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There is no single best Assassin’s Creed game for every player: the series ranges from stealth-focused city adventures to sprawling action RPGs. This tier list ranks the major standalone console and PC games by how well they deliver a distinctive setting, satisfying movement, memorable characters, and a strong balance of stealth and combat. Ubisoft’s own series page asks, “What is the best Assassin’s Creed game for you?”—the right answer depends on what you want from the series.
How this Assassin’s Creed tier list works
This list covers distinct major standalone console and PC games, including Liberation and the Chronicles trilogy. It does not count collections, remasters, or compilation editions as separate games; a remaster is the same game for tier-list purposes. It also leaves out mobile-only and browser entries, so “every” here means the major standalone releases rather than every format or reissue in Ubisoft’s catalog. Ubisoft’s franchise catalog includes a wider range of titles and collections.
The tiers reflect an overall recommendation, not a universal quality score. I weigh stealth and assassination, movement and setting, combat and progression, story and protagonist, and how easily a newcomer can enjoy the game. Strong stealth or story can make a game an excellent fit even if its combat or accessibility is less polished. If you mainly want a huge RPG, your personal order may look different from someone seeking careful infiltration.
- S tier: A standout experience with a compelling identity and few major compromises.
- A tier: Excellent, memorable games that may be less consistent or less broadly appealing.
- B tier: Enjoyable entries with notable strengths and trade-offs.
- C tier: Worthwhile for particular fans, but less essential or less successful overall.
- D tier: The hardest entries to recommend as a first choice, though they may still suit dedicated fans.
Assassin’s Creed tier list at a glance
| Tier | Games |
|---|---|
| S | Assassin’s Creed II; Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag; Assassin’s Creed Origins |
| A | Assassin’s Creed; Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood; Assassin’s Creed: Revelations; Assassin’s Creed III; Assassin’s Creed Unity; Assassin’s Creed Odyssey; Assassin’s Creed Mirage |
| B | Assassin’s Creed: Liberation; Assassin’s Creed Rogue; Assassin’s Creed Syndicate; Assassin’s Creed Valhalla; Assassin’s Creed Shadows |
| C | Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China; Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India; Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia |
| D | None in this list |
Shadows is placed provisionally: Ubisoft’s catalog and US store list the game, but the available information here does not establish enough comparative detail to assess it alongside releases with a longer track record. Its placement reflects limited basis for ranking, not a claim that it is a weak game.
#1 Best Overall
- BECOME A FEARSOME PIRATE- Strike fear in your foes as you board and sink enemy vessels as Edward Kenway, captain of the Jackdaw. Whether blending into crowds or leading daring assaults, switch between silent takedowns and fierce brawls as you effortlessly wield swords, pistols, and the Hidden Blade. With a cast of historical pirate legends at your side, defy empires amidst the age-old conflict opposing Assassins and Templars.
- A CLASSIC REBUILT FOR AN ENHANCED EXPERIENCE- Combat has been rebuilt for more dynamic encounters, emphasizing parries and takedowns, while stealth and parkour have been improved for smoother escapes and assassinations. Continuously upgrade the Jackdaw to face powerful enemy ships with enhanced naval mechanics featuring new alternate fire modes. Quality-of-life additions also address previous pain points, ensuring your experience is improved.
- THE CARIBBEAN LIKE NEVER BEFORE- Whether you’re sailing the open seas or journeying across untamed lands, discover a seamless open world built with the latest Anvil engine. Take in sweeping vistas as you brave stormy waters, dive into underwater shipwrecks, or push through dense tropical jungles. Enhanced by features such as Dolby Atmos and ray tracing, every scene feels more immersive, bringing the world’s beauty to life.
- EXPANDING EDWARD’S ADVENTURE- Building on top of the original story, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced introduces exclusive new content. Familiar faces will return, with new storylines dedicated to fan-favorite characters such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Unexpected allies will also cross your path, as three officers join you on your journey as part of the main narrative. More surprises await, such as new sea shanties, pets, a photo mode, and more.
