Every Assassin's Creed Intro Ranked
#12: “Assassin's Creed” (2007)
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The original entry isn’t the best at hyping players up for what’s to come. The initial cinematic is largely generic, offering no exposition and starts things off without clueing us in on what Altair and the brotherhood are like. In terms of what counts as the overall intro, that would be when Altair botches a mission due to his arrogance and has to answer to Al Mualim for his actions. The latter seemingly slays his apprentice until Al Mualim reveals he staged this as a symbolic way of stripping Altair of all his ranks. The intro is essentially a way for the game to set Altair up in his quest to assassinate Al Mualim’s targets. But it lacks that extra punch needed to get fans excited straightaway, which is further hampered by the slow pacing of the sequence.
#11: “Assassin's Creed III” (2012)
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“Assassin’s Creed III’s” intro is so long that we play as both Haytham and Connor Kenway by the time the real story begins. Haytham’s intro drags on a bit to fool first-time players into thinking he’s an assassin before the reveal of his true nature as a Templar. Meanwhile, we follow several missions with Connor as a child all the way until he meets Achilles and begins his career as an assassin. What makes this underwhelming is how we’re forced to undergo many training sequences, which can be jarring considering the many hours players would already have dedicated to the game. The contrast between Haytham and Connor’s missions is too much to ignore, even more so when the game keeps giving us more training to undergo with both characters.
#10: “Assassin's Creed Rogue” (2014)
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Considering players know that “Rogue” is about Assassin-turned-Templar Shay Cormac from the get-go, its intro feels rather needless. We have to go through a sequence where Shay’s insubordinate attitude as an assassin is apparent, with the story clearly setting up his eventual heel turn. This aspect and the casual nature of the intro’s gameplay don’t come across as anything particularly fascinating. There’s nothing inherently bad about the blend between stealth and combat here, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. All things considered, “Rogue’s” opening doesn’t set up much other than Shay’s misplaced status with the assassins, which could have easily been skipped to get to the meatier part of the story straight away.
#9: “Assassin's Creed: Revelations” (2011)
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“Revelations” goes for the cinematic approach in an attempt to start things off with a bang. The opening is a CGI cutscene detailing Ezio’s arrival at the Assassin’s former fortress Masyaf, where he’s captured. True to his status as a Master Assassin, Ezio makes short work of his captors, with the rest of the intro requiring players to eliminate these Templars. “Revelations’” intro helps in setting up the story as Ezio’s quest to learn about Altair’s past, It also lets fans know that he’s now near the end of his run as an assassin. On the other hand, the opening’s CGI nature differs a lot from the actual gameplay, where players don’t have the finesse that Ezio displayed in the cutscene.
#8: “Assassin's Creed Valhalla” (2020)
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Everything leading up to Eivor and Sigurd’s travel to England counts as the intro for “Valhalla,” which does a fair job at familiarizing players with the protagonist’s personality and motives. We’re taken from the loss of their parents during Eivor’s childhood to revenge against the man responsible as an adult. “Valhalla’s” intro leaves enough room for fans to be accustomed with the way of the vikings and learn about Eivor’s allies. Their departure with adoptive brother Sigurd opens up the main story that awaits players in the new world, which is when the trademark “Assassin’s Creed” logo shows up. It’s an effective intro, but it also doesn’t get adrenaline pumping for the next sequence. Instead, players are made aware that they’ll have to start over, which can stir up mixed feelings.
#7: “Assassin's Creed Unity” (2014)
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“Unity” seamlessly begins where “Rogue” left off, showing the fallout from Shay Cormac’s elimination of Arno Dorian’s father. While this is the absolute beginning of the game, the overall intro lasts until Arno decides to clear his name from the murder of his adoptive father. This happens after Arno makes a break for it from prison with assassin Pierre Bellec, with the two men taking a leap of faith away from their pursuers. There’s no doubt that this sets the tone and keeps fans invested in the story, as Arno’s adventures truly kick into high gear. However, there’s also the fact that “Unity” rehashes the intros of “Assassin’s Creed II” and “Brotherhood,” to an extent, since both those games have similar openings. The lack of originality takes some of the impact away, but that doesn’t mean “Unity’s” intro doesn’t deserve praise for its fast-paced environment.
