When Ubisoft first delved into a world of ancient Assassins and devious Templars, it is unlikely they knew of the franchise that would spawn from their first endeavor. With a strong plot, exciting game mechanics, and an immersive setting, Assassin’s Creed quickly spread like wildfire among fans – and has been continuing to spread ever since. A decade later, there are 11 games in the franchise, with the most recent being Assassin’s Creed: Origins set in ancient Egypt. Even now, the series remains quite popular.
This first Assassin’s Creed game set the stage for all of the others to follow, with two main storylines happening at once for the player. Desmond Miles is kidnapped by Abstergo Industries, a pharmaceutical company who seeks to use Desmond’s past to find an artifact called the “Apple of Eden.” Searching through his ancestry, Desmond learns of Altair, a member of the Assassins in the middle of a war with the Templars. As players traversed their journey as Altair and Desmond, Assassin’s Creed quickly established that it was a game unlike any other. Learning different ways to assassinate foes was entertaining and allowed each player to have their own unique experience. Full of compelling characters, Assassin’s Creed really stands out as one of those timeless games. It is a solid start to the rest of the franchise.
If you’re looking for other games like Assassin’s Creed, we have the perfect list for you! These games all focus on utilizing stealth in some way, and encourage you to gradually discover the open world setting around you. Without further ado, here are our best recommendations for games like Assassin’s Creed!
Similar Games to Assassin’s Creed
1. Thief
- System: PS4, XBO, PS3, XB360, PC
- Publisher: Eidos Interactive, Square Enix, Feral Interactive, Noviy Disk
- Developer: Eidos Interactive, Eidos Montreal, Feral Interactive
- Release Dates: Feb. 25th, 2014
Garrett is an expert thief, using his talents for stealing only from the rich of The City. As a plague called “The Gloom” ravages The City, Garrett must figure out a way to help and protect his fellow citizens. And there are more mysteries in this dark city to be uncovered… As Garrett undertakes a series of missions throughout this dark fantasy world, players can choose to kill or not to kill as they please, using stealth to hide their presence. With various routes to choose from, Garrett can use any number of tricks along the way to help him escape the notice of guards. Garrett also has a “Focus” mode to help players discover different ways to maneuver or slow down time, further heightening his other skills.
The newest version of Thief is a reboot of an older series, giving this game an updated, open world feel as players choose their own path. The ability to choose how one completes their mission is the best part of Thief, allowing for creativity through stealth-based activities. Similar to Assassin’s Creed, the master thief is out to uncover a devastating plot with big ramifications. If you like Assassin’s Creed, Thief is right up your alley!
Thief Launch Trailer
2. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- System: PS4, XBO, PS3, XB360, PC
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Monolith Productions, Behaviour Interactive
- Release Dates: Sep. 30th, 2014
When Talion and his family are killed, it seems like the end. But a mysterious spirit of vengeance named Celebrimbor resurrects Talion, bringing the former ranger back with new Wraith abilities. United with these unique powers, Talion sets out to wreak havoc in the land of Mordor, where Sauron and his armies are amassing. In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, evil will be forced to recompense at last.
Shadow of Mordor gave fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s infinite world another story to explore, one that falls in between the great tales of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. As you explore each section of the world, you will discover new enemies and new abilities at every turn. Similar to Assassin’s Creed, each section of the map is unlocked through climbing to the top of a tower. Both of these games also share a love of open world settings blended with stealth mechanics.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
3. Dragon Age: Inquisition
- System: PS4, XBO, PS3, XB360, PC
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: BioWare
- Release Dates: Nov. 18th, 2014
You have been chosen to conquer a horde of dark demons and close magical tears in the fabric of the world. This is the fate of your character in Dragon Age: Inquisition! Known as the Inquisitor, your character must assemble a team to stop Corypheus, an ancient darkspawn who wants to conquer your continent. And safeguarding your world will certainly not be easy!
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a third-person RPG game with a focus on action and adventure, much like Assassin’s Creed. The setting is an entire continent, giving the player plenty of room to discover and complete different quests as they please. While Dragon Age: Inquisition is more about assembling a team to fight with your character, it still follows many of the same concepts that Assassin’s Creed does. A main staple of both games are the amount of freedom players have to make their own choices.
