The Assassin’s Creed franchise has snowballed in its existence of 15 years. The ever-present conflict between Templars and Assassins has taken gamers on a journey across five different continents and covered a span of 2,300 years through twelve mainline games and nine spin-offs.
You play as the grandchild of Sparta’s King Leonidas I in AC Odyssey, which is set 400 years before any other installment and witness the glorious war between Spartans and Athens. On the other hand, AC Syndicate promises a much more modern experience as it’s based in Victorian London and, chronologically, unravels the latest Assassin’s Creed story.
Be it Baghdad, ancient Greece, Norway, Victorian England, Renaissance Italy, Medieval Rome, or the Caribbean; each location has witnessed the perpetual battle of the Assassins Brotherhood. So, it only makes sense to assume that the series’s timeline is synchronous with the sequence of the significant events that occurred in these places in history.
Before moving onto the complete Assassin’s Creed timeline in chronological order, let’s look at the release order of the games in the franchise.
Release Order of Assassin’s Creed Games
The release order of the Assassin’s Creed games is the following.
- Assassin’s Creed – 2007
- Assassin’s Creed II – 2009
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – 2010
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – 2011
- Assassin’s Creed III – 2012
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – 2013
- Assassin’s Creed: Rogue – 2014
- Assassin’s Creed: Unity – 2014
- Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate – 2015
- Assassin’s Creed: Origins 2017
- Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – 2018
- Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla – 2020
Note: The above list consists of only canon Assassin’s Creed games. However, for a detailed look into the series’ timeline, the chronological list below also contains non-canon and extended DLC releases in the form of smaller headings.
I. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 – 404 BC)
Although this is one of the newest games of the series, it is chronologically the first as it takes place in ancient Greece.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a unique entry to the franchise as it doesn’t build around the war between the Templar Order and the Assassins Brotherhood. Rather, it substantiates the backstory of the Order, the First Civilization, and the Templars.
II. Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 – 43 BC)
Released in 2017, Assassin’s Creed Origins takes you back to the formation of the Hidden Ones, the present-day Assassins Order, in historic Greece. They fight against the Templars’ ancestors, the Order of the Ancients.
Additionally, this game introduced Layla Hassan, who’d go on to be the protagonist of Odyssey and Valhalla.
III. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (850 AD)
Even though there’s no exact release date for this mainline Assassin’s Creed game, the leaks give you an idea about when it takes place.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage narrates the story of Basim, a character introduced in AC Valhalla. The game traces his origin as he joins the Hidden Ones with no knowledge of his true nature. Consequently, it’ll be set in Baghdad, almost 20 years prior to Valhalla, roughly in 850 AD.
IV. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872 – 878 AD)
Launched in 2020, AC Valhalla’s protagonist, Eivor, leads the Hidden Ones in the battle against the Order of the Ancients. In addition, Ubisoft added Norse mythology to its unique theme of lore and history, encompassing a plot twist related to Basim.
i. Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles (1190 AD)
Rolled out briefly after the first game in 2008, AC Altair’s Chronicles served as a prequel specifically for Nintendo DS and mobiles.
In this game, the story is narrated from Altair’s point of view rather than Desmond Miles relieving his memories via the Animus. It’s built around Altair’s failure to extract the Chalice from the Templars.
V. Assassin’s Creed (1191 AD)
This original AC game presented the conflict between Assassins and Templars. Furthermore, it also introduced the Animus device that players can see in the rest of the franchise.
i. Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines (1191 AD)
A PlayStation Portable exclusive of 2009, AC Bloodlines continues the foremost game’s narration with Altair assassinating more Templars. Moreover, it also allows gamers to explore the love story of Altair and Templar Maria Thorpe.
VI. Assassin’s Creed II (1476 – 1499 AD)
The second mainline game of the franchise that also launched in 2009, AC II introduced the most adored protagonist of the series, Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
His story begins in Renaissance Italy when he decides to join the Brotherhood to avenge the death of his brother and father. Also, Ezio features in the next three installments of the series, which is more than any other protagonist.
i. Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery (1491 AD)
Discovery was the third AC game to come out in 2009. As a result, it took place as a DLC event between the events of AC II.
