The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline

Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest installment in this sprawling franchise, might seem chronologically misplaced. Set in feudal Japan, it occupies a middle point in the series' expansive historical timeline. Unlike a typical historical progression, Assassin's Creed games jump across centuries, exploring pivotal moments from the Peloponnesian War in ancient Greece to the eve of World War I. With 14 mainline entries and counting, the timeline's complexity is undeniable. IGN has meticulously pieced together the centuries-spanning narrative, clarifying the overarching story and the interconnectedness of each game. This chronological timeline details all key events.

The Isu Era: 75,000 BCE

Before the historical narratives begins, we delve into the series' foundational lore. Eons ago, a technologically advanced civilization of god-like beings, the Isu, ruled Earth. They created humanity as servants, maintaining control through powerful artifacts known as the Apples of Eden. However, humanity's inherent resistance to enslavement led Eve and Adam to steal an Apple, sparking a decade-long war. This conflict ended abruptly with a devastating solar flare, obliterating the Isu and leaving humanity to inherit the Earth.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: 431 to 422 BCE - Peloponnesian War

Amidst the Peloponnesian War, mercenary Kassandra uncovers the Cult of Kosmos, a clandestine organization manipulating the conflict. She discovers her long-lost brother, Alexios, a demigod-like weapon created by the Cult, who possesses Isu genes inherited from their grandfather, King Leonidas. Kassandra's quest to thwart the Cult's plan involves an Isu device capable of predicting futures. She eliminates key Cult members, destroys the device, and ends the war. Her journey also reunites her with her father, Pythagoras, another Isu descendant, who gifts her the immortalizing Staff of Hermes, entrusting her with guarding Atlantis.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: 49 to 43 BCE - Ptolemaic Egypt

During Cleopatra's reign, Bayek and his son are kidnapped by the Order of the Ancients, another shadowy group collaborating with the Cult of Kosmos. The Order seeks Bayek's lineage to access an Isu vault, but Bayek's accidental killing of his son fuels his revenge. He and his wife, Aya, dismantle the Order, exposing its global conspiracy to control politics and religion using Apples of Eden. Their efforts lead to the creation of the Hidden Ones, a secret society of assassins operating across Egypt and Rome.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: 861 CE - Islamic Golden Age

Centuries later, the Hidden Ones, now based in Alamut, Iran, train Basim Ibn Ishaq, a Baghdad thief. Basim investigates the Order of the Ancients' activities, uncovering their pursuit of an Isu temple beneath Alamut. He helps defend Alamut and discovers a technologically advanced prison holding Loki, an Isu considered a Norse god. Basim, revealed as Loki's reincarnation, vows revenge.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 872 to 878 CE - Viking Invasion of England

Basim accompanies Vikings to England, continuing his pursuit of the Order. Sigurd and Eivor, the Viking leaders, establish Ravensthorpe while battling King Alfred, a Templar seeking to impose Christianity. Sigurd's discovery of an Isu artifact triggers visions, revealing his and Eivor's identities as reincarnations of Odin and Týr, Loki's jailers. Basim attacks, but Eivor traps him in a Yggdrasil-shaped Isu computer simulation. Eivor defeats King Alfred and returns to Ravensthorpe.

Assassin’s Creed: 1191 CE - Third Crusade

The Hidden Ones evolve into the Assassin Brotherhood, facing the Knights Templar, the evolved Order of the Ancients. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad steals an Apple of Eden, leading to a mission to assassinate nine Templar leaders. He uncovers Al Mualim's betrayal and kills his former mentor to prevent the misuse of the Apple.

Assassin’s Creed 2: 1476 to 1499 CE - Italian Renaissance

Ezio Auditore da Firenze joins the Brotherhood to avenge his family, battling the Borgia family. He obtains an Apple of Eden, revealing an Isu vault beneath the Vatican, where he confronts Rodrigo Borgia, the Templar Pope. Ezio wins, accessing the vault and receiving a warning from Minerva about an impending apocalypse in 2012 and the importance of Isu vaults.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood: 1499 to 1507 CE - Italian Renaissance

Following the loss of the Apple of Eden, Ezio rebuilds the Brotherhood, dismantling the Borgia regime and securing the Apple in a Roman Colosseum vault.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations: 1511 to 1512 CE - Ottoman Civil War

Ezio investigates Altaïr's library in Masyaf, thwarting Templar efforts to obtain the keys. He discovers Altaïr's Apple and a message from Jupiter revealing the Grand Temple, leaving the Apple untouched. Ezio retires and dies shortly after.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: 1579 CE - Sengoku Period

In 16th-century Japan, an African mercenary, Yasuke, allies with Oda Nobunaga, unifying warring clans. Yasuke's path intersects with Naoe, daughter of a shinobi master, leading to a shared goal.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag: 1715 to 1722 CE - Golden Age of Piracy

Edward Kenway becomes entangled in a Templar conspiracy involving The Observatory, an Isu surveillance device. He allies with Bartholomew Roberts, the Sage, but is betrayed. Edward retrieves the device's power source and eliminates Laureano de Torres y Ayala, securing the Observatory.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue: 1752 to 1776 CE - French and Indian War

Shay Patrick Cormac, after causing an earthquake in Lisbon, defects to the Templars, hunting Assassins and preventing them from finding Isu temples. He works with Haytham Kenway and injures Achilles.

Assassin’s Creed 3: 1754 to 1783 CE - American Revolution

Haytham Kenway seeks the Grand Temple, but his son, Connor (Ratonhnhaké:ton), becomes an Assassin, fighting against the Templars during the American Revolution. Connor ultimately kills Haytham and secures the Temple key.

Assassin’s Creed Liberation: 1765 to 1777 CE - Spanish Occupation of Louisiana

Aveline de Grandpré disrupts a Templar plot to control Louisiana, uncovering a larger conspiracy involving slaves and an Isu device, the Prophecy Disk. She confronts and kills her stepmother, the Company Man.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: 1789 to 1794 CE - French Revolution

Arno Dorian seeks revenge for his father's murder, uncovering a Templar plot to ignite the French Revolution. He works with Élise, eventually confronting and killing François-Thomas Germain, the Sage.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: 1868 CE - Victorian England

Jacob and Evie Frye battle the Templars in London, recovering The Shroud. They assassinate Crawford Starrick and return The Shroud to its vault. Evie later kills Jack the Ripper, and Lydia, Evie's daughter, eliminates a Templar spy network during World War I.

Transition Period: 1914 to 2012 CE

The Templars establish Abstergo Industries, using the Animus to explore ancestral memories.

Assassin’s Creed 1, 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, and 3: 2012 CE

Desmond Miles, guided by the Assassins, uses the Animus to locate Isu artifacts, preventing the apocalypse but sacrificing himself to stop Juno.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag: 2013 CE

Abstergo continues its search for Isu technology through Edward Kenway's memories. The Noob is targeted by John Standish, the Sage.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: 2014 CE

An initiate relives Arno Dorian's life, discovering Germain's remains in the Paris Catacombs.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: 2015 CE

The initiate explores the Frye twins' memories, uncovering Abstergo's plan to create a living Isu, thwarted by Juno's interference.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: 2017 CE

Layla Hassan uses Bayek and Aya's DNA to relive their story, joining the Assassins.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: 2018 CE

Layla explores Kassandra's memories, discovering Atlantis and receiving the Staff of Hermes.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 2020 CE

Layla explores Eivor's memories, discovering the Yggdrasil computer and working with Basim and Desmond's consciousness to prevent future apocalypses.

Assassin's Creed: The Complete Playlist