Ever since the first installment in the series came out in 2007, Assassin's Creed has redefined what a stealth game is supposed to be. With its extremely likable main characters, strong historical influences, and exciting methods of dispatching enemies from the shadows, it's not surprising that this franchise has survived for so long.

Related

Every Assassin's Creed Game, Ranked

From the original to now, every Assassin's Creed game has its highs and lows, but which is the best?

That said, even among the greatest treasures, some jewels shine brighter than others. Stealth mechanics are one of the key elements that make Assassin's Creed great; however, there are others, such as combat design, that can make the difference between a timeless classic and a forgettable release in the series' long life. Here are the Assassin's Creed gameswith the best combat.

8 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

A Great Pirate Game With OK Combat

• Great elements, like sea shanties and pirate battles
• Combat doesn't feel challenging

When Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag came out, the franchise was already well-established and had a massive following of loyal gamers, some of whom had been devoted fans since the days of Altair.

While the game shines in several areasa, such as the sea shanties and the ability to sail the open seas, it lacks a certain sparkle in others, such as in its combat. Although Black Flag has one of the largest variety of enemies in the series, they sometimes f teeloo easy to kill, which can be disappointing.

7 Assassin's Creed

A First Installment With Limited Upgrades

• Combat demands skill, but feels oddly-paced
• Weapon upgradeability is limited

For thousands of players, Altair's story was the spark that lit the fire in their Assassin's Creed journey. Even from day one, the game felt new, refreshing, and complex enough to merit several hours of dedication in order to learn the ropes and discover every nook and cranny of the map.

Related

Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s Basim Feels Too Much Like Altair

While Assassin's Creed Mirage's Basim may have an interesting story, his persona feels way too much like the franchise's first assassin Altair.

For a 2007 game, it still holds up very well by modern standards. However, one of the reasons it doesn't rank higher on this list is its combat mechanics. Assassin's Creed has parries, heavy attacks, and even counter-kills, which makes the game fun to play, but it can't hold a candle to other installments that do combat better.

6 Assassin's Creed Revelations

A Trilogy Closer With Little Innovation

• Hookblade and other upgrades streamline combat
• Challenging enemies that don't feel like pushovers

For most old-school gamers, the Ezio trilogy is undoubtedly the most recognizable aspect of the Assassin's Creed franchise, and how can it not be? It has a compelling story with relatable characters, beautiful cities with intricate details, and some of the best combat mechanics in the series.

As the closer of the magnificent Ezio trilogy, Assassin's Creed: Revelations introduced new game mechanics and weapon variants, such as the Hookblade, which made free running and street fights much more fluid. All in all, while the game doesn't innovate as much as the earlier installments of the trilogy, it still deserves praise for what it gets right.

5 Assassin's Creed 2

A Trilogy Opener Filled With New Possibilities

• Large variety of weapon/hidden blade upgrades
• Improved enemy animations
• Introduction of ledge assassinations

Every great story must start somewhere. Assassin's Creed 2 managed to take the best aspects of its predecessor and improved on them significantly, while also adding a fair number of its own new ideas. This game was the birth of intricate hidden blade upgrades and mechanics, such as poison darts, ledge assassinations, double hidden blades, and many more.

Related

Assassin’s Creed Should Have Started With an Ezio or Altair Remake

Ubisoft is allegedly working on an Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, but it should have started with the franchise's earliest assassins instead.

Ezio Auditore's origin story also introduced more complex counter-kill moves, several weapon upgrade possibilities, and enemy animations that make combat feel significantly more complete without being overwhelming or tedious. It was a huge improvement on the series' first game.

4 Assassin's Creed Origins

Changing Old Mechanics

• Fast-paced combat with shield parries
• Weapon ranking system
• New approach to stealth and assassinations

Love it or hate it, it's undeniable that Assassin's Creed Origins was a turning point for the franchise. Released after Assassin's Creed Syndicate, this title saw a transition from the stealth-focused single-player game mechanics of the last nine games, to a more RPG-based approach to both story and combat.

As opposed to Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Origins' combat feels fast-paced and flows naturally. The introduction of shield parries and weapon ranking systems makes fighting enemies and performing assassinations in this game a very enjoyable experience.

3 Assassin's Creed Unity

A Revolution In Stealth Tactics

​

• Stealth is priority
• Gear plays a more significant role than before
• Guns-blazing approaches are punished

The French Revolution is a well-known and exciting part of human history, which is why a game set during that period was always meant to be great. Although Assassin's Creed Unity doesn't break the mold when it comes to the overall game mechanics, objectives, and pace of the franchise, it does make the player's mistakes more costly. In previous games, failing to approach an enemy quietly wasn't punished too severely; worst-case scenario, a group of pushover guards would rush to the spot and that was that.

Unity, however, isn't like that. This is the first installment in the franchise where players must actually design their assassination plans carefully and remain in the shadows as often as possible, as escaping the guards is a lot harder than before. This game's combat is also heightened by the impact the right clothes/armor have, and how wisely Arno chooses his attack windows. All in all, if players can ignore Arno's tragic life in the aftermath of the game, Unity is a great title to play.

2 Assassin's Creed 3

Multiple Combat Options That Feel Refreshing

​​​

• The Rope Dart is a game-changer
• No medicine available at will
• Great enemy and finisher animations

Like Unity, Assassin's Creed 3 is set in another revolutionary period of human history, but instead of guillotines and cake-loving monarchs, the game explores the world of the American founding fathers and the Independence War. The introduction of the Rope Dart makes Connor a force to be reckoned with, as it allows players to explore and discover new and improved ways to fight enemies, or even drag them to dark corners where they can be dispatched quietly.

The game's finisher animations look considerably more polished than in previous releases, which is admirable, as almost every weapon seems to have a different one. Also, medicine isn't an option in this installment, so players are forced to pick their fights wisely and be more careful while free running to avoid falling to their deaths.

1 Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

The Ultimate Innovation In Combat Mechanics

• Chain kills, Assassin recruits, and spear launching
• Great enemy variety
• Da Vinci's war machines

The premise of running freely throughout the beautiful Roman countryside in the Renaissance era is very attractive, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to why Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is so great. The combat mechanics in this title innovated so much on the previous entry that, at times, it feels like a completely different game than its predecessors.

With the introduction of Assassin recruits who can fire arrows at enemies from a distance, chain kills, and even spear launching to dismount enemies, it's hard to make a case against Brotherhood. Let's not forget about Da Vinci's war machines either, which completely changed the Ezio trilogy in the best possible way.

More

Assassin's Creed Shadows: 10 Things From Valhalla The Game Needs To Change

Assassin's Creed Valhalla was a great game, but with Shadows just around the corner, this is the perfect time to see what Ubisoft can improve.