Released back in 2007, the first Assassin’s Creed changed the gaming industry to a greater degree. No one was expecting something like that and honestly, no one was ready, either. The game had one of the most original formulas and one of the best settings too. That was the time when Ubisoft made us realise that they are masters at world building.
Despite the game receiving critical acclaim, the original Assassin’s Creed never really received the same level of respect it deserved. It was Assassin’s Creed II that solidified the franchise and more or less immortalized it.
Ever since that, Ubisoft has gone ahead to release 12 main games in the franchise and countless spin-offs. Needless to say, the game has managed to become a staple in the portfolio and it does not seem to slow down. However, when Ubisoft came out with Assassin’s Creed Origins, it was evident that the company was finding roots in the RPG genre more so than the genre it first introduced.
The follow ups – Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla only proved that Ubisoft now wants a different formula. Sure, the stealth elements that were made staple by the original games were still there but the new entries focused heavily on action and combat, as well, making the franchise an RPG-first offering.
If you are looking to scratch the itch of that stealth/action world again, this article contains the best games like Assassin’s Creed that you can play. The games are not entirely akin to what the hidden blade-wielding assassins will have to offer, but the stealth and combat elements are excellent.
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Middles Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Much like the Assassin’s Creed series, the Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor surprised everyone with the announcement, as well. Fans had been itching for a game that was based in the Tolkien universe but there was never a good game that was based in the same universe. Although far from the Lord of the Rings, the game proved to be one of the most successful entries.
There was a sequel too and while that was excellent, it did not receive the same praise. Everything about Shadow of Mordor was excellent. From the combat, verticality, the brutal nature of the game, as well as the story of the game.
Shadow of Mordor also featured some really good stealth elements that were completely optional but if you are looking to get started with the game and want to be stealthy in your dealings, it definitely ends up being one of the games.
Even after so many years, it still holds up as one of the finest games in the Lord of the Rings franchise and if you want to play something that is a bit similar to Assassin’s Creed but an entirely different beast of a game, then this is the way to go.
Ghost of Tsushima
Another game that took the gaming industry by surprise is Ghost of Tsushima. Currently a PlayStation exclusive, the game throws you in one of the most vibrant and stunning open worlds you could hope for. Not just that, the fluid hack and slash combat combined with some of the best stealth elements make Ghost of Tsushima one of the best games to play
The game is set in feudal Japan and follows Jin Sakai, as Jin, players are tasked to fight Mongols, and engage in some really amazing combats. The game truly makes you feel like a samurai assassin who’s task is to do the right thing.
The game also offers a lot to anyone who is in the mood for exploration, and allows you to unlock various skills and power ups as you go along. It is not something that will bore you; quite the contrary as it is one of the most immersive games that you will play.
Watch Dogs
I know this would surprise a lot of people as to why I am recommending Watch Dogs as a game that is similar to Assassin’s Creed. It is not because of the fact that both games were made by Ubisoft. It is more because both games have some strong focus on the stealth elements and you can find the paths crossing each other, as well.
Although the original Watch Dogs never received the credit that it truly deserved, the second installment was a lot of fun. On top of that, the game was also filled with several references to the Assassin’s Creed franchise and if you do want to have some fun with the stealthy elements, this is the game that you should be going for.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
I know, I know. A lot of people here are going to want to have our head for including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in the list of games that are similar to Assassin’s Creed. But hear me out first; the game does not have the violence, or the hidden blade, for that matter. However, there are some similarities that you can find, especially when you are looking at the last three entries in the series.
You are going to get some amazing RPG elements, great storytelling and overall, lots of fun time that will not bore you at all. If you want to play a game that is full of fun and is going to leave you with countless good memories and a lot of great replay value, this is the game that you should be picking up.
There is also plenty of amazing combat that will keep you engaged and several puzzles and explorations that are both challenging and rewarding at the same time.
Batman Arkham Series
I still remember the first day I played Batman: Arkham Asylum and was completely blown away with what I had witnessed. To be honest, the game was more or less completely different than what I had expected. Many in the gaming world were expecting a dud but the game ended up being one of the best games in the franchise.
