Assassin's Creed Shadows stands as the latest installment in the expansive Assassin's Creed series, setting its scene during the feudal Japan of the Sengoku period. This setting positions it at a unique midpoint within the series' non-linear historical timeline, which spans from the ancient Peloponnesian War to the dawn of the First World War. The Assassin's Creed franchise does not follow a chronological progression, instead, it leaps across time to delve into pivotal moments in history, creating a rich tapestry of narratives and events.

With 14 mainline games and counting, the timeline of the Assassin's Creed universe has grown increasingly intricate. To navigate this complex narrative, IGN has meticulously compiled the lore, presenting a comprehensive timeline that organizes the key events in chronological order. This timeline not only clarifies the overarching story but also illustrates how each game interconnects within the series' centuries-spanning saga.

The Isu Era

75,000 BCE

To understand the Assassin's Creed timeline, one must first explore the lore of the Isu Era. In this distant past, a highly advanced civilization known as the Isu ruled the earth, creating humanity as their workforce. The Isu maintained control over humans through powerful artifacts called the Apples of Eden. However, a rebellion sparked when two humans, Adam and Eve, stole an Apple and escaped, igniting a decade-long war. This conflict was abruptly ended by a devastating solar flare that wiped out the Isu, allowing humanity to rise and inherit the earth.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

431 to 422 BCE - Peloponnesian War

Set during the tumultuous Peloponnesian War in Greece, Assassin's Creed Odyssey follows the journey of mercenary Kassandra. She uncovers The Cult of Kosmos, a secretive group manipulating the conflict from behind the scenes. Kassandra's quest is deeply personal, as her brother Alexios, kidnapped and transformed into a weapon by the Cult, is among its ranks. Her mission to dismantle the Cult leads her to discover their use of an Isu device to predict future outcomes, which she ultimately destroys, ending their control over the war. During her journey, Kassandra reunites with her father, Pythagoras, and is entrusted with the Staff of Hermes, an Isu artifact granting immortality, to guard Atlantis eternally.

Assassin's Creed Origins

49 to 43 BCE - Ptolemaic Egypt

In the era of Cleopatra's reign, Assassin's Creed Origins introduces us to Bayek, a peacekeeper whose life is shattered when The Order of the Ancients kidnaps him and his son. This Order, connected to the Cult of Kosmos, seeks to unlock an Isu vault through Bayek's lineage, but his escape results in a tragic accident. Driven by grief and a thirst for vengeance, Bayek and his wife Aya dismantle The Order's control over Egypt, revealing its global ambitions to manipulate politics and religion using Isu artifacts. In response, they form The Hidden Ones, a precursor to the Assassin Brotherhood, dedicated to resisting oppression.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

861 - Islamic Golden Age

Nearly a century later, Assassin's Creed Mirage shifts the focus to Basim, a thief from Baghdad trained by The Hidden Ones at the fortress of Alamut. Tasked with thwarting The Order of the Ancients, Basim uncovers their pursuit of an Isu temple beneath Alamut. Inside, he discovers a prison holding Loki, an Isu revered as a god by the Norse. Learning of his own reincarnation from Loki, Basim vows to avenge his past imprisonment, setting the stage for his future endeavors.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

872 to 878 - Viking Invasion of England

Continuing from Mirage, Assassin's Creed Valhalla follows Basim as he accompanies a Viking clan to England, seeking remnants of The Order. The clan's leaders, Sigurd and Eivor, navigate the challenges of establishing their settlement amidst political turmoil, confronting the oppressive rule of King Alfred, a member of The Order. The discovery of an Isu artifact leads Sigurd to believe he is a god, while Basim reveals their past lives as Odin and Týr, seeking revenge against them for imprisoning Loki. Eivor ultimately traps Basim in a simulated world and defeats King Alfred, solidifying their place as a hero.

Assassin's Creed

1191 - Third Crusade

By the time of the Third Crusade, The Hidden Ones have evolved into the Assassin Brotherhood. Their adversary, The Order of the Ancients, has transformed into the Knights Templar, maintaining their goal of establishing a new world order. Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, tasked with stealing an Apple of Eden from the Templars, uncovers a conspiracy led by his own mentor, Al Mualim, who plans to use the artifact for global domination. Altaïr assassinates the Templar leaders and confronts Al Mualim, taking leadership of the Brotherhood and thwarting his mentor's plans.

Assassin's Creed II

1476 to 1499 - Italian Renaissance

During the Italian Renaissance, Assassin's Creed II follows Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who joins the Assassin Brotherhood to avenge his family's murder by the Templars. Equipped with his father's tools and innovations from Leonardo da Vinci, Ezio battles the Templar-aligned Borgia family, ultimately seizing an Apple of Eden. This leads him to an Isu vault beneath the Vatican, where he learns of an impending global catastrophe from the Isu Minerva, setting the stage for the Assassins' future missions.

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

1499 to 1507 - Italian Renaissance

Continuing Ezio's journey, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood sees him rebuilding the weakened Assassin Brotherhood after the Borgias steal the Apple of Eden. Ezio leads the Assassins to dismantle the Borgia regime in Rome, reclaiming the Apple and securing it within an Isu vault beneath the Colosseum.

