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Assassin's Creed

Q: What is the Animus?

The **Animus** is a virtual reality machine developed by Abstergo Industries. It reads a subject's **genetic memory** (DNA) and projects it as a 3D simulation, allowing the user to relive the experiences of their ancestors. This is the narrative device that allows modern-day protagonists to explore historical settings.

Q: Who are the Assassins and Templars?

The series centers on a millennial-old secret war: * **The Assassin Brotherhood**: They fight for **Free Will** and liberty ("Nothing is true, everything is permitted"). They operate in the shadows to prevent tyranny. * **The Templar Order** (Order of the Ancients): They seek **Peace through Control** and order. They believe humanity needs to be guided (or ruled) by a enlightened elite.

Q: Do the Assassin's Creed games connect to each other?

**Yes.** While each game features a different historical setting and ancestor, they are all connected by a continuous **Modern Day storyline** involving the conflict between the modern Assassins and Abstergo (modern Templars), as well as the overarching lore of the **Isu** (the First Civilization).

Q: Who is Ezio Auditore?

**Ezio Auditore da Firenze** is the most iconic protagonist of the series. He stars in three games (*AC II, Brotherhood, Revelations*), following his life from a young charismatic nobleman in Renaissance Italy to a wise Master Assassin. He is credited with rebuilding the Brotherhood and is a fan favorite.

Q: What is the Hidden Blade?

The **Hidden Blade** is the signature weapon of the Assassin Brotherhood. It is a retractable blade mounted on a bracer worn on the underside of the wrist (usually the left). It allows for stealthy, low-profile assassinations and has become the symbol of the franchise.

Q: What is the latest Assassin's Creed game?

As of 2024, the latest main entry is **Assassin's Creed Mirage** (2023), which returned to the series' stealth roots. The next highly anticipated title is **Assassin's Creed Shadows** (releasing Feb 2025), set in Feudal Japan and featuring dual protagonists: Naoe (Shinobi) and Yasuke (Samurai).

Q: Is Assassin's Creed an RPG or a Stealth game?

It has evolved over time: * **Classic Era** (AC1 to Syndicate): Action-adventure games focused on **Stealth** and social camouflage. * **RPG Era** (Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla): Open-world **Action RPGs** with loot, leveling, and dialogue choices. * **Modern Era**: *Mirage* returned to stealth, while *Shadows* aims to blend both styles.

Q: What is Eagle Vision?

**Eagle Vision** (or Odin's Sight) is a sixth sense possessed by those with high concentrations of Isu DNA (like the protagonists). It allows them to instinctively highlight enemies (red), allies (blue), and targets (gold) in the environment, even through walls.

Q: What is the First Civilization (Isu)?

The **Isu** (or Those Who Came Before) were an advanced humanoid species that ruled Earth thousands of years ago. They created humans as a workforce and built powerful artifacts called **Pieces of Eden** (like the Apple). Their civilization was destroyed by a solar flare, but their technology remains and drives the series' conflict.

Assassin's Creed is a historical action-adventure video game series developed by Ubisoft. The franchise explores the millennia-old conflict between the Assassins, who fight for peace and free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through order and control. Players experience pivotal moments in history through the genetic memories of their ancestors.

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IP Overview & Key Facts

IP Key Facts

Essential information and quick stats.

Full Name

Assassin's Creed Series

Also Known As

Format

Historical Action-Adventure

Release Year

2007

Current Status

Active

Country of Origin

Canada (Ubisoft Montreal)

Creator

Patrice Désilets, Jade Raymond, Corey May

Publisher

Ubisoft

Original Work

Assassin's Creed (2007)

Genre

Action-Adventure, Stealth, Historical Fiction, Open World

Where to Start & Recommended Order

A beginner-friendly guide for starting Assassin's Creed Series without spoilers.

Best starting point

Start with the earliest core Assassin's Creed (2007) (around 2007), then expand to other official releases as needed.

Recommended order

If multiple formats exist (anime, manga, films, games), follow the official release order within each format to avoid spoilers and missing context.

Fast-track option

To catch up faster, focus on the main canon storyline first, then return to side content later.

Story, World & Core Themes

Explore the narrative, setting, and ideas that shape Assassin's Creed.

Story

High-level synopsis and narrative focus.

The Assassin's Creed series follows the ancient conflict between two secret societies: the Assassins (Brotherhood), who fight for peace and free will, and the Templars (Order of the Ancients), who des...

World

Setting, cultures, and distinctive elements.

Various historical periods including the Crusades, Renaissance, American Revolution, Golden Age of Piracy, French Revolution, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Viking Age, and Feudal Japan.

Themes

Core ideas and recurring motifs.