The game had everything one would want from a Batman game; an amazing, bone-chilling story, a heap of classic and iconic villains, top of the line narrative, and a world dripping with atmosphere. The game also took liberty with a lot of stealth elements and made everything more and more fun.
The sequel Arkham City came out and made things even better and not just that, it opened the entire Arkham City for us to explore, and boy was it a treat. Arkham Knight was a massive change and while I do agree with the criticism it received, one thing’s for sure, Rocksteady’s formula worked.
The Batman Arkham series proved that superhero games do not have to be marred down and be terrible; it also kick started an entirely different genre of stealth, allowing people to have as much fun as they want.
Metal Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Very few games manage to handle stealth and world building like the Metal Gear series; the original games in the franchise were very good when it came to portraying some amazing espionage and stealth and as the technology and game development got better and better, we kept getting better games.
When the Phantom Pain was announced, the hype was through the sky because it was the return of the master Hideo Kojima. Even though the game did not get to see the same level of polish and finishing it would have if Kojima had stayed on the project but despite that, Phantom Pain remains one of the best stealth/action games that one can play.
I would say that this is a lot more different than the Assassin’s Creed franchise, so I would only advise people to play this if they are looking to play a game for the stealth elements because the game is excellent with stealth.
Mad Max
Another game that was a surprise for a lot of people was Mad Max. The tragedy of this game is that it was released alongside Phantom Pain and was dwarfed in terms of the recognition that it deserved. The game took inspiration from many of the greats in the gaming franchise including the famed Assassin’s Creed and none other than the Arkham franchise, and honestly, I am glad that we got something like Mad Max.
Everything ranging from the excellent vehicular combat to one of the most brutal hand to hand combat and stealth elements that were in this game were excellent and on par with some of the industry’s finest. If you are in the mood for something that is brutal and unforgiving, play Mad Max on the hardest difficulty and thank us later.
Horizon Zero Dawn
My experience with Horizon Zero Dawn was very limited at launch because back then, I did not own a PS4. However, when the game finally made its way to PC, I picked it up right away and boy was I glad that I did. The game was very different from the usual brand of open world games that I was used to play but also had some of the finest elements from some amazing games.
The fluid combat, free-roaming, story-telling, as well as stealth segments reminded me of the best Assassin’s Creed days, and honestly, it certainly is one of the best games that one can play even today. I cannot wait for the sequel to finally come out.
Aragami
Whoever feels like that they want to step into the shoes of another assassin and be absolutely dreadful in their dealings, Aragami is the game to play and for a lot of the reasons this is a great game that one can play that will not fail you at all. Sure, it is inherently different from the famed Assassin’s Creed but it does let you play as one.
Not just that, but you are playing as an undead assassin who is waging war against several enemies. The thing about Aragami is that the game offers no face-to-face combat as it revolves entirely around stealth. Which goes to show that you will genuinely have to be good at it and know when to strike and when not to because without that, you might never really get the proper experience.
Dishonored 2
Dishonored franchise is another one of my favourites for all the right reasons. The game introduced a whole new brand of flashy stealth elements with some of the most fun supernatural abilities. The original Dishonored was a treat to play but the developers upped the ante in the second installment and gave us two protagonists with entirely different set of abilities.
IF you are looking for some stealthy elements or head to head encounters, you can simply pick up Dishonored 2 and get started. It does not matter if you are going to play with Emily or Corvo; if you want to have fun and destroy anyone who stands in your way, the game is a great way of getting started, and well, you can enjoy the game even if you are not in the mood for stealth.
There is some great parkour in the game with excellent verticality, and not to forget, level ups, progression, and the supernatural abilities making the game more and more fun. We are also going to give credit to the art direction and style of the game that is one of the best that I have experienced.
Conclusion
I am fully aware of the fact that Assassin’s Creed is a very unique and different franchise. However, with the last three entries, Ubisoft has finally decided to head towards the mainstream. The games in the list are not direct representatives of Assassin’s Creed, but do represent some of the best elements from the industry.
I am talking stealth, story-telling, progression, world building, and other similar elements. IF you have been itching to step into the shoes of an assassin and leave nothing in your wake, then these games should easily scratch that itch for you.