When deciding how to approach the Assassin’s Creed (AC) series, it’s essential to consider what kind of experience you want: a deeper immersion into the lore and character development, or a comprehensive appreciation of the franchise’s evolution in game design and storytelling.

Playing the series in release order offers a unique perspective on how the games grew technically and narratively. Starting with Assassin’s Creed (2007) and moving forward allows you to witness the steady refinement of gameplay mechanics, graphics, and narrative complexity. You’ll see Ubisoft’s experimentation with stealth, parkour, and open-world design evolve, providing context for later innovations such as naval combat in Black Flag or RPG elements in Origins and Odyssey. Moreover, experiencing the story as it was revealed over time can cultivate a nostalgic attachment to recurring themes and characters, like Desmond Miles, whose story arcs are woven through the earlier games.

On the other hand, playing in chronological historical order-from Assassin’s Creed Origins (ancient Egypt), through Odyssey (classical Greece), Valhalla (Viking era), and so forth-immerses you directly in the timeline the franchise constructs. This approach can deepen your understanding of how historical events and cultures influence each game’s thematic concerns around power, freedom, and morality. It also helps track the evolution of the Assassin and Templar conflict through the ages, highlighting the cyclical nature of their struggle, which is central to the series’ philosophy.

However, the series also invites players to engage with it in hybrid ways. Some fans recommend starting with the mainline entries in release order to grasp the modern-day narrative threads and then exploring prequels or spin-offs to enrich your perspective on the historical backdrop. This approach ensures you don’t miss important meta-narratives or subtle easter eggs-such as references to historical figures, secret societies, or recurring symbols-that Ubisoft smartly seeds throughout multiple games.

Ultimately, the most enriching approach might be a blend: begin with Assassin’s Creed II or Brotherhood (often lauded as the narrative zenith early in the series) to connect deeply with Ezio Auditore’s character journey, then follow either the release path or leap to prequels like Origins and Odyssey to explore the roots of the Assassin order in different civilizations. This way, you capture a strong narrative core before branching into diverse historical landscapes.

In summary, there’s no single “correct” order, but aligning your playthrough with your interests-whether that’s narrative immersion, historical exploration, or gameplay evolution-will offer the richest experience. Each journey through the centuries offers its own treasures, and the multifaceted tapestry of Assassin’s Creed rewards thoughtful engagement with its stories and philosophies.