10 Best Assassin’s Creed Locations, Ranked

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Regarding the Assassin’s Creed series, there’s no shortage of diverse viewpoints among players. However, something most enthusiasts would likely concur on is the unique distinction it holds for featuring a multitude of historically rich environments, setting it apart from many other series.

Absolutely! While fantasy is undeniably captivating, there’s a certain charm and thrill in delving into worlds that have roots in our past. Imagining life during the Italian Renaissance, experiencing the tumult of the French Revolution, or even joining the pirates’ golden era in the Caribbean – all these scenarios offer distinct pleasures.

Since 2007, Ubisoft has been crafting similar immersive experiences across the series, taking us to breathtaking locations along the way. We’ve compiled a list of top settings in the franchise, evaluating them based on factors like ambiance, map design, and available side-quests.

To demonstrate the vast array of settings found within the game series, let’s explore several cities, districts, and broader territories that appear across various games.

10.
East End of Victorian London (Assassin’s Creed Syndicate DLC)

Assassin’s Creed With Steampunk Vibes And A Dark City

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate beautifully captures the essence of 19th-century industrial London, immersing players in an environment that effectively communicates a sense of oppression. Remarkably, the game’s first significant post-release DLC perfectly aligned with my expectations for a setting from this era.

The extension introduces a far more ominous atmosphere and depicts the East End of London in a rough, urban manner, as it delves into an alternate narrative centered around the enigmatic figure of Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial murderer.

Additionally, we had an opportunity to explore Evie’s character further in the game, which was delightful since I sometimes felt her brother, Jacob, received more attention. It would have been wonderful if there were more intense missions featuring Evie during the main story, making their roles more balanced as dual protagonists. Thankfully, the DLC offers a glimpse of this dynamic.

Unfortunately, the growth period was rather brief for my preference, stretching approximately three hours long. It seemed a bit light on content.

9.
The Holy Land (Assassin’s Creed)

A First Journey Back To The Past

Why not reminisce about our journey to the Holy Land during the High Middle Ages, as depicted in the original Assassin’s Creed? This particular setting stands out for its powerful sense of nostalgia.

For the very first time, we embarked on an exciting historical journey within Animus, as the conflict between Assassins and Templars was just gaining momentum. The thrill of discovery and the players’ feeling of unrestricted exploration reached their zenith during this game.

In contrast to later installments, The Holy Land doesn’t offer a lot of variety and can become quite repetitive over time. There are flags to be captured and Templars to be defeated, with the latter serving as optional content. Additionally, the game hasn’t held up particularly well over the years, and its parkour mechanics can feel rather cumbersome compared to more recent titles in the series. They aren’t as smooth or swift as their modern counterparts.

But hey, we can’t just ignore it since it was the very first step of the franchise.

8.
Baghdad (Assassin’s Creed Mirage)

A Vibrant Culture And Really Cool Architecture

In the epoch of grandeur known as the Islamic Golden Age, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is anchored within the vibrant metropolis of Baghdad. This bustling hub was a significant crossroads on the global trading map, attracting scholars, merchants, and cultural enthusiasts from far and wide, thereby imbuing the city with a rich tapestry of diversity and intellectual wealth.

What’s fantastic is that all those elements get incorporated into the game’s creation of an immersive world. The streets teem with diverse characters, the architecture of buildings forms a captivating circular design within the city, and the world map expands impressively.

It’s intriguing that the game preserves the barrenness of the desert. However, I can’t help but wish for a more distinctive set of quests in its title, instead of certain activities which may seem formulaic at times. These include repetitive treasure hunts and short stories about random townsfolk, often not very rewarding.

Also, I missed the Animus touch, which is important to the historical concept of the franchise.

7.
Rome (Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood)

Renaissance Rome With Famous Landmarks And A Sinister Vibe

In Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, you’ll be captivated by a visually impressive and immersive Rome, brimming with the atmosphere of an ancient, enchanting city that has been tainted for decades. Alongside this rich setting, we follow Ezio Auditore’s transformation into a seasoned Assassin.

Additionally, you’ll find some demanding tasks, like navigating the Borgia towers, delving into ancient burial sites, and handling various factions, all of which lend depth to the additional content and maintain coherence in the creation of the world.

Rome fell short in certain visual aspects, with potential improvements such as adding richer textures to the structures that would make the architectural features stand out more distinctly. This enhancement might even propel it higher up the rankings.

6.
Asgard (Assassin’s Creed Valhalla DLC)

Gotta Love The Viking Vibe

In a more relaxed and conversational tone, I’d say: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla beautifully captures the Viking era, but the Dawn of Ragnarok expansion offers a completely distinct adventure within this setting.

