Every IGN Assassin's Creed Review
Kingdom Hearts
20 februari 2024
How have the Assassin's Creed games fared with our reviewers over the years? Click through the slideshow to see every Assassin's Creed game and its review score.
Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein
November 13, 2007
Our Verdict: If you play Assassin's Creed for an hour, you will probably think it's a fantastic game. But as Assassin's progresses, its dual storylines and repetitive quests begin to grow tiresome. There are so many great individual elements, but they are lost among the myriad of poor decisions from Ubisoft Montreal. Wasting the big twist on the first five minutes of gameplay is a tremendous mistake, but not nearly as damaging as the ill-conceived assassination investigation quests, which get old fast. The exploration aspects of Assassin's Creed and the combat are both plusses in my book. But those two elements are only a small part of the whole.">Reviewed by Hilary Goldstein
November 13, 2007
Our Verdict: If you play Assassin's Creed for an hour, you will probably think it's a fantastic game. But as Assassin's progresses, its dual storylines and repetitive quests begin to grow tiresome. There are so many great individual elements, but they are lost among the myriad of poor decisions from Ubisoft Montreal. Wasting the big twist on the first five minutes of gameplay is a tremendous mistake, but not nearly as damaging as the ill-conceived assassination investigation quests, which get old fast. The exploration aspects of Assassin's Creed and the combat are both plusses in my book. But those two elements are only a small part of the whole.
Reviewed by Craig Harris
February 6, 2008
Even with the issues, I had a good time playing through Assassin's Creed multiple times. I say multiple times because, yes, that single save file can wreak havoc on your game's progress if you decide to jump around the stages using the level select feature. Altair's Chronicles definitely needed a couple more weeks of polishing up before Ubisoft's publishing date, but as a finished product it's a fun game for as long as it lasts.">Reviewed by Craig Harris
February 6, 2008
Even with the issues, I had a good time playing through Assassin's Creed multiple times. I say multiple times because, yes, that single save file can wreak havoc on your game's progress if you decide to jump around the stages using the level select feature. Altair's Chronicles definitely needed a couple more weeks of polishing up before Ubisoft's publishing date, but as a finished product it's a fun game for as long as it lasts.
Reviewed by David Clayman
November 17, 2009
Our Verdict: Assassin's Creed II transforms a middling action game into an intriguing and consistently entertaining open-world adventure. Based on this game, Ubisoft Montreal should run a clinic on how to iterate a franchise and if the series continues in this vein, the next installment will take aim at Rockstar's best efforts. The experience is layered, unique, and shows an incredible attention to detail. This is one case where the sequel has triumphed over the original by catching the gameplay up to the already excellent visuals. No matter what your preconceptions are about Assassin's Creed II, the game is well worth your time and money.">Reviewed by David Clayman
November 17, 2009
Our Verdict: Assassin's Creed II transforms a middling action game into an intriguing and consistently entertaining open-world adventure. Based on this game, Ubisoft Montreal should run a clinic on how to iterate a franchise and if the series continues in this vein, the next installment will take aim at Rockstar's best efforts. The experience is layered, unique, and shows an incredible attention to detail. This is one case where the sequel has triumphed over the original by catching the gameplay up to the already excellent visuals. No matter what your preconceptions are about Assassin's Creed II, the game is well worth your time and money.
Reviewed by Craig Harris
November 18, 2009
I was one of the few reviewers that legitimately enjoyed the first Assassin's Creed on the Nintendo DS. It had its problems but it was a solid Gameloft effort that captured the console gameplay in a more limiting handheld experience. The sequel, helmed by Griptonite, is a much more ambitious design but in a more restrictive 2D environment. The result is a much more fulfilling and fun DS experience that runs parallel to the far more elaborate console production, and while I had problems with the blind jumps and trial-and-error, mapless gameplay, I had a great time with Assassin's Creed II: Discovery.">Reviewed by Craig Harris
November 18, 2009
I was one of the few reviewers that legitimately enjoyed the first Assassin's Creed on the Nintendo DS. It had its problems but it was a solid Gameloft effort that captured the console gameplay in a more limiting handheld experience. The sequel, helmed by Griptonite, is a much more ambitious design but in a more restrictive 2D environment. The result is a much more fulfilling and fun DS experience that runs parallel to the far more elaborate console production, and while I had problems with the blind jumps and trial-and-error, mapless gameplay, I had a great time with Assassin's Creed II: Discovery.