Freedom vs. Control, History as a Playground, Genetic Memory, The Nature of Truth, Moral Ambiguity

Cultural Impact Timeline

High-level milestones showing Assassin's Creed's global influence.

2007

Original Assassin's Creed launches, introducing Altaïr and the Animus

2009

Assassin's Creed II releases, beginning the Ezio Trilogy

2013

Black Flag introduces naval combat and open-world piracy

2017

Origins reboots the franchise with RPG mechanics

2020

Valhalla becomes the highest-grossing entry in the series

2023

Mirage returns to the series' stealth roots

2025

Shadows takes the franchise to Feudal Japan

Sales

Over 200 million games sold worldwide

Awards

BAFTA Games Awards, D.I.C.E. Awards, Golden Joystick Awards

Cultural Impact

Popularized parkour in video games and real life; sparked interest in historical tourism.

Key Characters

Meet representative characters from Assassin's Creed.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

“Requiescat in pace.”

A legendary Master Assassin who rebuilt the Brotherhood in Renaissance Italy.View Profile

Altair Ibn-La'Ahad

“Nothing is true, everything is permitted.”

The first protagonist of the series, Altair was a Master Assassin during the Third Crusade.View Profile

Explore all Assassin's Creed characters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best order to play the Assassin's Creed games?▼

Generally, Release Order is recommended to follow the modern-day storyline and gameplay evolution:

1.AC 1 → 2. Ezio Trilogy (II, Brotherhood, Revelations) → 3. AC III → 4. Black Flag → 5. Rogue → 6. Unity → 7. Syndicate → 8. Origins → 9. Odyssey → 10. Valhalla → 11. Mirage.

Alternatively, you can play in Chronological Order (historical timeline): Odyssey (431 BC) → Origins (49 BC) → Mirage (861 AD) → Valhalla (873 AD) → AC 1 (1191 AD)...

What is the Animus?▼

The Animus is a virtual reality machine developed by Abstergo Industries. It reads a subject's genetic memory (DNA) and projects it as a 3D simulation, allowing the user to relive the experiences of their ancestors. This is the narrative device that allows modern-day protagonists to explore historical settings.

Who are the Assassins and Templars?▼

The series centers on a millennial-old secret war:

•The Assassin Brotherhood: They fight for Free Will and liberty ("Nothing is true, everything is permitted"). They operate in the shadows to prevent tyranny.

•The Templar Order (Order of the Ancients): They seek Peace through Control and order. They believe humanity needs to be guided (or ruled) by a enlightened elite.

Do the Assassin's Creed games connect to each other?▼

Yes. While each game features a different historical setting and ancestor, they are all connected by a continuous Modern Day storyline involving the conflict between the modern Assassins and Abstergo (modern Templars), as well as the overarching lore of the Isu (the First Civilization).

Who is Ezio Auditore?▼

Ezio Auditore da Firenze is the most iconic protagonist of the series. He stars in three games (AC II, Brotherhood, Revelations), following his life from a young charismatic nobleman in Renaissance Italy to a wise Master Assassin. He is credited with rebuilding the Brotherhood and is a fan favorite.

What is the Hidden Blade?▼

The Hidden Blade is the signature weapon of the Assassin Brotherhood. It is a retractable blade mounted on a bracer worn on the underside of the wrist (usually the left). It allows for stealthy, low-profile assassinations and has become the symbol of the franchise.

What is the latest Assassin's Creed game?▼

As of 2024, the latest main entry is Assassin's Creed Mirage (2023), which returned to the series' stealth roots. The next highly anticipated title is Assassin's Creed Shadows (releasing Feb 2025), set in Feudal Japan and featuring dual protagonists: Naoe (Shinobi) and Yasuke (Samurai).

Is Assassin's Creed an RPG or a Stealth game?▼

It has evolved over time:

•Classic Era (AC1 to Syndicate): Action-adventure games focused on Stealth and social camouflage.

•RPG Era (Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla): Open-world Action RPGs with loot, leveling, and dialogue choices.

•Modern Era: Mirage returned to stealth, while Shadows aims to blend both styles.

What is Eagle Vision?▼

Eagle Vision (or Odin's Sight) is a sixth sense possessed by those with high concentrations of Isu DNA (like the protagonists). It allows them to instinctively highlight enemies (red), allies (blue), and targets (gold) in the environment, even through walls.

What is the First Civilization (Isu)?▼

The Isu (or Those Who Came Before) were an advanced humanoid species that ruled Earth thousands of years ago. They created humans as a workforce and built powerful artifacts called Pieces of Eden (like the Apple). Their civilization was destroyed by a solar flare, but their technology remains and drives the series' conflict.