S tier: The strongest all-around picks
Assassin’s Creed II
Ezio Auditore’s journey gives the series one of its most memorable protagonists and a satisfying story of personal loss, discovery, and revenge. Its Renaissance cities make exploration a central pleasure, and the game established many of the series’ enduring ingredients. Its age shows in some movement and combat, but it remains the easiest classic-era recommendation for someone who wants a character-led historical adventure.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Black Flag earns its place through a distinctive pirate setting, open-water exploration, and a protagonist whose personal ambitions drive the story. Naval combat and sailing give it a different rhythm from the city-focused games, while islands and settlements keep the familiar exploration loop in view. Choose it for adventure and atmosphere more than for the series’ most focused assassination missions.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Origins successfully rebuilds the series around a large action-RPG world without losing the appeal of its historical setting. Ancient Egypt is the star, Bayek is a strong lead, and investigation gives many missions a welcome sense of purpose. Its progression and combat mark a clear shift away from the older stealth-first formula, making it a particularly strong pick for players open to that change.
A tier: Excellent games with a more specific appeal
Assassin’s Creed
The first game is still the clearest expression of a measured assassination loop: gather information, approach a target, and plan an escape. Its setting and premise remain distinctive, but repetitive mission patterns and dated structure make it less welcoming than the best sequels. Play it if you want to see where the series began; newcomers can also start with a more refined entry.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Brotherhood builds on the foundation of Assassin’s Creed II with a focused Rome setting and a stronger sense of operating as part of an order. Its compact world supports the familiar mix of traversal, missions, and side activities. It is a natural next game after AC II, although its story lands best with that context.
Rank #2
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Revelations brings Ezio’s story to a close while reconnecting it to the series’ earlier history. Constantinople gives the game a rich setting, and its reflective tone distinguishes it from Brotherhood. Its new mechanics are less essential than the narrative payoff, so it is most rewarding for players invested in Ezio’s arc.
Assassin’s Creed III
Assassin’s Creed III is a major mechanical and setting change, moving between Boston, New York, and a frontier. Ubisoft’s release-order guide describes it as a “total revamp” that introduced wilderness free-running, hiding in tall vegetation, and the series’ first naval combat. Those additions broaden the game beyond dense city rooftops, though its pacing and protagonist may divide players. It is a worthwhile bridge between classic entries and the series’ later experiments.
Assassin’s Creed Unity
Unity is built around Paris and a more elaborate parkour system, making movement through the city one of its main attractions. Its crowded streets and architectural scale suit players who want the classic urban-assassin fantasy. The story is less consistently compelling than the setting, and the game’s systems can feel demanding, but it remains one of the most distinctive city entries.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Odyssey is the pick for players who want a large Greek-world RPG, substantial progression, and action-led combat. Its setting and exploration are expansive, and its flexible protagonist offers a different tone from the traditional assassin stories. Stealth remains available, but the game’s scale and build progression take priority over tightly structured assassination missions.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Mirage turns back toward a more concentrated stealth-and-assassination structure, with Baghdad as its central setting. It is a sensible choice for players who miss the older formula or want a more focused experience than the recent RPG entries. Its narrower scope is a strength for that audience, though players seeking sprawling worlds and extensive character builds may prefer Origins, Odyssey, or Valhalla.
Rank #3
- Includes both Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Rogue, plus all single-player DLC.
- Become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. Take part in an award-winning naval experience and explore a massive open world.
- Become the ultimate assassin hunter in Assassin’s Creed Rogue, and play as a Templar for the first time in franchise history.
- Additional bonus content: Black Beard: The Lost Journal (pp. 1– 55) and Assassin’s Creed: Awakening Volumes 1 & 2.
- Experience enhanced features like handheld mode, HD Rumble, a touch screen interface, and motion control aiming.
B tier: Good choices for the right player
Assassin’s Creed: Liberation
Liberation is a companion game with its own lead, Aveline de Grandpré, and a New Orleans setting. Ubisoft identifies it separately from Assassin’s Creed III despite their historical proximity. Its distinct protagonist makes it a useful addition for series fans, while its original handheld roots and smaller scope make it less natural as a first full-scale entry.