Reviewed by David Clayman
November 18, 2009
Assassin's Creed Bloodlines is a game that will only appeal to those who are already enthralled with the Assassin's Creed universe. It successfully replicates the basic feel of Altair's previous adventure, but it also plays into the weaknesses of the PSP hardware. Three dimensional free running cannot be successful without camera control and the combat is one dimensional. The developers did the best they could within the confines of a game design that for now, can only properly work on the big screen.">Reviewed by David Clayman
November 18, 2009
Assassin's Creed Bloodlines is a game that will only appeal to those who are already enthralled with the Assassin's Creed universe. It successfully replicates the basic feel of Altair's previous adventure, but it also plays into the weaknesses of the PSP hardware. Three dimensional free running cannot be successful without camera control and the combat is one dimensional. The developers did the best they could within the confines of a game design that for now, can only properly work on the big screen.
Reviewed by Reviewed by Cam Shea
November 16, 2010
Our Verdict: Brotherhood is a great game, but it's hard to wholeheartedly recommend. This is really a title designed for fans of Assassin's Creed II, as it's a continuation of that story, but the reality is that people who finished that game want something new--or that at least represents a clear step forward. Brotherhood doesn't deliver that. The game doesn't advance the wider narrative very far, the new mechanics don't really add a great deal and the mission designs rarely explore new gameplay possibilities.">Reviewed by Reviewed by Cam Shea
November 16, 2010
Our Verdict: Brotherhood is a great game, but it's hard to wholeheartedly recommend. This is really a title designed for fans of Assassin's Creed II, as it's a continuation of that story, but the reality is that people who finished that game want something new--or that at least represents a clear step forward. Brotherhood doesn't deliver that. The game doesn't advance the wider narrative very far, the new mechanics don't really add a great deal and the mission designs rarely explore new gameplay possibilities.
Reviewed by Richard George
November 14, 2011
Our Verdict: This is the best Assassin's Creed yet, even if that victory is claimed by an inch and not a mile. If you've been following the lives of Altair and Ezio this long, you owe it to yourself to see their last adventure.">Reviewed by Richard George
November 14, 2011
Our Verdict: This is the best Assassin's Creed yet, even if that victory is claimed by an inch and not a mile. If you've been following the lives of Altair and Ezio this long, you owe it to yourself to see their last adventure.
Reviewed by Justin Davis
December 13, 2011
Recollection places way too much emphasis on In-App Purchases and its battle system isn't entirely balanced, but I still have a lot of respect for Ubisoft for innovating in a major way with one of their core franchises. I can see myself returning to Recollection's online play for weeks to come.">Reviewed by Justin Davis
December 13, 2011
Recollection places way too much emphasis on In-App Purchases and its battle system isn't entirely balanced, but I still have a lot of respect for Ubisoft for innovating in a major way with one of their core franchises. I can see myself returning to Recollection's online play for weeks to come.
Released October 30, 2012 -- Reviewed by Keza MacDonald
Our Verdict: Assassin's Creed III is very enjoyable overall, but it’s not consistently brilliant. Not everything about the game gels together convincingly and the missions’ unnecessary prescriptiveness sometimes undermines the sense of freedom that the rest of the game works so hard to create. But it achieves so much that you can’t help but respect it; no other open-world game has ever given us a setting that's as impressive to observe or as full of things to do as this. Connor’s story has its lulls but it still tells a tale much richer and more compelling than most other games manage, set in a fascinating period of history. Assassin’s Creed III isn’t as huge an improvement upon its predecessors’ achievements as many players will be hoping for, but it’s still up there with the best that the series has achieved - even if it isn't quite the best.
