is one of the most popular open-world franchises around that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Even with the recent fatigue that fans have experienced for this series, successful releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows prove that there's still a lot of steam in this IP.

The best games in the franchise combine combat, exploration, and story into one delectable cocktail that fans can easily get drunk on. A good open world is critical for an Assassin's Creed game, since players will be encouraged to explore the world and find secrets while testing out their parkour abilities if they vibe with the setting.

While Assassin's Creed may have enjoyed more of a mixed reception compared to the titles that preceded it, this title was a blast to play if the open world clicked with fans. The Frontier encouraged players to go on hunts and jump from tree to tree, making for a simple yet unique spin on the title's typically urban parkour gameplay.

Connor's adventures in Assassin's Creed 3 are great, and fans have warmed up to this title over time as the years have gone by. The open-world activities feel organic and do a great job of immersing players as they strive to find collectibles and acquire rare resources by exploring every nook and cranny of the Frontier.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze is the greatest Assassin's Creed protagonist in the eyes of many. His charming and suave attitude takes a real hit after a major tragedy befalls his family, causing him to walk down the path of an Assassin to seek revenge.

There's no denying that Assassin's Creed 2 is pretty dated, but players who don't mind dealing with somewhat clunky controls will love what this title brings to the table. Exploring iconic locations like Venice and Florence during the Italian Renaissance feels great as players get a history lesson while getting invested in an amazing plot.

The RPG approach to modern Assassin's Creed games felt like a breath of fresh air at first, only for fans to realize that this transition came at the cost of sacrificing some of the core elements of the series. This is why fans were a bit tired of this formula already by the time Valhalla came out.

A Viking Assassin's Creed game set in Anglo-Saxon England definitely made for some fun exploration, and fans loved how massive and jam-packed this world was. It reached a point where some people found the sandbox to be too massive for their liking, which was a complaint carried over from Odyssey.

Exploring a meticulously detailed version of Paris during the French Revolution made Assassin's Creed Unity extremely captivating. It's a shame that the title had such a broken launch, but the modern version of this game is pretty stable and well worth checking out.

Unity's improved climbing mechanics made it a ton of fun to explore this version of Paris, with players finding several side activities to spend their time on, too. The story may be somewhat weak for an Assassin's Creed game, but the exploration more than makes up for it.

Odyssey is a massive video game that lets players explore Ancient Greece and find a ton of secrets and quests in the process. However, this approach also led to an open world that exhausted many fans.

As long as players balance exploration and the main story, they'll have a great time with Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The game is genuinely jam-packed with so much detail that it would be a shame for players not to appreciate these hand-crafted environments if they've been burnt out.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is one of the best video games in the series that unfairly suffered in sales after Unity's poor launch alienated many fans. It's a shame, since the adventures of the Frye twins as they strive to liberate Victorian England and spark a revolution are a blast.

It helped that this open world is jaw-droppingly gorgeous and packed with immense detail. Even the mixed reception to the grappling hook didn't stop players from enjoying the sights.

With Assassin's Creed taking a yearly hiatus for the first time in a while, fans wondered what Origins would turn out to be. The game clearly took inspiration from The Witcher 3 with its RPG influences, and this isn't a bad thing in the slightest.

Assassin's Creed RPGs may seem somewhat tiresome now, but the setting of Egypt was so massive and beautiful that many fans touted this game as a return to form for the franchise. Bayek's exploration takes him to several unique locations full of meaningful rewards and interesting lore to uncover.

To this day, there's something special about exploring the Caribbean as a pirate that makes Black Flag the best game in the series. Edward Kenway assumes the role of an Assassin who enjoys the life of piracy and explores many unique locations.

Whaling, finding undiscovered islands, and sailing from one spot to the next are all surprisingly engaging. The game's high-seas exploration plays a huge role in making Black Flag's setting iconic, to the point where some people hail this world as the best ever to feature in an Assassin's Creed game.