This part sees Ezio interact with Christopher Columbus and help the Spanish Assassins Guild fight against the Spanish Inquisition.
VII. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (1499 – 1507 AD)
In Ezio’s second mainline appearance, you witness him continue his battle with the Templar-allied Borgia family in medieval Rome.
As Ezio continues to interact with historical personalities like Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli, Desmond Mile’s role grows larger. Eventually, he finds the Apple of Eden via Ezio’s memories.
VIII. Assassin’s Creed Revelations (1511 – 1512 AD)
While attempting to conclude Ezio’s trilogy, AC Revelations unravels more of Altair’s memories. This leads to Ezio accessing the same to get his hands on the Apple of Eden hidden in Altair’s vault.
Subsequently, Ezio, Desmond, and Altair come face to face in what’s probably the most important installment of the franchise.
i. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China (1526 AD)
Starring the under-rated Shao Jun, this game follows her journey of heading to Italy to train with Ezio. Shortly after, she returns home to avenge the Chinese Brotherhood against the Eight Tigers.
IX. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (1715 – 1722 AD)
Being the first ever game not to feature Desmond Miles, Black Flag dives into Abstergo’s attempt to portray the Templars as a heroic force. With its events taking place in the 18th century Caribbean’s Golden Age of Piracy, this game is almost a prequel to AC III.
i. Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry (1735-1737 AD)
Initially intended as a DLC to Black Flag, with its events occurring 20 years later, Freedom Cry features quartermaster turned Assassin Adewale.
X. Assassin’s Creed: Rogue (1752 – 1776 AD)
Released in 2014, the second pirate-based game of the franchise, Rogue, is set during the same time as AC III.
The protagonist, Shay Cormac, is an ex-Assassin who joins forces with the Templars. You can see him interact with multiple characters from various AC games, including 2015’s AC Unity.
XI. Assassin’s Creed III (1754 – 1783 AD)
Featuring the half-Mohawk and half-English assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton, this 2012 AC game displays his battle against the Templars during the American Revolution. Unfortunately, these enemies include his father, Haytham, the leader of the Colonial Templars.
i. Assassin’s Creed III Liberation (1765 – 1777 AD)
Initially launched as a PlayStation Vita exclusive beside AC III, this installment stars the series’ first female protagonist, Aveline de Grandpré. It is set in 18th-century New Orleans, where Aveline battles the Templars after the French and Indian war.
XII. Assassin’s Creed Unity (1776 – 1800 AD)
Infamously known due to a buggy release, 2014’s Unity has gradually cemented its place as a solid entry thanks to vital updates.
It’s set back during the French Revolution and features nobleman Arno Dorian. Like most other AC installments, Unity focuses on the war between Assassins and Templars.
i. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India (1841 AD)
Similar to Shao Jun in AC Chronicles: China, this game features a new protagonist, Arbaaz Mir, in 1841’s India. More specifically, this 2016 AC game focuses on Arbaaz’s pursuit of a Templar master during the war between the East India Company and the Sikh Empire.
XIII. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (1868 AD)
Launched in 2015, AC Syndicate was the last AC game before the franchise shifted from the sandbox to the action-RPG genre.
This installment is set in Victorian London and depicts the Frye twins’ fight against the Templars, featuring Jack the Ripper and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
i. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia (1918 AD)
A worthy conclusion to the Chronicles series and the latest with regards to the AC timeline, this game takes place in the post-October Revolution era in 1918. It witnesses Princess Anastasia Romanova possessed by Shao Jun from AC Chronicles: China.
About Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed is the first instalment in the classic Assassin’s Creed franchise. It introduced one of the most influential characters in the series, Altair, who embarks on a quest to regain his honor after a failed mission.
The game was developed and published by Ubisoft. It is considered a classic, having been a memorable part of everyone’s childhoods. Even then, it featured some of the finest work in graphics, action sequences, and storyline.
