Assassin's Creed: Full Timeline Revealed

The latest entry in the Assassin’s Creed series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, introduces us to feudal Japan, setting it squarely in the middle of the franchise’s expansive historical timeline. Unlike many series that follow a strict chronological order, Assassin’s Creed masterfully weaves through time, from the ancient Peloponnesian War in Greece to the cusp of the First World War. With 14 mainline games and counting, the timeline can be quite intricate, but IGN has meticulously pieced together the lore to provide a comprehensive, chronological overview of the Assassin’s Creed universe.

The Isu Era

75,000 BCE

To fully understand the Assassin’s Creed timeline, we must delve into the lore of the Isu Era. Long before recorded history, a civilization of advanced beings known as the Isu ruled the earth. They engineered humans as their servants, controlling them with powerful artifacts called the Apples of Eden. However, the human spirit yearned for freedom, leading Eve and Adam to steal an Apple and spark a rebellion against their Isu masters. This conflict lasted a decade until a cataclysmic solar flare wiped out the Isu, leaving humanity to rise and rebuild.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

431 to 422 BCE - Peloponnesian War

Set during the tumultuous Peloponnesian War, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey follows the mercenary Kassandra as she uncovers the Cult of Kosmos, the hidden force behind the war. Her journey reveals that her brother, Alexios, has been transformed into a weapon by the Cult due to their shared lineage with the legendary Spartan King Leonidas, a descendant of the Isu. Kassandra's mission to dismantle the Cult leads her to destroy an Isu device used for predicting the future and to reunite with her father, Pythagoras, who entrusts her with the Staff of Hermes, granting her immortality and the guardianship of Atlantis.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

49 to 43 BCE - Ptolemaic Egypt

In the era of Cleopatra, Assassin’s Creed Origins introduces us to Bayek, a peacekeeper whose life is upended when the Order of the Ancients kidnaps him and his son. The Order seeks to use Bayek’s bloodline to unlock an Isu vault, but their plans are thwarted when Bayek accidentally kills his son in their escape. Driven by vengeance, Bayek and his wife Aya dismantle the Order's grip on Egypt, founding The Hidden Ones, a group dedicated to opposing the Order’s global ambitions and safeguarding humanity from their misuse of Isu artifacts.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

861 - Islamic Golden Age

A century later, Assassin’s Creed Mirage follows Basim, a street thief turned assassin, as he investigates the Order of the Ancients in Baghdad. His journey leads him to the discovery of an Isu temple beneath Alamut, where he learns of his past life as Loki and his desire for revenge against those who imprisoned him. Basim’s quest intertwines with the broader narrative of The Hidden Ones, now a well-established force across the world.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

872 to 878 - Viking Invasion of England

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Basim joins a Viking clan on their journey to England, where they encounter the tyranny of King Alfred, a member of the Order of the Ancients. The discovery of an Isu artifact triggers visions for clan leader Sigurd, revealing that he and Eivor are reincarnations of the Isu gods Odin and Týr. Basim’s quest for revenge against them culminates in a confrontation within an Isu simulation, leaving Eivor to lead the clan to victory against Alfred and secure their settlement.

Assassin’s Creed

1191 - Third Crusade

By the time of the Third Crusade, The Hidden Ones have evolved into the Assassin Brotherhood, facing off against the newly formed Knights Templar, who continue the Order of the Ancients' quest for control. Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, after a botched mission, is tasked with eliminating nine Templar leaders. His journey uncovers a deeper conspiracy involving the Apple of Eden, leading him to confront and defeat his own mentor, Al Mualim, who sought to use the artifact's power for his own ends.

Assassin’s Creed 2

1476 to 1499 - Italian Renaissance

Assassin’s Creed 2 transports us to the Italian Renaissance, where Ezio Auditore da Firenze seeks vengeance against the Templars responsible for his family's murder. With the help of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, Ezio uncovers the location of an Isu vault beneath the Vatican. His confrontation with Pope Rodrigo Borgia, a Templar leader, leads to a revelation about an impending apocalypse, setting the stage for the Brotherhood's future missions to safeguard humanity.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

1499 to 1507 - Italian Renaissance

Continuing Ezio's journey, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood sees him rebuilding the weakened Assassin Brotherhood after the Borgia's siege on his villa. He reclaims the Apple of Eden and secures it in an Isu vault beneath the Roman Colosseum, thwarting the Templars' plans and cementing his role as a leader within the Brotherhood.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations

1511 to 1512 - Ottoman Civil War

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, Ezio travels to Masyaf to unlock Altaïr’s library, thwarting Templar efforts to secure its secrets. Inside, he discovers Altaïr’s remains and a message from the Isu Jupiter about data crucial for humanity's survival. Understanding his role, Ezio leaves the Apple locked away and retires, succumbing to his injuries shortly thereafter.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

