The Evolution of Assassin's Creed Franchise: From 2007 till 2025

Since its debut in 2007, Assassin’s Creed has transformed from a bold, stealth-driven experiment into one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. 

Over nearly two decades, Ubisoft’s flagship series has explored diverse historical settings, embraced new genres, and pushed technological boundaries, all while maintaining its core narrative of the eternal conflict between Assassins and Templars. 

This blog dives into the series’ journey from its inception to its latest chapter in 2025, exploring gameplay innovations, narrative shifts, cultural impact, and what lies ahead.

The original Assassin’s Creed was a gamble. Set during the Third Crusade in 1191, it introduced players to Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, a disgraced Assassin navigating the cities of the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, Damascus, and Acre. 

The game’s hook was its Animus, a sci-fi device that allowed modern-day protagonist Desmond Miles to relive ancestral memories. This framed a unique blend of historical adventure and futuristic intrigue.

Gameplay centered on three pillars: parkour, stealth, and combat. Free-running across rooftops felt revolutionary, as did “social stealth,” where Altaïr could blend into crowds or hide in haystacks. Combat was deliberate, rewarding counterattacks. However, repetitive missions involving eavesdropping or pickpocketing drew criticism. 

Visually stunning for its time, the game leveraged Ubisoft’s Scimitar engine to create immersive cities. Its narrative, weaving the Assassin-Templar conflict with mysterious artifacts like the Piece of Eden, hooked players despite a divisive modern-day story.

Assassin’s Creed II is often hailed as the series’s peak. Set in Renaissance Italy, it followed Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a charming noble-turned-Assassin seeking revenge against the Templars. 

The open world of Florence, Venice, and Tuscany was vibrant, with improved parkour, non-linear missions, and new mechanics like swimming and an economy system. Players could hire factions (courtesans, mercenaries, thieves) and upgrade Ezio’s villa.

The narrative was more personal, focusing on Ezio’s growth and family tragedy, while Desmond’s modern-day arc deepened the sci-fi lore with cryptic glyphs. AC II addressed the original’s repetitiveness, earning near-universal praise and cementing Ezio as a fan-favorite protagonist.

Brotherhood is built on AC II, setting Ezio’s next chapter in a detailed Rome. It introduced an Assassin recruitment system, letting players train allies for missions, and added competitive multiplayer—a novel stealth-based mode. Combat evolved with chained executions, and new tools like the crossbow added variety. The story saw Ezio dismantle the Borgia family’s grip, while Desmond’s arc teased a looming apocalypse.

Critics lauded the Brotherhood for refining AC II’s formula, though some felt it was too similar. Multiplayer was a bold step, proving the series could expand beyond single-player.

Revelations concluded Ezio’s saga in Constantinople, introducing the hookblade for enhanced parkour and bomb-crafting for combat variety. A tower defense minigame was less successful, but multiplayer evolved with deeper customization. The narrative tied Ezio’s journey to Altaïr’s, offering closure for both, while Desmond’s story reached a dramatic climax.

While praised for its storytelling, Revelations felt iterative, signaling the need for bigger changes. It marked the end of the Desmond era, leaving fans curious about the series’ future.

AC III was a bold leap, set during the American Revolution. Protagonist Connor Kenway navigated Boston, New York, and a vast frontier, with a new engine enabling wilderness traversal, dynamic weather, and naval combat. 

The latter was a standout, letting players captain ships in open-sea battles. Hunting and crafting added depth, but the story felt disjointed, and Connor was less compelling than Ezio.

The modern-day arc concluded Desmond’s journey, tying up loose ends but polarizing fans. Technical issues marred the launch, though naval combat laid the groundwork for future entries. AC III was ambitious but divisive, showing both the series’ potential and its growing pains

Black Flag pivots to the Golden Age of Piracy, starring Edward Kenway, Connor’s grandfather. Its Caribbean open world, filled with islands, forts, and shipwrecks, was a high point. Naval combat became the centerpiece, with players upgrading ships and engaging in piracy. Stealth and assassination took a backseat but remained integral.

Edward’s swashbuckling tale was lighter, with a minimal modern-day story. Black Flag is a fan favorite, praised for its freedom and pirate fantasy, often ranking among the series’ best.

Rogue, a smaller entry, starred Shay Cormac, a Templar defector during the Seven Years’ War. Set in the North Atlantic, it expanded naval combat with new weapons like grenade launchers. Its story bridged AC III and Black Flag, offering a fresh Templar perspective.