Assassin's Creed Revelations

1511 to 1512 - Ottoman Civil War

In search of Isu secrets, Ezio journeys to Masyaf in Assassin's Creed Revelations, only to find the Templars seeking to unlock Altaïr's library. Collaborating with the Ottoman Assassins, Ezio prevents the Templars from reclaiming the library keys and discovers Altaïr's remains within. A message from the Isu Jupiter reveals crucial data for humanity's survival, but Ezio, understanding it's not meant for him, leaves the Apple locked away as Altaïr intended, retiring shortly after.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

1579 - Sengoku Period

Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces an African mercenary and a Catholic Jesuit missionary arriving in Japan during the Sengoku period. The mercenary, named Yasuke, becomes a samurai under the powerful lord Oda Nobunaga, participating in the invasion of Iga province. Here, he encounters Naoe, daughter of a shinobi master, and despite their initial opposition, they unite for a common cause.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

1715 to 1722 - Golden Age of Piracy

During the Golden Age of Piracy, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag follows Edward Kenway, who infiltrates the Templars after assuming an Assassin's identity. The Templars seek The Observatory, an Isu device for global surveillance, accessible only by the Sage, a reincarnation of the Isu Aita. Edward's quest leads him to pirate Bartholomew Roberts, the current Sage, and a confrontation that ends with Edward sealing the Observatory and returning home to his family.

Assassin's Creed Rogue

1752 to 1776 - French and Indian War

In Assassin's Creed Rogue, Shay Patrick Cormac, disillusioned by the Assassins after causing a devastating earthquake, defects and joins the Templars. His mission to prevent the Assassins from accessing more Isu temples leads him to confront his former mentor, Achilles, and influence the Templar strategy during the French Revolution.

Assassin's Creed III

1754 to 1783 - American Revolution

Set during the American Revolution, Assassin's Creed III follows Connor Kenway, who seeks vengeance for the destruction of his Mohawk village. His journey leads him to confront his father, Haytham Kenway, a Templar leader, and thwart their plans to control the nation using an Isu key, which he ultimately buries to prevent their success.

Assassin's Creed Liberation

1765 to 1777 - Spanish Occupation of Louisiana

Running parallel to Connor's story, Assassin's Creed Liberation follows Aveline de Grandpré as she uncovers a Templar plot in Louisiana. Her quest leads to the discovery of a Prophecy Disk, revealing the story of Eve, the leader of the human rebellion against the Isu, and her battle against her own stepmother, a Templar.

Assassin's Creed Unity

1789 to 1794 - French Revolution

In Assassin's Creed Unity, Arno Dorian, orphaned by Templar Shay Cormac, joins the Assassins to avenge his adoptive father's murder. His journey during the French Revolution uncovers a Templar plot led by François-Thomas Germain, culminating in a confrontation where Arno secures the Sage's remains in the Paris Catacombs.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate

1868 - Victorian England

Set in Victorian England, Assassin's Creed Syndicate follows twins Jacob and Evie Frye as they combat Templar control over London. Their quest leads them to The Shroud, an Isu device hidden beneath Buckingham Palace, which they reclaim after assassinating Templar leader Crawford Starrick.

Transition Period

1914 to 2012

The Assassin's Creed series employs a framing story set in the modern era, with the transition period between Assassin's Creed Syndicate and the start of the modern storyline seeing the Templars establish Abstergo Industries. A pharmaceutical company created in 1937, Abstergo develops the Animus, a machine for exploring genetic memories, as part of their strategy to control the future.

Assassin's Creed I, II, Brotherhood, Revelations, and III

2012

In 2012, Desmond Miles, a bartender with Assassin ancestry, is kidnapped by Abstergo to locate Isu artifacts. Assisted by Assassin mole Lucy Stillman, Desmond escapes and learns of an impending apocalypse through the memories of his ancestor Ezio. His journey leads to the discovery of the Grand Temple, where he sacrifices himself to activate Isu technology to avert the disaster, inadvertently releasing the Isu Juno.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

2013

Following Desmond's death, Abstergo continues its search for Isu technology through his DNA, tasking an unnamed researcher, "The Noob," with exploring Edward Kenway's memories. The Noob uncovers a plot involving the modern-day Sage, John Standish, who attempts to use them as a host for Juno but is killed before succeeding.

Assassin's Creed Unity

2014

In an effort to locate the remains of past Sages, Abstergo releases Helix, allowing the public to experience genetic memories. An Assassin initiate, guided by Bishop, relives Arno Dorian's life and confirms the safety of François-Thomas Germain's remains in the Paris Catacombs.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate

2015

The initiate's next mission in Assassin's Creed Syndicate leads to the discovery of The Shroud in London. Abstergo's plan to use it to create a living Isu is thwarted by Assassin interference, revealing Juno's manipulations within Abstergo.

Assassin's Creed Origins

2017

Researcher Layla Hassan, working for Abstergo, develops a new Animus version that uses DNA samples directly. Her exploration of Bayek and Aya's memories leads to her recruitment by the Assassin Brotherhood, led by William Miles.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

2018

Using DNA from the Spear of Leonidas, Layla relives Kassandra's memories and locates Atlantis. Kassandra, immortal through the Staff of Hermes, imparts wisdom about the balance between Assassins and Templars, gifting Layla the staff before passing away.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

2020

Layla's investigation into Eivor's memories leads her to the Yggdrasil computer in Norway, where she enters a simulation to address magnetic field disturbances caused by Desmond's actions. Inside, she encounters Basim, now freed and claiming the Staff of Hermes, which contains Aletheia's consciousness. Basim joins the Assassins, beginning his search for Loki's children.