Assassin’s Creed II is generally considered the best starting point due to its engaging story and refined gameplay.
So, you’re eager to leap into the world of assassins, but you’re pondering what assassins creed game should i play first? It’s a valid question, given the series spans multiple eras and characters. Choosing the right entry point can really impact your overall enjoyment of the franchise.
Starting with the second game, Assassin’s Creed II, lets you experience the core mechanics and storyline that many fans adore. It provides a smoother and more engaging experience for newcomers. It is also a very popular pick for a place to start.
What Assassin’s Creed Game Should I Play First?
So, you want to jump into the world of Assassin’s Creed, huh? That’s awesome! But with so many games in the series, it can feel like a Templar conspiracy trying to figure out where to begin. Don’t worry; we’re here to guide you through the historical parkour, hidden blades, and epic stories. Choosing your first Assassin’s Creed game is about finding a good balance between a great story, easy-to-understand gameplay, and maybe a setting that really grabs your attention. Let’s break down some good starting points.
Understanding the Core Assassin’s Creed Experience
Before we dive into specific games, let’s chat about what makes an Assassin’s Creed game… well, an Assassin’s Creed game. Think of it like a recipe. You’ve got a few key ingredients that are usually there:
- Stealth and Assassinations: You play as an assassin, so sneaking around and taking down bad guys quietly is a big part of the fun. Hiding in crowds, using rooftops to get around, and using the iconic hidden blade are all core to the gameplay.
- Historical Settings: These games take you to different time periods and places. You’ll explore real cities and historical moments, like the Renaissance in Italy or Ancient Egypt. This element makes learning history a lot more exciting than any textbook.
- The Assassin vs. Templar Conflict: There’s always a big battle happening between the Assassins, who fight for freedom, and the Templars, who seek control. This conflict is the central thread that ties all the games together, even if the characters and locations change.
- Parkour: Running, jumping, and climbing around buildings is one of the coolest things you get to do. It’s basically like a super-powered playground across history.
- Open World Exploration: You get to explore big, beautiful maps filled with secrets to find, people to meet, and things to do. It’s not just about following the main story; there’s a lot to experience outside of that.
Knowing these core components will help you better understand what you can expect from any Assassin’s Creed game. Now let’s get into some specific titles that work really well as starting points.
Assassin’s Creed II: A Classic Starting Point
Many gamers and fans will tell you that Assassin’s Creed II is the best place to begin. Why? Because it is often said that it perfects the formula of the first game and introduces a compelling new story. Here’s why it’s a solid first choice:
Why Assassin’s Creed II is a Great Start:
- Compelling Story: You play as Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young noble in Renaissance Italy. You’ll watch him grow from a carefree boy to a skilled assassin seeking revenge. Ezio’s journey is very engaging and easy to connect with.
- Improved Gameplay: It refined many of the mechanics from the first game. The combat feels more fluid, the movement feels more refined and intuitive, and there’s more variety in missions. Overall, this game is much smoother to play than its predecessor.
- Iconic Characters and Locations: You get to explore beautiful Renaissance cities like Florence, Venice, and Rome. You’ll meet interesting historical figures, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who even helps you make new gadgets!
- Easy to Get Into: While it builds on the original, it does a good job of explaining everything in a way that new players can easily understand. It’s not overly complex and is a good balance between introducing the mechanics and allowing the player to grow with the game.
Assassin’s Creed II offers a great blend of story, gameplay, and historical setting, making it a fantastic introduction to the world of the franchise. It is also the most influential game in the series, shaping the structure for many entries that followed.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag: For Pirate Fans
If pirates and sailing ships are more your style, then you should look at Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. This is often considered one of the best in the series, because of its fresh perspective. It has naval combat and a massive open world to explore that makes you feel like an actual pirate.
Why Black Flag is a Good Starter Game:
- Unique Setting and Story: You play as Edward Kenway, a charismatic pirate who gets caught up in the Assassin-Templar conflict. The story is more about adventure and exploration, with the Assassin’s plot playing a secondary role.
- Naval Combat and Exploration: A huge part of this game is sailing your ship, the Jackdaw, and engaging in naval battles. You can explore islands, hunt for treasure, and attack other ships. It’s a big change from previous games and a lot of fun.
- More Accessible Gameplay: The gameplay is generally easier to understand for new players, with less emphasis on complicated stealth mechanics compared to some other titles. Naval battles are a blast and easy to pick up and get used to.