Dragon Age: Inquisition Official Trailer – The Breach
Any Game Like Assassin’s Creed ?
4. Dishonored
- System: PS4, XBO, PS3, XB360, PC
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Arkane Studios
- Release Dates: Oct. 8th, 2012
Corvo Attano is a famous assassin who once worked as a bodyguard for the Empress, though he is not as trusted now… Set in the formerly great city of Dunwall, players will traverse the unique setting as only a true assassin could – climbing rooftops and walls, snaking through alleyways in complete stealth. Corvo Attano is seeking revenge on the men that ruined his life, but it is up to you whether it will be a bloody tale or a non-violent quest!
Dishonored is a fantastic blend of exploration and action, especially in its steampunk-esque setting. You are able to discover new things that might help you in the long run, like unique powers in places quite off the beaten track. It is an open world setting that favors those who like to try new things, much like Assassin’s Creed rewards those players who spend time searching for secrets. And the action in Dishonored is just as exciting, with plenty of great ways to fight off your foes. Of course, just like in Assassin’s Creed, stealth is your best friend!
Dishonored Cinematic Trailer
5. Far Cry
- System: PS3, XB360, XBO, Wii, PC
- Publisher: Ubisoft, Mastertronic, Sold Out Software, Frontier Groove
- Developer: Ubisoft Montreal, Crytek
- Release Dates: Mar. 23rd, 2004
Jack Carver was hired to sail a mysterious woman around the Pacific, but when the ship is suddenly attacked, Jack awakens on an island alone. He sets out to find the woman and soon discovers there is more to this island than appearances suggest. Jack must face all kinds of enemies, including a group of mercenaries who have taken the woman. In order to save her, Jack will have to investigate the island thoroughly and take out all of the mercenaries that he can. He will even have to invade a volcanic base!
Throughout the campaign, the player must use stealth to help in gaining advantage on attacks, since there are so many enemies to fight with just one character. The game has a heavy focus on action, with plenty of exploration to be had as well! Vehicles and other objects can help you along the way, which encourages the player to try different ways of accomplishing a goal. Similar to Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry allows for players to make their own decisions, giving them the satisfaction of coming up with their own plan of attack. Both games gave you an open world with an infinite number of ways you could interact with it.
The History of Far Cry (Trailers & Gameplay)
6. Batman: Arkham Origins
- System: PS3, XB360, WiiU, PC
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, WB Montreal, Splash Damage
- Release Dates: Oct. 25th, 2013
In one of the most traditional Batman games to date, Batman: Arkham Origins has our solo superhero facing off against virtually all of his past enemies. After all, with a $50 million bounty on his head, it’s no wonder that the caped crusader is attracting all of his foes at once! And while Batman may be younger than in previous games, he still gets to keep a lot of fancy gear and knows almost all of the iconic villains – basically, an Origins story without the trouble of starting you off at square one!
Yet, even with all of his gadgets and gear, Batman’s main attribute is that of his stealth attacks. Arkham Origins may not have been the best of the Batman games, but it certainly uses this stealth mechanic well. Altair is quite similar to Batman in many ways – out to fight for justice, often alone, utilizing stealth and several unique gadgets to help him gain an edge over the opponent. Batman: Arkham Origins also allows players to explore Gotham City freely. While there may be plenty of bad guys waiting to fight their city’s superhero, that doesn’t deter the enjoyment of exploring every corner of this iconic place!
Batman: Arkham Origins Official Trailer
Final Thoughts
Assassin’s Creed was an open world RPG we won’t soon forget, but these games all have their own way of capturing our hearts as well! In video games, stealth is often not as fun as charging in headfirst to a fight – but the games on our list made using stealth mechanics entertainingly worthwhile. Another game series that makes utilizing stealth fun is the Hitman franchise, which encourages you to carry out assassinations in different ways each time.
Do you know of any other games like these that you enjoyed? What has been your favorite Assassin’s Creed game so far? Let us know in the comments below!