1579 - Sengoku Period

Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces us to Yasuke, an African samurai, and Naoe, a shinobi from the Iga province. Their paths cross as they navigate the political unification under Oda Nobunaga, eventually uniting for a common cause amidst their opposing backgrounds.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

1715 to 1722 - Golden Age of Piracy

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag takes us to the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, where Edward Kenway becomes entangled in a Templar plot to control The Observatory, an Isu device capable of global surveillance. His journey leads to alliances with pirates and the eventual decision to prioritize the world's safety over personal gain, returning home to live out his days with his family.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue

1752 to 1776 - French and Indian War

In Assassin’s Creed Rogue, Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin, defects to the Templars after causing a catastrophic earthquake in Lisbon. His new allegiance leads him to hunt down his former Assassin allies, ultimately influencing the Templars' plans for a revolution in France.

Assassin’s Creed 3

1754 to 1783 - American Revolution

Assassin’s Creed 3 follows Connor Kenway as he navigates the American Revolution, seeking to dismantle the Templars' influence. His journey leads him to confront his father, Haytham Kenway, a Templar, and ultimately secure the key to the Isu Grand Temple, preventing the Templars from achieving their goals.

Assassin’s Creed Liberation

1765 to 1777 - Spanish Occupation of Louisiana

Assassin’s Creed Liberation parallels Connor's story, with Aveline de Grandpré thwarting a Templar plot in Louisiana. Her journey reveals a larger conspiracy involving the Isu Prophecy Disk and leads to a confrontation with her own stepmother, a Templar agent.

Assassin’s Creed Unity

1789 to 1794 - French Revolution

Set during the French Revolution, Assassin’s Creed Unity follows Arno Dorian as he seeks justice for his adoptive father's murder. His journey exposes a Templar plot led by François-Thomas Germain, culminating in a confrontation that reveals Germain as a Sage and results in his remains being sealed away in the Paris Catacombs.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

1868 - Victorian England

In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, twin assassins Jacob and Evie Frye tackle the Templar-controlled London, seeking The Shroud, an Isu device. Their efforts lead to the assassination of Templar leader Crawford Starrick and the return of The Shroud to its vault, ensuring another victory for the Assassin Brotherhood.

Transition Period - 1914 to 2012

The Assassin’s Creed series also incorporates a modern-day narrative, with the Templars founding Abstergo Industries in 1937 as part of their plan to control the world through capitalism. By the late 1970s, Abstergo develops the Animus, a device that allows users to relive ancestral memories, setting the stage for the modern storyline.

Assassin’s Creed 1, 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, and 3

2012

In 2012, Desmond Miles is abducted by Abstergo to locate Isu artifacts through his genetic memories. With the help of an Assassin mole, Lucy Stillman, Desmond escapes and joins the Assassin Brotherhood. His journey through the memories of Altaïr and Ezio reveals the impending apocalypse and the existence of the Isu Grand Temple, leading to his ultimate sacrifice to save humanity.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

2013

Following Desmond's death, Abstergo continues their search for Isu technology through his ancestor Edward Kenway's memories. An unnamed researcher, known as "The Noob," uncovers a plot involving the modern-day Sage, John Standish, but manages to thwart his plans, ensuring the safety of the genetic data.

Assassin’s Creed Unity

2014

Abstergo releases the Helix software, allowing the public to experience genetic memories. An Assassin initiate relives Arno Dorian's life, uncovering the location of the Sage François-Thomas Germain's remains, ensuring they remain out of Abstergo's reach.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

2015

The initiate's next mission involves locating The Shroud in London. Despite Abstergo's initial success, the Assassins learn of their plans to create a living Isu, with Juno manipulating events from behind the scenes.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

2017

Layla Hassan, an Abstergo researcher, develops a new Animus capable of exploring memories directly from DNA samples. Her journey through the memories of Bayek and Aya leads her to join the Assassin Brotherhood, guided by William Miles.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

2018

Using DNA from the Spear of Leonidas, Layla explores Kassandra's memories, uncovering the location of Atlantis. Kassandra, immortal due to the Staff of Hermes, reveals Layla's role in maintaining balance between the Assassins and Templars, passing on the staff before her death.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

2020

Layla and the Assassins investigate Viking remains, leading to the discovery of the Yggdrasil computer and the Isu temple in Norway. Layla enters the simulation to stabilize the Earth's magnetic field, meeting Basim and Desmond's consciousness. Basim escapes with the Staff of Hermes, containing Aletheia's consciousness, and begins his search for Loki's children.