Released Oct. 30, 2012 -- Reviewed by Greg Miller
Our Verdict: Assassin's Creed III: Liberation is a simplified version of the Assassin's Creed franchise. The moves and kills you'd expect are here, but the story is boiled down to be easy to jump in and out of. That takes away some of the excitement in playing through it.
Reviewed by Keza MacDonald
April 23, 2013
The Tyranny of King Washington is made to the highest standards, but also overpriced for what it is. Though the new powers refresh and reshape Assassin’s Creed III’s gameplay, most of the locations and missions here are overly reminiscent of what we’ve seen time and time again in the main campaign, and only towards the end does the story really come into its own. It would be a much easier recommendation at half the price.">Reviewed by Keza MacDonald
April 23, 2013
The Tyranny of King Washington is made to the highest standards, but also overpriced for what it is. Though the new powers refresh and reshape Assassin’s Creed III’s gameplay, most of the locations and missions here are overly reminiscent of what we’ve seen time and time again in the main campaign, and only towards the end does the story really come into its own. It would be a much easier recommendation at half the price.
Released November 19, 2013 -- Reviewed by Marty Sliva
Our Verdict: The amazing world of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has kept me gladly occupied for longer than any other game in the series, even though its story isn’t the strongest. At no point in my dozens of hours was I ever at a loss for something to do. Simply sailing wherever the wind takes me and seeing what sort of trouble I can get into is a complete joy. Beyond the underwhelming main campaign, Black Flag delivers a world brimming with gorgeous places to go, amazing secrets to discover, and nefarious pirates to stab.
Reviewed by Marty Sliva
December 12, 2013
The nautical elements of AC III and Black Flag are arguably the strongest facets of those games, and those themes are rife for exploration in a standalone title. While Assassin's Creed Pirates manages to capture a bit of that sea-faring magic, it never quite delivers the pirate experience I wanted. Unless you're willing to grind through an endless wave of banal ship battles, you're better off sticking to its bigger, better, and much less frustrating console and PC brethren.">Reviewed by Marty Sliva
December 12, 2013
The nautical elements of AC III and Black Flag are arguably the strongest facets of those games, and those themes are rife for exploration in a standalone title. While Assassin's Creed Pirates manages to capture a bit of that sea-faring magic, it never quite delivers the pirate experience I wanted. Unless you're willing to grind through an endless wave of banal ship battles, you're better off sticking to its bigger, better, and much less frustrating console and PC brethren.
Released November 11, 2014 -- Reviewed by Daniel Krupa
Our Verdict: Rogue has the most interesting story of any recent Assassin’s Creed game. It’s fascinated by its own history, and introduces a level of ambiguity which changes how we look at the formerly simple conflict between Assassins and Templars. So it's all the more disappointing there's so little to do while the story is being told; the upgrade economy's pointless and most of the tasks are quite trivial. Story aside, so much of Rogue feels redundant, repetitive, and ultimately in need of reinvention.
Released November 11, 2014 -- Reviewed by Marty Sliva
Our Verdict: Assassin’s Creed Unity leverages the new-generation consoles to add spectacular new sights and successful co-op multiplayer, but in doing so, it’s created some substantial new problems instead of solving the series’ most persistent ones. The scope is stunning, the customization is satisfying, and the multiplayer touches upon some really ambitious ideas. But the lack of a strong main character or interesting take on the Assassin’s Creed universe costs it momentum and excitement, and the persistent control problems are still a thorn in its side. The first truly new-gen Assassin’s Creed game is a gorgeous, entertaining, and successful proof of concept for what lies ahead for the series, though it isn’t what I’d call revolutionary.
