roped into the skirmish.
6 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (1715 - 1722 AD)
Black Flag transports you to the 1700s, which happens to be towards the end of piracy's golden age. You play as Edward Kenway, who is fully committed to the pirate life, and won't let the changing world impact that. This proves tricky, considering many have it out for people of his ilk.
That fact doesn't stop him from sailing the beautiful Caribbean seas and plundering anything he can. Along the way, he gets caught in the middle of the Assassin and Templar conflict.
5 Assassin's Creed: Rogue (1752 - 1776 AD)
During the Seven Year's War, the Assassin-turned-Templar, Shay Cormac, takes to hunting down his former brethren. It's a very personal tale about the protagonist's inner conflict and changing opinion of the Assassin Brotherhood.
As such, the global conflict going on during that time isn't a major part of the experience. But Shay does meet some historical figures from those years, including Benjamin Franklin and Colonel George Monro. They play roles in Shay's quest to give the Templars an advantage over the Assassins.
4 Assassin's Creed 3 (1754 - 1783 AD)
Assassin's Creed 3 shows the life of Conner Kenway (aka Ratonhnhaké:ton), from his days as a child to his time as an Assassin. During his adult years, The American Revolution is in full swing. In fact, the protagonist plays a large role in the historical event due to his close relationship with George Washington.
So, he spends much of the adventure fighting British Red Coats. Yet, the game isn't just a celebration of American history, as it also touches on the poor treatment of Native Americans during those years.
3 Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation (1765 - 1777 AD)
Liberation is set in the aftermath of the French And Indian War as well as around the time of the American Revolution. In this one, Aveline de Grandpre serves as the main character.
She resides in New Orleans and the surrounding Bayou. This is before the place became a part of the United States, so in this universe, the Templars are trying to take it over. Aveline is one of the only people attempting to stop their plans.
2 Assassin's Creed: Unity (1776 - 1808 AD)
Unity begins immediately where Assassin's Creed Rogue ended, as it shows the protagonist, Arno, as a child. The story quickly jumps ahead in time, though, to the start of the French Revolution. At this point, Arno is an adult and soon-to-be Assassin.
He's also living in Paris. Thus, the revolution is happening all around him, with people protesting in the streets. And, as always, both iconic secret organizations, Assassins and Templars, are heavily involved in the situation. People like Napoleon and Francois-Thomas Germain also play big roles.
1 Assassin's Creed Syndicate (1868 AD)
This Assassin's Creed entry takes you to the streets of London as you enter the Victorian era. It places you in the middle of this period in time, just before the Second Industrial Revolution.
This plays a part in the main narrative and side content, as the Frye twins attempt to free the people of London from their Templar rulers by bringing down establishments and stopping immoral practices like child labor. Along the way, you visit several iconic landmarks, from London Bridge to Buckingham Palace.