Assassin’s Creed quickly cemented itself as one of the most iconic video game franchises ever since the first installment released all the way back in 2007. From then, we have visited many different historical periods and have adventured as many cool hooded Assassins, completely taking in and enjoying the brilliance of the worlds.
However, despite these massive and brilliant sprawling worlds, one of the biggest reasons why most of these games are so amazing and memorable is because of many of the protagonists that they made. These are legendary Assassins whose names have survived for centuries and are some of the most memorable characters in gaming. So, let’s take a look at 10 of the best Assassins from the series!
10. Adewalé (Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry)
Link: Adewalé in Black Flag
Adewalé is a fan favorite character that first appeared in Assassin’s Creed 4, but at that stage, was one that we as the player had no idea of the significance of. In Assassin’s Creed Rogue, Haytham and Shay had to hunt him down and kill him, all the while telling us that he is a legendary Assassin and one that knew Haytham’s father.
Adewalé was first introduced to us as a former slave that Edward had taken aboard his ship and made his quartermaster, which led to a long and amazing friendship between the 2 of them, with Adewalé being very stern and providing the best contrast to Edward’s fun personality.
9. Arno Dorian (Assassin’s Creed Unity)
Link: Arno Victor Dorian, France's biggest whimp
Now this may be a controversial pick for many, and I can understand why. When Unity initially came out in 2014, it was pretty clear to see Arno for what he was and what Ubisoft was trying to do in terms of character development; they were essentially trying to make another version of Ezio but they couldn’t.
Arno in the main game was not a compelling character, always out to settle his own little revenge plot while the country of France was literally tearing itself apart. Though he was the stealthiest and most deadly Assassin we had seen at that stage in the game, he just wasn’t compelling enough. However, in the Dead Kings DLC, we saw Arno after the events of the main game where he is reeling with the death of his love and is moving on with his life. It shows great growth for him and makes him into a character we can all get behind.
8. Jacob Frye (Assassin’s Creed Syndicate)
Link: Jacob's annoying but I like him
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate was the first game in the series to feature 2 playable protagonists, the Frye twins Jacob and Evie. They are both very different and unique characters that each have their own strengths, weaknesses and goals, as well as different ways of achieving them, with Jacob being the louder and brash one.
Jacob’s approach to things was always to be abrasive and he never really cared much for stealth. Despite this, he was easily the more annoying of the twins, always being loud and setting out to do things his own way instead of the way he should have and always making jokes and quips about things. This made him pretty annoying, but also gave a lighthearted and comedic side to the game.
7. Connor Kenway (Assassin’s Creed 3)
Link: Imagine this guy running towards you
Connor is definitely in the running for the absolute coolest Assassin ever, with his ferocity, unmatched strength and incredible fashion. Though despite being a great Assassin, Connor as a character was simply ‘okay’. He didn’t have much depth beyond his revenge storyline and was always super stoic so we couldn’t really sympathize with him all that much.
However, the reason he beats the other Assassins below him is mainly due to how much fun he is to play. Connor is the one member of the order that could beat absolutely every single other assassin in history in a 1v1 fight and when you play as him, it is very clear to see why.
6. Evie Frye (Assassin’s Creed Syndicate)
Link: The more likable sibling
Evie is the other twin that the player is introduced to in Syndicate, and she makes up for all the faults and weaknesses that her brother Jacob has. Evie is a charming, inquisitive and very skilled Assassin who is way more ‘by the book’ than her brother and one that is infinitely more likable. Plus, she is one of the stealthiest and deadliest Assassin’s ever introduced in the series, keeping true with the identity of the games!
Evie is also very funny, but unlike Jacob, most of her scenes aren’t littered with useless comedic quips that take away from the seriousness of the situation. She always has her head in the game and just has a much more likable aura and personality, never compromising the tenets of the Creed to suit her own ambitions and goals. To be honest, Syndicate probably would have been way better if it was just Evie as the main character!
5. Shay Cormac (Assassin’s Creed Rogue)
Link: Shay makes his own destiny
While not strictly an Assassin by the time we play as him, Shay Patrick Cormac was once an initiate in the Brotherhood and a very promising one at that. However, after being greatly disillusioned by the Assassin Brotherhood after a mission goes horribly wrong, Shay defects to the Templars and turns the entire nature of the conflict on its head for the player.
Shay is a great character as, despite us knowing that he is undoubtedly working for the evil side, he is a deeply nuanced character who was right to call the Assassin’s Order out on their faults. He showed us a never before seen side to the story of the conflict and that the Assassins and Templars are 2 sides of the same coin. Just because we are more familiar with one side of the conflict doesn’t mean that side is always right.
4. Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad (Assassins Creed)
Link: Altaïr the GOAT
The greatest Assassin of all time. The reason why Altaïr is still remembered and celebrated today both in lore and in real life is because of the fact that he has the greatest legacy of all the Assassins in the lore. Altaïr was a character that inspired all the protagonists of the series after him in one way or the other as they all have at least 1 aspect of him.
In every subsequent game that they have made, Ubisoft makes it a point to talk about just how important Altaïr was to the overall story. Though he wasn’t the most compelling character in the series upon release and was more fleshed out after AC Revelations, he was one that completely destroyed the Order and remade it from the ground up. Legend doesn’t even begin to describe him.
3. Edward Kenway (Assassin Creed Black Flag)
Link: It's a pirate's life for Edward
The reason why Edward is this high on the list for me is because he is relatable. His story sees him being a pirate that has been thrust into the life of an Assassin completely unwillingly and while he initially doesn’t care much for it, he eventually gives his entire life to the Brotherhood, becoming one of the greatest pirates and Assassins in history.
Edward is like many of us, completely aloof and carefree in the face of responsibility but stepping up to the position when he has to. He is absolutely hilarious as well, but unlike Jacob, he doesn’t make everything into a joke. His more serious moments deliver him to be one of the most poignant and best protagonists in gaming.
2. Bayek of Siwa (Assassin’s Creed Origins)
Link: The father of the Brotherhood
Bayek was the founder of the entire Assassin’s Order and was the protagonist of the first of the RPG Assassin’s Creed games. While these games have very greatly overstayed their welcome, Origins was very fresh for the series when it came out, due to which it remains the best of the ancient RPG trilogy. And Bayek is definitely the biggest reason for this.
Bayek is one of the most lovable and charming characters in the entire series, as he is one that has suffered tremendous loss in his life but he never lets that get in the way of how he treats others that aren’t guilty. After losing his son, you can still see how much he loves children and how nice he is to everyone, always being warm, charming and kind to the civilians. Plus, Abubakr Salim’s performance as Bayek is probably the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.
1. Ezio Auditore (Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood, Revelations)
Link: Ezio Auditore Di Firenze
Were you expecting someone else to take the top spot? Ezio is not only the greatest character that Ubisoft has ever come up with, he is one of the greatest protagonists in gaming, period. Sure, much of this could be because of the fact that Ezio was the protagonist for 3 consecutive games, but to be honest, I don’t think any other character could even warrant 3 games like Ezio.
This is because Ezio hits all the beats of what make a perfect main character and much like Bayek, he sees one of the most horrifying things someone could imagine but he never lets that change who he is as a person. Ezio, despite only being the second main character they’ve ever made, is the culmination of everything that makes these games so great in the first place and we essentially see his entire life play out over the course of 3 games, so when we see him for the last time, we aren’t just saying goodbye to a great video game character, we are saying goodbye to a friend.
