Assassin's Creed is a popular open-world video game franchise developed by Ubisoft. It is known for its engaging gameplay mechanics and interesting storylines, but also for reinventing the concept of public stealth in video games and for its ingenious use of parkour moves. While players often focus on thrilling action and historical settings, Assassin's Creed is also home to some of the most tragic characters in video game history.
These characters have faced incredible adversity, lost loved ones, and suffered unimaginable trauma while trying to survive the dangerous war between the Assassins and the Templars. While their sufferings cannot be ranked, many fans have admitted that some characters' lives marked them in a way they won't be able to get over, as some stories are just too sad to be forgotten.
10 Haytham Kenway
Raised as a member of the Templar Order, Haytham was a cruel villain but kept himself reasonable in most situations. He believed in the Templar's goal of creating a better world through order but also struggled with his loyalty to his own moral code.
His story is tragic starting from his youth when he was lied to about what his father, Edward, stood for. When he ultimately realized the corruption within the Templar Order, Haytham believed that it was too late for him to change paths, but dreamed of peace between the two orders that shaded his life. Killed by his own son, Connor, what he felt in his last moments of life was pride in his son's abilities.
9 Abbas Sofian
Abbas Sofian is a major antagonist in the Assassin's Creed franchise. His father committed suicide, but Abbas was led to believe that he left the Assassins. In order to bring him peace, Altaïr, his friend, informed him that his father was dead. Abbas didn't believe him, and soon he became bitter and resentful towards the Assassins, especially Altaïr.
Guided by hatred, he ordered the death of Altaïr's son and blamed it on the young assassin's friend, who was decapitated for the crime he didn't commit. Abbas is known for his ruthless and manipulative nature, but all these characteristics can be sourced back to his father's suicide.
8 Shay Cormac
Shay Cormac is the fascinating protagonist of Assassin's Creed Rogue, a game that serves as a bridge between the stories of Black Flag and Unity. At first a member of the Assassin Order, Shay became disillusioned with their methods and betrayed them, joining the Templars instead.
His journey is a tragic one, as he was forced to confront the fact that the group he once trusted and fought for may not be as noble as he once believed. He found himself guilty of the devastating Lisbon earthquake, so he tried to make amends for his past actions and find a new purpose in life. At first, he dedicated himself to goodness, but Shay's journey is a compelling one, and soon he became corrupted by the wickedness of the Templars.
7 Desmond Miles
Desmond Miles is one of the most known characters in the Assassin's Creed franchise since he is the gateway towards the lives of renowned assassins, like Altaïr and Ezio. After he was kidnapped and forced to relieve his ancestor's memories in the Animus, he started experiencing the Bleeding Effect, which acted both as a blessing and a curse.
He was forced to kill the woman he loved, Lucy, as she proved to be a traitor. Desmond fell into a coma but was saved by Clay Kaczmarek. In order to save the world from a solar flare, Desmond sacrificed himself, while also freeing Juno, a being who wanted to achieve world domination. In his last moments, he dedicated his full being to the Assassin Order and finally accepted his heritage.
6 Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Ezio Auditore's story is set in Renaissance Italy and follows his journey from a young nobleman seeking revenge for his family's murder to a wise mentor of the Assassin Order. Known for his charm, humor, and fighting skills, Ezio's story arc is considered one of the strongest and most emotional in the franchise.
He watched his family being publicly hanged and had to run away in order to protect his mother and sister. He was given help from his uncle Mario and became an agile assassin who avenged his family. Later, his uncle died in front of him, and he was forced to watch powerlessly. He dedicated his whole life to the Assassin Order and watched his friends die one by one. After his retirement, he managed to live peacefully with his family until he sadly died of a heart attack.
5 Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad
Ataïr Ibn-La’Ahad is one of the most tragic characters in the series, as his mother died during childbirth, and his father was executed after being given away by Ahmad Sofian. He became the youngest Master Assassin in the Order but was demoted and exiled temporarily when he failed to protect the city of Masyaf from a Templar attack.
He found out about his second son's murder, and later, his wife, Maria died in his arms too at the order of Abbas. After he killed his childhood friend, Altaïr locked himself and the Apple of Eden inside the Masyaf castle and imprinted his memories on six seals, dying alone, in the darkness.
4 Adéwalé
Born in slavery, Adéwalé broke free from his imprisonment and became a skilled pirate and eventually a powerful Assassin. He is known for his strength and fighting abilities, as well as his unwavering loyalty to his cause. Adéwalé's story is particularly notable for its exploration of the transatlantic slave trade.
During his life as a pirate, he was forced to abandon Edward Kenway, to whom he had been loyal for years, in order to save his ship and crew. He became a strong freedom fighter and helped countless innocent lives. He was killed after confronting Shay Cormac and Haytham Kenway, the son of his long-time friend, Edward. He is a beloved character among fans of the franchise, often cited as one of the most well-written characters in the series.
3 Arno Dorian
Arno's life is marked by tragedy since his childhood when his mother, Marie, left him after a conflict with his father, Charles. He witnessed his father's murder, and for the rest of his life, he blamed himself for it. Arno was raised by François de la Serre, but when he got murdered, Arno was blamed for it and got imprisoned.
Arno joined the Assassin Order to clear his name and avenge de la Serre's death. Later on, he became depressed after his lover, Élise, died. He turned his back on the Assassins and on the whole world, but later on, he came to terms with his sorrows and became a wise and valuable member of the Assassin Order.
2 Clay Kaczmarek
Clay Kaczmarek, also known as Subject 16, was a member of the modern-day Assassins and a former employee of Abstergo Industries. Clay was instrumental in helping Desmond Miles unlock the secrets of the Pieces of Eden and the true history of the Assassins and Templars.
Clay's problems started in his childhood when he suffered from his father's neglect. Infiltrating the Abstergo Industries to find more information, he was forced to spend too much time in the Animus, thus leading to severe mental instability and ultimately suicide. However, before dying, he created a copy of himself in the Animus, and even after death, he was able to help Desmond wake up from his coma.
1 Daniel Cross
Cross was a descendant of the assassin Nikolai Orelov and suffered from powerful hallucinations. To cope with them, he relied heavily on drugs and alcohol, leading to his imprisonment.
After being experimented on by the Templars, he unconsciously killed the Assassin Mentor and decided to join the Templars in order to find safety. Cross is a tragic figure, struggling with mental illness caused by the Bleeding Effect and with the conflicting loyalties of his heritage. His ending was just as tragic as his life, as his story explores the consequences of a lifelong struggle with identity and purpose.