- Vibrant World: The Caribbean setting is beautiful and full of life. There’s a ton to see and do, from small fishing villages to bustling ports.
Black Flag is a great choice if you want a less traditional Assassin’s Creed experience with a lot of open-world fun, a focus on adventure, and a pirate’s life. Keep in mind that this one leans heavily into ship-based activities, so if you’re not fond of ships, you might want to look at other options.
Assassin’s Creed Origins: The Modern Era Begins
If you are looking for a newer entry, Assassin’s Creed Origins is another excellent starting point. This game marked a big change for the series, moving to a new action-RPG style of gameplay. While it’s set earlier in the timeline, it feels like a newer beginning.
Why Origins is a Good Starting Game:
- A New Beginning: While still retaining the core series’ identity, Origins tells the story of the formation of the Assassin Brotherhood. It makes a good entry point if you’re not so worried about the overarching storyline between other games.
- Gorgeous Ancient Egypt: You will explore the lands of ancient Egypt in their full glory. The game’s world is beautiful and massive, with lots of ancient ruins, tombs to explore, and cities to discover.
- Refreshed Gameplay Mechanics: This game introduces a new combat system and more RPG elements. You will level up your character and have to consider your equipment and stats. These changes offer a much more varied combat system, with a greater depth of possibilities for player expression.
- More Accessible Story: As it is the beginning of the Brotherhood, it’s easy to understand the story without having a lot of past knowledge.
Origins is fantastic for both new players and long-time fans, offering a blend of traditional Assassin’s Creed elements with newer gameplay mechanics. Its setting is particularly beautiful and engaging, making it a worthwhile experience for anyone looking for a new starting point for the series.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: A Step Further into RPG Territory
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes the gameplay introduced in Origins and enhances it. This game is set in ancient Greece, adding even more RPG mechanics. It has a very large world, a wide variety of quests, and branching storylines.
Why Odyssey is a Good Entry Point:
- Choice-Driven Story: You’ll make choices in this game that directly affect the story. You can choose to play as either Kassandra or Alexios, and the story has different paths based on your decisions.
- Huge, Beautiful Map: Ancient Greece is a huge world to discover, with gorgeous islands and cities to explore. It is one of the biggest maps in the series, with lots of things to see and do.
- Enhanced RPG Mechanics: This game takes the RPG elements introduced in Origins even further, with skill trees, loot, and a large focus on player customization.
- Accessible Combat System: The combat is easy to pick up but also has a lot of depth. The skill system provides many options, which let players take different approaches in battles.
Odyssey offers a huge open-world experience, with plenty of content and an engaging story. While it might be considered a more complex starting point because of the heavier RPG mechanics, it’s still very approachable for new players, because the game does a good job of explaining everything.
A Quick Comparison Table:
To help you decide, here’s a quick table to compare the key aspects of each game:
| Game | Setting | Gameplay Focus | Story Style | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed II | Renaissance Italy | Stealth, Parkour, Combat | Character-driven revenge story | Easy-Medium |
| Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag | Caribbean | Naval Combat, Exploration | Adventure, Pirate Lore | Easy-Medium |
| Assassin’s Creed Origins | Ancient Egypt | Action RPG, Exploration | Founding of the Assassin Brotherhood | Medium |
| Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | Ancient Greece | Action RPG, Choice-Driven | Epic Journey, Mythological elements | Medium-Hard |
Ultimately, the best Assassin’s Creed game to start with is really about what you’re most interested in. If you want a classic experience with a great character arc, you can go for Assassin’s Creed II. If you love pirates and open-world adventure, you should look at Black Flag. For those interested in a newer style with more RPG elements, both Origins and Odyssey are excellent choices.
No matter which game you choose, you’re in for an exciting adventure full of historical intrigue, stealthy missions, and lots of cool moments. Have fun playing!
Which Assassin's Creed Should You Play First?
Final Thoughts
If you’re eager to join the Assassin Brotherhood, start with Assassin’s Creed 2. It provides a fantastic entry point into the series’ lore and core gameplay mechanics. The narrative of Ezio Auditore is compelling.
Assassin’s Creed 2 features a more refined system compared to the first game. This makes it easier for new players. Therefore, for a smooth introduction, you must play Assassin’s Creed 2 first.
Ultimately, if you’re pondering, ‘what assassins creed game should i play first’, begin with Assassin’s Creed 2. It is the ideal starting point for newcomers.
