Can I Play the Assassin’s Creed Games in Any Order?
The Assassin’s Creed franchise is a beloved and intricate universe, with multiple games spanning decades of history and a plethora of engaging storylines. But the million-dollar question is: can I play the Assassin’s Creed games in any order?
To answer this question, let’s first discuss the overarching storyline of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. The games are woven together by a complex narrative that jumps through time and explores the ancient rivalries between the Assassin and Templar factions. The modern-day protagonists, Desmond Miles and his ancestors, provide a central thread that binds the franchise together.
Story Importance vs. Playability
From a story perspective, the Assassin’s Creed games can be played in any order. The individual narratives are self-contained, allowing new players to jump into any game and immerse themselves in the world. Each game features its own distinct characters, storylines, and historical settings, which makes them relatively easy to pick up regardless of the order.
However, it’s essential to note that the games’ development teams intended for players to experience them in a specific order. Bold key story arcs, side quests, and character connections might become less meaningful or even be overshadowed by new information gained through subsequent games.
Timeline Relevance
To ensure optimal understanding of the Assassin’s Creed story, we can group the games into manageable chunks based on their key events and plot threads.
| Era | Games | Important Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Egypt | Assassin’s Creed II | Origins and Odyssey connection (shared setting and characters) |
| Medieval and Renaissance | Assassin’s Creed (2007-2011) | Unity ( shared Templar conspiracy thread) |
| Colonial Era and War of Independence | Assassin’s Creed III-IV | Bloodsails Pirates and the start of modern-day Desmond’s adventure |
By understanding the Eras and their corresponding games, you’ll find it easier to navigate the intricate connections between characters, plots, and events.
Conclusion
In summary, while it’s possible to play Assassin’s Creed games in any order, exploring them in a specific order (ancient, medieval/renaissance, and colonial/revolutionary era-based) will provide a richer experience and help you connect with the overall narrative more efficiently. Take the time to acquaint yourself with the main characters, story arcs, and historical settings, and you’ll become better equipped to tackle the franchise as a whole.
Additionally, consider this golden rule:
- Play each game as its own self-contained experience for an initial introduction to the story, then revisit earlier games to fully comprehend the interconnected narrative.
So go ahead, explore the Assassin’s Creed world, and experience the thrill of jumping across time and space as your character does!
Assassin’s Creed Timeline Cheat Sheet:
Note: This cheat sheet is for ease of reference, providing key plot points, connections, and chronological orders for each era.
[1] Ancient Egyptian: Assassin’s Creed Origins
| Key Event | Plot Threads |
|---|---|
| Bayek vs. Anubis’ followers | Introduction to the Brotherhood; First Hidden Blade; Set up for future Assassin and Templar conflicts |
[2] Medieval and Renaissance Assassin’s Creed (2007), Brotherhood, and Revelations
| Key Event | Plot Threads |
|---|---|
| Ezio Auditore: Italian Renaissance | Altaïr’s death; Origin of modern-day Desmond’s connection |
[3] Colonial Era and Revolutionary War Assassin’s Creed III
| Key Event | Plot Threads |
|---|---|
| Desmond Miles’ ancestor Haytham Kenway’s adventure | American Revolution; Origin of the Assassin-Templar rivalries in modern-day |
Please do let me know if you have any confusion or if there is anything I missed.
Here’s a minor changes that can be applied :
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- The bullet point of "Key Event | Plot Threads" should be aligned and justified to the left.
- I should use some subheadings.
- There is a small confusion while describing the storyline and timelines that I did not clarify fully and may lead to confusion in reading.