Reviewed by Vince Ingentio
April 20, 2015
There are many ways in which this Assassin’s Creed could have gone terribly wrong, but didn’t. Its problems lie, instead, in its inability to truly let the player off the leash, and its uncharacteristically soulless presentation. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is by no means a poorly made game, it’s just an un-exciting one">Reviewed by Vince Ingentio
April 20, 2015
There are many ways in which this Assassin’s Creed could have gone terribly wrong, but didn’t. Its problems lie, instead, in its inability to truly let the player off the leash, and its uncharacteristically soulless presentation. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is by no means a poorly made game, it’s just an un-exciting one
Released October 23, 2015 -- Reviewed by Daniel Krupa
Our Verdict: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is the most fun I’ve had with an Assassin’s game since Black Flag. In fact, I liked it more. Apart from its ill-fitting conclusion, it never takes itself too seriously and delights in the rich possibilities of its Victorian setting and great new grapple gun. As you explore its contrasting boroughs, you glean some sense of what powered this great city in the 19th century. The story missions capitalise on this by exploring different spheres of influence, which when combined with elements like mass transit, heavy industry, and law enforcement, make this feel like a different type of city than has been featured in the series to date. Best of all, Syndicate asks you to take London back in a way puts the last few games to shame."
Reviewed by Vince Ingentio
January 12, 2016
In terms of presentation, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India remedies the stiff sense of joylessness that pervades Chronicles: China by injecting more color and personality wherever it seemed possible. That renewed energy only makes it more disappointing that the generally well-designed missions have given way to the artifice of cheap-feeling instant deaths. While the gameplay foundation here is still competent, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India just finds too many petty, annoying ways to keep me from truly enjoying it.">Reviewed by Vince Ingentio
January 12, 2016
In terms of presentation, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India remedies the stiff sense of joylessness that pervades Chronicles: China by injecting more color and personality wherever it seemed possible. That renewed energy only makes it more disappointing that the generally well-designed missions have given way to the artifice of cheap-feeling instant deaths. While the gameplay foundation here is still competent, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India just finds too many petty, annoying ways to keep me from truly enjoying it.
Reviewed by Zachary Ryan
February 8, 2016
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia disappoints on multiple levels, from a flat main character to unintuitive insta-fail stealth levels to clumsy combat and platforming. The few times it nails it with diorama-like puzzles and Helix powers only serve to make the rest of this side-scrolling spinoff look even worse by comparison.">Reviewed by Zachary Ryan
February 8, 2016
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia disappoints on multiple levels, from a flat main character to unintuitive insta-fail stealth levels to clumsy combat and platforming. The few times it nails it with diorama-like puzzles and Helix powers only serve to make the rest of this side-scrolling spinoff look even worse by comparison.
Reviewed by Marty Sliva
November 22, 2016
Ezio’s trilogy helped build Assassin’s Creed into the giant franchise it is today thanks to its fantastic storytelling, amazing characters, and gorgeous world building. And while all of that is still here in The Ezio Collection, the lack of meaningful improvements and any sort of substantial bonus content make it a tough compilation to recommend.">Reviewed by Marty Sliva
November 22, 2016
Ezio’s trilogy helped build Assassin’s Creed into the giant franchise it is today thanks to its fantastic storytelling, amazing characters, and gorgeous world building. And while all of that is still here in The Ezio Collection, the lack of meaningful improvements and any sort of substantial bonus content make it a tough compilation to recommend.
Reviewed by Alanah Pearce
October 26, 2017
Our Verdict: Assassin’s Creed Origins is a deep-dive into a truly stunning realization of ancient Egypt, with a rich series of cultures, genuine characters, and more mission variety than any other game in the series. The combat is challenging and thoughtful, and while the loot system doesn’t match up to games like Destiny 2, there are enough different weapon types and enough enemy variety to keep you swapping between weapons, catered to the situation. The RPG elements encourage challenges of their own, and even despite a handful of bugs, I desperately wanted to keep playing.">Reviewed by Alanah Pearce
October 26, 2017
Our Verdict: Assassin’s Creed Origins is a deep-dive into a truly stunning realization of ancient Egypt, with a rich series of cultures, genuine characters, and more mission variety than any other game in the series. The combat is challenging and thoughtful, and while the loot system doesn’t match up to games like Destiny 2, there are enough different weapon types and enough enemy variety to keep you swapping between weapons, catered to the situation. The RPG elements encourage challenges of their own, and even despite a handful of bugs, I desperately wanted to keep playing.