Released alongside Unity, Rogue was overshadowed but appreciated by fans for its unique protagonist and polished mechanics. It marked the end of the series’ annual release streak on older consoles.

Assasssin's Creed Unity, set in Revolutionary Paris, aimed for next-gen grandeur with a 1:1 scale city and a new engine. 

Refined parkour, co-op multiplayer, and tougher combat were highlights, but the launch was plagued by bugs and performance issues. Arno Dorian’s story was emotionally engaging but overshadowed by a weak modern-day plot.

Post-launch patches improved Unity, and its detailed world is now celebrated, but its rocky debut hurt the series’ reputation, prompting Ubisoft to rethink its approach.

This game took players to Victorian London, introducing twin protagonists Jacob and Evie Frye. Their distinct playstyles—Jacob’s brawling, Evie’s stealth—added variety. A rope launcher streamlined traversal, and carriage chases brought a new dynamic. The vibrant world included gang wars and side activities like fight clubs.

The story, focusing on liberating London from Templar control, was lighthearted but less memorable. Syndicate polished Unity’s mechanics, earning praise for stability but criticism for lacking ambition.

Origins reinvented the series as an open-world RPG, set in Ptolemaic Egypt. Protagonist Bayek, a Medjay, founded the Assassin Brotherhood in a sprawling world of deserts, pyramids, and cities. RPG mechanics included leveled enemies, gear progression, and a revamped combat system inspired by Dark Souls. Stealth and parkour were less central but retained.

The narrative explored Bayek’s personal loss and the Brotherhood’s origins, with Layla Hassan replacing Desmond in the modern-day story. Origins was a critical success, praised for its world and depth, though some fans missed the series’ stealth roots.

Odyssey leaned fully into RPG territory, set in Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. Players chose between Kassandra or Alexios, with dialogue choices, romance options, and branching quests. The massive open world included mythical elements like Minotaur battles. Stealth was optional, and naval combat returned.

The story, focusing on a mercenary’s journey, had minimal Assassin-Templar ties, pre-dating the Brotherhood. Layla’s arc continued but felt secondary. Odyssey was a commercial hit, lauded for its scope but criticized by purists for straying from the series’ core.

Valhalla, set in 9th-century Viking Britain, refined Odyssey’s RPG systems. Protagonist Eivor led settlement-building, raids, and exploration across England and Norway. Combat and stealth were balanced, with parkour improved. The world was vast, with activities like fishing and drinking games.

The narrative blended Norse mythology with Assassin lore, advancing Layla’s story significantly. Valhalla was a massive success, though some criticized its bloated length. It struck a balance between RPG freedom and classic Assassin’s Creed elements.

Mirage responded to fan calls for a return to stealth. Set in 9th-century Baghdad, it followed Basim (from Valhalla) in a compact, city-focused world. Gameplay emphasized parkour, assassination, and social stealth, scaling back RPG elements. The smaller scope echoed the original games.

The narrative explored Basim’s rise as an Assassin, with a minimal modern-day story. Mirage was praised for recapturing the series’ roots but seen as less ambitious than its RPG predecessors.

Released on March 20, 2025, Shadows takes players to Feudal Japan, fulfilling a long-standing fan request. Dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke (a historical African samurai), offer stealth and combat playstyles. The open-world RPG format returns, with dynamic seasons, a grappling hook, and the Animus Hub, a new feature connecting AC titles via rewards and a lore database (“the Vault”).

The story explores the Assassin-Templar conflict in Japan, with a modern-day arc hinting at a new protagonist and dystopian themes. Shadows earned strong reviews (82% on OpenCritic, 36/40 from Famitsu) for its exploration and characters, though some criticized its narrative pacing. Controversy over Yasuke’s inclusion prompted Ubisoft to address cultural sensitivities. The Claws of Awaji DLC, set for September 16, 2025, adds a 10-hour story.

Assassin’s Creed has evolved from a stealth pioneer to a genre-spanning juggernaut. Standouts like AC II, Black Flag, and Odyssey showcase its versatility, while missteps like Unity’s launch highlight its challenges. The series’s ability to adapt, whether through RPG reinventions or returns to stealth, keeps it relevant, but fan fatigue and cultural debates pose risks.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary, Assassin’s Creed remains a testament to Ubisoft’s ambition, blending history, fiction, and innovation. Whether you’re scaling Florence’s rooftops or sailing the Caribbean, the series invites players to live history through the eyes of an Assassin.