#6: “Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag” (2013)
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This installment took a creative turn with its intro, as Pirate Edward Kenway is shown stumbling into the conflict between the Assassins and Templars. The game begins in an action-packed fashion, throwing players into the heart of a battle, as the protagonist has to fight for his life. Edward’s slaying of rogue assassin Duncan Walpole gives him the opening to escape the island he’s stranded on, inadvertently involving him in an adventure that will change his life. “Black Flag’s” opening tells us everything to know about Edward: from his skills of duplicity to his opportunistic attitude. Gameplay also introduces fans into the Caribbean setting to let them know what to expect. Of course, it’s a little too jam packed with all these elements, which can be a lot to take in for those seeking an easygoing intro.
#5: “Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood” (2010)
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Ezio’s story from the previous game continues immediately into “Brotherhood,” where he has to escape Rome following his clash with Rodrigo Borgia. The title screen reveal is among the franchise’s most memorable as Ezio and Mario’s exhilarating escape sequence ends with a leap of faith. But “Brotherhood’s” intro stretches up until Ezio’s return to Rome, following the destruction of Monteriggioni and Mario’s death. What’s great about this is that by the time the game truly begins, we’re given all of Ezio’s motivations and reasons to hunt down Cesare Borgia. It also brings a balance between action and exploration, as players can spend some time in Monteriggioni before the action-heavy moments kick in. Overall, the intro serves as a bridge between “Assassin’s Creed II” and “Brotherhood,” giving them the time to bid farewell to the former stronghold before Ezio moves to Rome.
#4: “Assassin's Creed Syndicate” (2015)
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The first sequence in “Syndicate” serves as the intro for the game, detailing siblings Jacob and Evie’s dynamic long enough for fans to know how their personalities work. Most of it is about sneaking into Templar territory to uncover their experiments on the Apple of Eden, which shows the contrasting approaches the brother and sister take for their assassin activities. While it might not be the most thrilling, the intro does a great job at delivering its narrative, as the clashing mentalities between the protagonists become evident. We’re given time to understand the duo before they head to London to truly begin their mission of taking down the Templars. With both characters displaying their trademark moves and abilities, fans can decide here which protagonist they prefer for the main portion of the game.
#3: “Assassin's Creed Odyssey” (2018)
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“Odyssey” opens with a surprising sentimental touch, showing the legendary “300” battle where Leonidas admits to his sadness about leaving his family behind. This is a way for the game to introduce its theme, as protagonist Kassandra’s arc is to reunite with her family. In addition to Leonidas’ battle sequence, “Odyssey’s” intro also delivers Kassandra’s backstory to familiarize her with players before the trademark title screen arrives. Still, there’s a mystery surrounding Kassandra and who she’s supposed to be, which motivates fans to stay immersed in the intro and beyond. The interactions and banter between Kassandra and her allies helps to humanize her by the time we leave Kephallonia for the rest of Greece. As a result, “Odyssey’s” intro slowly but surely plants all the seeds needed for fans to stick with Kassandra on her journey.
#2: “Assassin's Creed Origins” (2017)
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Bayek is largely seen as the protagonist with the most depth, and this is evident from the opening of “Origins.” The intro shows Bayek recovering from the lowest point in his life, as he eliminates one of the people responsible for the death of his son. This doubles as a way of introducing players to “Origins’” combat mechanisms since the game is a striking departure from previous entries. Depicting Bayek as a shell of his former self and consumed by vengeance gets fans into the same mindset as the protagonist. Bayek’s interactions with his allies is another way for the game to let players know of his sensitive side, as the character is inherently driven by love. “Origins’” opening thus simultaneously captures the hero’s characterization and eases players into the new gameplay format for the series.
#1: “Assassin's Creed II” (2009)
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“Assassin’s Creed II” is about Ezio’s progression from a young man who’s lost his family into a Master Assassin, and its intro sets the stage. We follow Ezio during his days as a charming troublemaker before a stunning betrayal causes the deaths of his father and brothers. The initial moments of Ezio’s carefree lifestyle offer sequences of gameplay where players learn the ropes where platforming is concerned. Although not overly complex, combat is added for fans to get a feel of the controls to prepare for Ezio’s evolution in this department later on. Unlike other “Assassin’s Creed” intros, this one begins with a welcoming atmosphere due to centering around Ezio’s family life, providing a perfect contrast in emotions when the protagonist has to fend for himself. The intro reaches its peak when Ezio dons the assassin robes, by which point fans are prepared to see his whole story play out.
