Assassin's Creed: Full Timeline Revealed

Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest installment in this sprawling saga, takes us to feudal Japan, a point roughly midway through the series' extensive historical timeline. The Assassin's Creed franchise doesn't follow a strict chronological order; instead, it leaps through time, exploring pivotal moments from the Peloponnesian War in ancient Greece to the eve of World War I. With fourteen mainline games and counting, the timeline is undeniably intricate. IGN has meticulously pieced together the centuries-spanning narrative, unveiling the overarching story and how each game interconnects. This chronological timeline details the key events of the Assassin's Creed universe.

The Isu Era: 75,000 BCE

Before delving into the timeline, we must understand the lore. Eons ago, a highly advanced civilization of god-like beings, the Isu, ruled Earth. They created humanity to serve as their slaves, maintaining control through powerful artifacts known as the Apples of Eden. However, humanity rebelled. Eve and Adam stole an Apple of Eden, sparking a decade-long war that 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 in Greece, mercenary Kassandra uncovers the Cult of Kosmos, a clandestine organization manipulating the conflict. She discovers her long-lost brother, Alexios, a demigod-like weapon of the Cult. Kassandra learns the Cult targeted Alexios due to his Isu ancestry through their grandfather, King Leonidas. Kassandra thwarts the Cult's plans, destroying an Isu device that predicted futures and ending the war. She is reunited with her father, Pythagoras, another Isu descendant, who bestows upon her the Staff of Hermes, granting immortality, and tasks her with protecting 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, a shadowy organization collaborating with the Cult of Kosmos. The Order seeks Bayek's Isu lineage to access an Isu vault. Tragically, Bayek accidentally kills his son during his escape. Driven by revenge, Bayek and his wife, Aya, dismantle the Order, uncovering its global conspiracy to control politics and religion through Isu artifacts. They establish 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 have established strongholds worldwide, including Alamut in Iran. Basim Ibn Ishaq, a Baghdad thief, is trained as an assassin, investigating the Order of the Ancients in Baghdad. He discovers the Order seeks an Isu temple beneath Alamut, helping the assassins defend it. Basim uncovers a technologically advanced prison holding Loki, an Isu considered a god by the Norse, and learns of his own reincarnation as Loki, vowing revenge.

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

Basim accompanies Vikings to England, hunting members of the Order. Sigurd and Eivor, the clan's leaders, establish Ravensthorpe while battling King Alfred, an Order member seeking to impose Christianity. Basim reveals Eivor and Sigurd's Isu reincarnation as Odin and Tyr, seeking revenge. Eivor traps Basim in a simulated world within the Yggdrasil-shaped Isu computer. Eivor defeats King Alfred and becomes leader of the clan.

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 his assassination of nine Templar leaders. He uncovers Al Mualim's betrayal, killing his mentor to prevent the Apple's misuse.

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

Ezio Auditore da Firenze joins the Assassins, seeking revenge against the Templars. He acquires an Apple of Eden, revealing an Isu vault beneath the Vatican, confronting and defeating Rodrigo Borgia, the Templar Pope. Minerva's vision warns of an impending apocalypse in 2012, hinting at the importance of Isu vaults.

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

Ezio rebuilds the Italian Brotherhood, reclaiming the Apple of Eden and hiding it 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 unlock it. He discovers Altaïr's Apple of Eden and Jupiter's message about the Grand Temple, ultimately retiring and passing away.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: 1579 CE - Sengoku Period

In 16th-century Japan, an African mercenary, Yasuke, allies with Oda Nobunaga, uniting with Naoe, daughter of a shinobi master, despite their opposing sides.

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

Edward Kenway becomes embroiled in a Templar conspiracy to control The Observatory, an Isu device. He allies with Bartholomew Roberts, the Sage, but eventually retrieves The Observatory's power source and seals it away.

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

Shay Patrick Cormac, disillusioned by the Assassins, joins the Templars, preventing the Assassins from finding more Isu temples and suggesting a French revolution.

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

Connor Kenway, son of Haytham Kenway, becomes an Assassin, fighting the Templars during the American Revolution, ultimately killing his father and securing the Grand Temple key.

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

Aveline de Grandpré disrupts a Templar plot in Louisiana, uncovering a larger conspiracy and activating a Prophecy Disk revealing Eve's story.

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

Arno Dorian seeks revenge for his father's murder, uncovering a Templar plot during the French Revolution and ultimately killing François-Thomas Germain, the Sage.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: 1868 CE - Victorian England

Jacob and Evie Frye combat the Templars in Victorian London, recovering The Shroud and later defeating Jack the Ripper. Lydia Frye, Evie's daughter, later eliminates a Templar spy network during World War I.

Transition Period: 1914 to 2012

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

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

Desmond Miles, an Assassin, uses the Animus to locate Isu artifacts, ultimately sacrificing himself to prevent the apocalypse.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag: 2013

Abstergo continues its search for Isu technology through Edward Kenway's memories, encountering the modern-day Sage.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: 2014

An initiate relives Arno Dorian's life to locate the remains of François-Thomas Germain.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: 2015

The initiate seeks The Shroud, discovering Abstergo's plans and Juno's interference.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: 2017

Layla Hassan, an Abstergo researcher, explores Bayek and Aya's memories and joins the Assassins.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: 2018

Layla discovers Atlantis and meets Kassandra, learning of her role in bringing balance.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 2020

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