In essence, this expansion immerses Eivor in iconic mystical landscapes from Norse lore, particularly Asgard, a breathtaking realm brimming with distinctive visual elements that create a genuinely enchanting ambiance. Notably, it allows players to experience the role of Odin’s reincarnated form.

This interpretation presents the Norse Gods in a lively and ambitious manner, featuring characters such as Fenrir, Loki, Baldur, and other renowned figures. It stands out as the most remarkable extension from the Assassin’s Creed series so far, offering over 20 hours of engaging content with minimal filler.

5.
Paris (Assassin’s Creed Unity)

We’ll Always Have Paris

In spite of the debate surrounding its launch, Assassin’s Creed Unity deserves recognition for skillfully portraying one of Europe‘s stormiest historical eras. It stands out for this achievement.

In this captivating game, the vibrant heart of France pulses with meticulously crafted settings, structures boasting breathtaking design, and an enchanting ambiance that leaves one spellbound. The bustling populace and throngs of people give off a palpable energy reminiscent of a city teeming with life and excitement.

Strolling through the city and soaking up the scenery and distinctive atmosphere is just delightful. On the other hand, Unity offers impressive world design, yet its narrative and character development fall short in a way that hinders my overall enjoyment of the game.

4.
Ancient Greece (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)

An Epic Athens With A Mythological Touch

Experiencing the towering statue of Zeus and executing powerful Spartan kicks against adversaries, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey captures the dazzling, fierce essence of Ancient Greek culture.

The game boasts a visually captivating open world brimming with ancient ruins, picturesque beaches, and a thrilling rendition of Athens for players to discover. The compelling narrative involving Kassandra and Alexios adds depth to their characters, a dimension that was absent in games like Unity.

The game skillfully incorporates Greek mythology into its unique quests, providing opportunities for players to encounter figures such as Medusa and the Minotaur, and attempt to solve the enigmatic riddles posed by the Sphinx. Unfortunately, the downside is that these experiences are rather brief.

3.
Feudal Japan (Shadows)

A Fantastic Open World With Samurai Style

Feudal Japan holds a special place in the hearts of history enthusiasts across various mediums. Ubisoft skillfully utilized this fascination with their game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, by creating remarkably accurate representations of renowned cities and sites from that era.

As a gamer, I could immerse myself in the rich tapestry of feudal Japan by storming Osaka Castle, paying a visit to the serene Honnō-Ji Temple, offering my respects at the ancient Kasuga Shrine, or even racing past the iconic Seta Bridge – each moment offering a one-of-a-kind adventure.

By introducing not just one but two main characters, Yasuke and Naoe, we can craft two distinct narratives, adding an intriguing layer to the samurai-themed environment and action in this world that makes gameplay particularly enjoyable.

2.
Florence (Assassin’s Creed 2)

An Impressive And Unforgettable View Of Italy

In 2009, Assassin’s Creed 2 marked a significant advancement for the series with its immersive portrayal of the Italian Renaissance, particularly Florence, which remains one of the game’s most captivating locations to this day.

The captivating tale of Ezio Auditore and his character drew countless gamers into the city’s charm, with its world-construction and gameplay enhancements being truly noteworthy. Moreover, it was a groundbreaking moment for Assassin’s Creed games as it introduced fast climbing mechanics that made parkour impossible to resist.

In addition to capturing the legendary ambiance in Italy, and offering unexpected journeys through its cities (such as befriending the renowned Leonardo da Vinci), this adventure is a unique one that I’d love to erase from memory so I could re-live the initial excitement all over again.

1.
The Caribbean (Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag)

There’s Nothing Like Naval Combat, Sea Shanties, And Pirate Vibes

For me, playing Black Flag marked my initial adventure with the Assassin’s Creed series. The captivating and charming atmosphere of the Caribbean environment in this game has a unique ability to both comfort and enthrall simultaneously.

The world map here teems with vibrancy, boasting a warm, radiant climate, stunning tropical coastlines, and an intriguing pirate ambiance. Its dimensions are just right, neither too expansive nor compact, offering three unique cities, lush jungle islands, and numerous small communities to discover.

Not only is there a variety of engaging activities like whaling, sailing, scuba diving, and naval warfare, but it’s worth noting that the primary purpose behind the creation of Skull and Bones was indeed naval combat. This aspect might not be as commonly recalled by many.

Just please take me to a ship, so I can hear some more sea shanties from my pirate crew!

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2025-05-03 21:40