Reviewed by Felicia Miranda
February 2, 2018
A lot of what The Hidden Ones gets right is its ability to take familiar concepts from Assassin’s Creed Origins and make them feel new again by means of a new purpose, a new story, and a new creed. A new direction to the story that makes Bayek more relatable, high-level combat keeps quests challenging even when you’re fully leveled up, and a more rewarding pace of loot provide an opportunity to feel something new without straying too far from what I loved about Origins in the first place.
">Reviewed by Felicia Miranda
February 2, 2018
A lot of what The Hidden Ones gets right is its ability to take familiar concepts from Assassin’s Creed Origins and make them feel new again by means of a new purpose, a new story, and a new creed. A new direction to the story that makes Bayek more relatable, high-level combat keeps quests challenging even when you’re fully leveled up, and a more rewarding pace of loot provide an opportunity to feel something new without straying too far from what I loved about Origins in the first place.
Reviewed by Felicia Miranda
March 13, 2018
Our Verdict: The Curse of the Pharaohs is a big step outside of what we’re used to seeing from Assassin’s Creed Origins, and it pulls its whimsically mystical journey off well. Combat continues to be fun and challenging, and this time your biggest foes are fleshed out and varied enough to turn what could’ve easily been a monotonous series of fights into a highlight. Along with the side activities of hunting down stolen relics and exploring desecrated tombs, this surreal DLC goes above and beyond expectations.
">Reviewed by Felicia Miranda
March 13, 2018
Our Verdict: The Curse of the Pharaohs is a big step outside of what we’re used to seeing from Assassin’s Creed Origins, and it pulls its whimsically mystical journey off well. Combat continues to be fun and challenging, and this time your biggest foes are fleshed out and varied enough to turn what could’ve easily been a monotonous series of fights into a highlight. Along with the side activities of hunting down stolen relics and exploring desecrated tombs, this surreal DLC goes above and beyond expectations.
Reviewed by Daniel Krupa
March 19, 2018
Rogue felt like a throwback when it was originally released alongside the next-gen Assassin's Creed Unity. This same feeling accompanies this remastered version. After the significant advancements made to the series by last year's Origins, Rogue second outing feels equally dated and mistimed. Ironically for the series, Rogue Remastered proves that going back in time isn't always fun.
">Reviewed by Daniel Krupa
March 19, 2018
Rogue felt like a throwback when it was originally released alongside the next-gen Assassin's Creed Unity. This same feeling accompanies this remastered version. After the significant advancements made to the series by last year's Origins, Rogue second outing feels equally dated and mistimed. Ironically for the series, Rogue Remastered proves that going back in time isn't always fun.
Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
October 1, 2018
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a resounding achievement in world building, environment, and engaging gameplay with occasional problems throughout. Its incredible recreation of ancient Greece is something I’ll want to go back to long after I’ve finished its main story, and its excellent systems mesh together in a way that’s hard to beat. While there are definite rough edges, Odyssey sets a new bar for Assassin’s Creed games and holds its own in the eternal debate over the best open-world roleplaying games ever.">Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
October 1, 2018
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a resounding achievement in world building, environment, and engaging gameplay with occasional problems throughout. Its incredible recreation of ancient Greece is something I’ll want to go back to long after I’ve finished its main story, and its excellent systems mesh together in a way that’s hard to beat. While there are definite rough edges, Odyssey sets a new bar for Assassin’s Creed games and holds its own in the eternal debate over the best open-world roleplaying games ever.
Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
December 3, 2018
Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted is a brief but welcome new slice of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that sets the stage for the more traditional Assassins-versus-Templars-style micro-drama that was mostly missing from the base game. Though it's isolated to a single region and only gives you a handful of targets, an intriguing villain and the backstory of new characters sets a good foundation for more Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – which is always a good thing.">Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
December 3, 2018
Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted is a brief but welcome new slice of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that sets the stage for the more traditional Assassins-versus-Templars-style micro-drama that was mostly missing from the base game. Though it's isolated to a single region and only gives you a handful of targets, an intriguing villain and the backstory of new characters sets a good foundation for more Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – which is always a good thing.
Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
January 14, 2019
Shadow Heritage delivers more of the formula set out in episode one: a new villain and a few new tools to continue pulling at the threads of a larger story. Though there are less details concerning assassins and templars in this naval focused chapter, engaging moments and character reveals punctuate another good portion of Odyssey.">Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
January 14, 2019
Shadow Heritage delivers more of the formula set out in episode one: a new villain and a few new tools to continue pulling at the threads of a larger story. Though there are less details concerning assassins and templars in this naval focused chapter, engaging moments and character reveals punctuate another good portion of Odyssey.
Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
March 4, 2019
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Bloodline delivers a heartfelt storm of emotional payoff, and a great punctuation mark on the three-part story. Though the gameplay continues the formula laid out in previous episodes, the new combat skill is a fun and useful addition. But the answers Bloodline delivers are a satisfying send off for the many characters introduced, and the Order of the Ancient itself, all while clarifying Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s place in the overall lore more clearly than ever before.">Reviewed by Brandin Tyrrel
March 4, 2019
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade: Bloodline delivers a heartfelt storm of emotional payoff, and a great punctuation mark on the three-part story. Though the gameplay continues the formula laid out in previous episodes, the new combat skill is a fun and useful addition. But the answers Bloodline delivers are a satisfying send off for the many characters introduced, and the Order of the Ancient itself, all while clarifying Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s place in the overall lore more clearly than ever before.
Reviewed by Seth G. Macy
March 29, 2019
With Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered, Ubisoft does everything in its power to bring one of the weaker games in the series up to modern standards, and it’s full of sights worth seeing. The main improvement is graphical, and the scenery of 18th-century Colonial America looks fantastic. There are even some meaningful tweaks made to stealth mechanics to make it feel a little more up to date and less aggravating. Where this remaster falters are places where AC3 can't be changed without fundamentally remaking the entire game from the ground up, namely a stiff animation style, repetitive mission structure, and that goddamn final sequence.">Reviewed by Seth G. Macy
March 29, 2019
With Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered, Ubisoft does everything in its power to bring one of the weaker games in the series up to modern standards, and it’s full of sights worth seeing. The main improvement is graphical, and the scenery of 18th-century Colonial America looks fantastic. There are even some meaningful tweaks made to stealth mechanics to make it feel a little more up to date and less aggravating. Where this remaster falters are places where AC3 can't be changed without fundamentally remaking the entire game from the ground up, namely a stiff animation style, repetitive mission structure, and that goddamn final sequence.
Reviewed by Seth G. Macy
May 24, 2019
Assassin’s Creed III Remastered for the Nintendo Switch just isn’t an enjoyable experience when docked. It doesn’t look great, it runs terribly, it’s far too dark, and the sound is a mess. The whole allure of the Switch is the freedom to, well, switch, but unless you plan to play exclusively in handheld mode there are simply too many issues to make it worthwhile.">Reviewed by Seth G. Macy
May 24, 2019
Assassin’s Creed III Remastered for the Nintendo Switch just isn’t an enjoyable experience when docked. It doesn’t look great, it runs terribly, it’s far too dark, and the sound is a mess. The whole allure of the Switch is the freedom to, well, switch, but unless you plan to play exclusively in handheld mode there are simply too many issues to make it worthwhile.
Reacties