Summary
TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise began in 2007.The very first game in the series, set during the Crusades, featured the assassin Altaïr as the protagonist, whilst also introducing gamers to Abstergo Industries and Desmond Miles in the present day. Over nearly two decades, theAssassin’s Creedfranchise has changed in many ways, with an increased focus on stealth gameplay inUnityandSyndicate, to its modern-day entries with strong RPG elements in vast open worlds in different time periods and geographical settings.
One thing that hasn’t changed throughout thefranchise is the incredible story-telling and mission designs, but certain games have put more time into expanding stealth options. With the shift to an RPG focus, the newerAssassin’s Creedtitles make it easy for players to ignore stealth options in favor of a full-on assault. But for players looking for stealth gameplay and want the very best in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, these are the best stealth missions in the franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Roguetakes placebetween the events ofAssassin’s Creed 3andBlack Flag. In it, players take control of Shay Cormac,who defected from the Assassins to join the Templar order. Early in the game, players are tasked with finding and eliminating Lawrence Washington, after initially tailing his boat and following him to a lavish party. The beauty of this mission is at the garden party once the player has discovered Washington.
At this point in the mission, there are many places to hide and stalk the target, from bushes, to groups of civilians which allow Shay to get closer to Washington. The optional objective within the mission is to stay undetected at the garden party, further emphasizing the importance of stealth. Once the kill is done, all hell breaks loose and players need to escape to the safety of the Morrigan. The mission perfectly balances its stealth mechanics with an all-out action escape.
In the game that started it all, protagonistAltaïr operates as part of the Assassin’s Order during the Crusades. The mission “Memory Block 3” takes place in the cities of Acre and Jerusalem, and shows off thegreat potential the franchise would go on to fulfill. Players must eliminate two targets: Garnier in Acre, and Talal in Jerusalem.
Both areas contain excellent examples of stealth mechanics. The Acre section features a section set in a hospitalier where Garnier is performing an operation. Players can blend in with a group of scholars to get close to the target and eliminate Garnier without being spotted, then must escape the guards when the alarm sounds.
This alone would make Memory Block 3 a great stealth mission, but the addition of another assassination makes it even better. The second section involves players sneaking into a huge fortress to eliminate Talal, making it a superb stealth mission in the very first game.
Black Flagsignaled a major shift from theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. It tells the story of the pirate Edward Kenway and hisjourney aboard the Jackdaw with his crew, exploring thelargest open world the franchise had seen at the time. The game focused on all-out action and battles aboard the ship, but it also had a gem of a stealth mission.
“A Governor No Longer” is the first mission of the game’s final sequence. Players must assassinate an Italian diplomat and Woodes Rogers. The mission begins with the player tailing the diplomat to a secluded location before assassinating him, preferably from the bush, to get 100% sync. Following this, Edward dons the diplomats' clothing and heads to the party, where he must remain hidden from Rogers before assassinating him. Afterward, players must leave an area populated with gun-wielding guards and escape to the Jackdaw.
Assassin’s Creed 2set in motion the trilogy of gamesfocused onprotagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and built on all the work put in place inAssassin’s Creed. The game takes place in Italy during the Renaissance, where players get to meet historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci whilst being engrossed in a story of revenge.
The mission “Everything Must Go” comes in Sequence 7, and begins with the task of eliminating five enemy archers surrounding a building. Once Ezio enters, the player is asked to assassinate Emilio. Players can either use Courtesans or Thieves to distract the guards at the entrance and, once inside the gates of Emilio’s compound, Ezio must explore it to find him. Players can be brazen and fight their way through, but it’s rewarding to stay silent inside the compound, taking out the guards and the target without being seen.
Ezio’s second entry and the third in the franchise,Assassin’s Creed : Brotherhood,builds on the storyand gameplay advancements fromAssassin’s Creed 2.It adds in ateam of assassins to control and send on missions worldwide, while also refining the stealth mechanics.
“In and Out” takes place during Sequence 5, and starts with Ezio following a target until he meets the banker who becomes the assassination target for the mission. The mission hits its stride when the banker heads into a restricted area, meaning that players need to stay hidden or disguised.
Once the cutscenes are complete, there are many areas in which players can complete the assassination. For full synchronization, this needs to be accomplished from a bench, but can be achieved from hay bales or from inside a group of Courtesans. Throughout “In and Out,” players must implement all the skills they’ve learned in hiding among crowds, hired Courtesans, and in the environment to complete the assassination.
The firstAssassin’s Creedgame to beexclusively released on the eighth console generation,Unity,is set in Paris during the French Revolution. The story follows the protagonist, Arno, as he attempts to expose the powers controlling the revolution.
“Confession” takes place in the third Sequence of the game, with players tasked with completing the assassination of Sivert inside the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Players have to first gain access to the Cathedral, which can be done through pickpocketing the Notre-Dame keys outside the Cathedral. They then have the opportunity to unlock the confession booth kill by assassinating Dechesneau before entering. Players then have different ways of entering the Cathedral, either through underground tunnels, a locked rooftop door, or open windows. Once inside, players have multiple guards to either avoid or assassinate while working their way to Sivert.
“Confessions” gives players a variety of options. They can choose to blend in with protesters outside, take the rooftops or underground, and have the option of the confession booth assassination. These all make the player feel like a master assassin when completed in full stealth.
The lastAssassin’s Creedgame before switching the gameplay focus to an RPG,Syndicatetakes place in London during the Industrial Revolution with two playable protagonists,Jacob and Evie Frye.Syndicateperfected lots of gameplay mechanics present throughout the franchise when it comes to stealth, while adding in the grappling hook to allow fast traversal around the streets of London.
“Final Act” is the final mission of Sequence 8, and tests what the player has learned throughout the game and the franchise. The player is given multiple ways to infiltrate Roth’s music hall, whether deciding to simply blend in with the crowd or steal a mask from one of Roth’s thugs. Players must then reach a vantage point, eliminate decoys without being spotted, and finally take down Roth. “Final Act” features excellent mission design. There are multiple ways to complete objectives, including poisoning drinks to kill the decoys and having to combine the skills learned along the way. This is the pinnacle of stealth gameplay in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise.
