Assassin’s Creed is one of the most popular video game franchises of the 21st century. From the very first adventure with Altair to the most recent iteration in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, this series has kept us enthralled. While there has been quite a lot of fan dissatisfaction in recent years, Assassin’s Creed’s success is undeniable.

Across all titles, this game series has sold upwards of 230 million units, per Ubisoft. Its cultural impact and commercial success led us to ask what the top 3 Assassin’s Creed games are. While everyone has their own favorites, we couldn’t help but choose the following three.

Assassin’s Creed II

Assassin’s Creed II is the game that truly cemented this franchise as a worldwide phenomenon. This game, through Desmond, takes us back to the Renaissance, where we meet the protagonist, Ezio. Ezio Auditore Da Firenze is the rebellious son of a wealthy Italian banker. He prefers gallivanting with women to contributing to society. But, that all changes when a shadowy plot threatens his family.

Assassin’s Creed II has the best-written storyline out of all of the games in the series. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, both with its fast pace and the emotional sway. The story may start in Florence, but you get to explore iconic regions like San Gimignano, Venice, Romagna/Forli, and Monteriggioni. The game mechanics, compelling storyline, and stunning in-game world put AC II at the top of our top 3 Assassin’s Creed games.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Assassin’s Creed Origins belongs to the newer batch of AC games, having debuted in 2017. This game has sold over 10 million copies since its launch, with a Metacritic score of 81/100 by critics. Although it received some mixed reactions from fans originally, Origins has generally won people over in time. It is the first game to implement the new fighting mechanics, which set the course for the new AC era. You can play this game on consoles like PlayStation and XBox, as well as PC.

Origins is especially exciting because it takes you back to Ancient Egypt, right after Cleopatra’s reign. You get to play as Bayek of Siwa, an Egyptian Medjay, as the main protagonist, and his wife Aya, on a few missions. This couple begins their war against the so-called Hidden Ones after Bayek and their son Khemu are kidnapped. Their son gets killed during the ordeal, which sets Bayek and Aya on a path of revenge. In response to the Hidden Ones’ sinister plot, they form the Assassin’s Creed, hence the title of the game.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is one of the most beloved games in the franchise. It has fantastic reviews by critics and fans alike. It is also why we decided to include it in our review of the top 3 Assassin’s Creed games. Assassin’s Creed III may have introduced sailing, but Black Flag truly perfected it, making it a crucial aspect of the storyline.

The sailing is far from the only feature that draws players to Black Flag. This game takes you to the golden age of piracy, starting at around 1715 in the Caribbean. The three main locations are Havana, Nassau, and Kingston, though much of the gameplay occurs at sea. The protagonist you play as is the notorious pirate Edward Kenway, and you get to interact with other legendary historical figures like Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Stede Bonnet. The in-game world design, along with the storyline and the connection to AC III protagonist Connor and antagonist Haytham, makes this title so popular.

How We Chose The Top 3 Assassin’s Creed Games

Choosing the top 3 Assassin’s Creed games was no easy feat with so many incredible titles. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: It is not length of life, but depth of life. It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. He who opens a school door, closes a prison. We find that going back in history in these games is quite fun, no matter the era. Even so, the 3 titles we chose stand out for their storylines, gameplay, locations, and game mechanics.