Assassin’s Creed Rogue
Rogue revisits the naval and frontier elements associated with Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed III, but shifts the series’ perspective by following a character who turns against the Assassins. That premise gives longtime players a fresh angle on familiar conflicts. Its close ties to neighboring games and reuse of established systems make it a better follow-up than a starting point.
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Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Syndicate offers a Victorian London setting, two playable leads, and a lighter tone than some of the series’ more serious entries. Its city traversal and paired protagonists give it a clear identity, but its mission and combat design are less memorable than the strongest classic-era games. It is a solid choice if London and a breezier adventure appeal to you.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Valhalla is the series’ most expansive Viking-era RPG among these entries, emphasizing exploration, progression, and large-scale action. Its world and settlement-building provide a substantial journey, but that length can work against pacing, and stealth is not as central as in the older games or Mirage. Choose it for a long role-playing adventure rather than a compact assassin story.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft lists Shadows in its current series catalog and its US store lists a Standard Edition. This confirms it as a current purchase option, but store listings alone do not establish platform-by-platform availability, edition contents, or comparative quality. Check the live listing for your platform and the exact edition before buying; this tier placement is provisional rather than a firm review judgment.
Rank #4
- A BRASH REBEL ASSASSIN: Become Edward Kenway, a charismatic yet brutal pirate captain, trained by Assassins. Edward can effortlessly switch between the Hidden Blade of the Assassin's Order and all new weaponry including four flintock pistols and dual cutlass swords
- EXPLORE AN OPEN WORLD FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES: Discover the most diverse Assassin's Creed world ever created. From Kingston to Nassau, explore 50 unique locations where you can live the life of a pirate
- BECOME THE MOST FEARED PIRATE IN THE CARIBBEAN: Command your ship, the Jackdaw, and strike fear in all who see her. Plunder and pillage to upgrade the Jackdaw with ammunition and equipment needed to fight off enemy ships
- EXPERIENCE THE GRITTY REALITY BEHIND THE PIRATE FANTASY: Stand amongst legendary names such as Blackbeard and Benjamin Hornigold, as you establish a lawless Republic in the Bahamas and relive the truly explosive events that defined the Golden Age of Pirates
- MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE: Play with your friends in the ruthless and critically acclaimed multiplayer experience. Choose from an eclectic cast of characters from the Golden Age of Pirates and fight to the death in exotic locations
C tier: Spin-offs for fans of the setting or format
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China
China is a 2.5D stealth-focused spin-off rather than a conventional open-world entry. Its format makes it a change of pace, and its setting gives series fans another historical period to explore. It is best approached as a compact side experience, not as a substitute for a mainline game.
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India uses the same side-scrolling stealth framework as the other Chronicles games, with its own setting and visual identity. It may appeal to players who enjoy the format or want more variety in the franchise’s historical settings. The narrower mechanics naturally limit its appeal to players expecting the series’ larger worlds.
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia
Russia completes the Chronicles trilogy with the same focused, side-scrolling approach. It is most rewarding when treated as a short spin-off for fans of stealth challenges, rather than a core series entry. Players deciding where to begin should choose a mainline game that better showcases the franchise’s broader movement and world design.
Which Assassin’s Creed game should you play first?
- For the classic assassin fantasy: Start with Assassin’s Creed II, or try Mirage if you want a more recent, focused stealth structure.
- For a memorable protagonist and story: Choose Assassin’s Creed II, then continue through Brotherhood and Revelations for Ezio’s full arc.
- For a huge action RPG: Pick Origins for a strong balance of setting, character, and progression; choose Odyssey for a broader RPG emphasis.
- For sailing and open-water adventure: Black Flag is the strongest fit.
- For dense city parkour: Unity is the standout choice for Paris and urban movement.
- For a current new release: Check Ubisoft’s live Shadows Standard Edition listing for the platform and edition you intend to buy.
Release order or historical chronology?
Release order is the clearest way to follow how the series’ mechanics and storytelling changed. Historical chronology answers a different question: it places games by the periods they depict, not by when Ubisoft released them. Ubisoft’s release-order guide is useful for the former and also describes the historical settings. For a first playthrough, release order generally preserves the intended progression of references and gameplay changes; choose historical order if the setting sequence is your priority.
Quick Recap
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