Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla marked a return to form for the Assassin’s Creed series in many ways. Perhaps the most obvious was the reappearance of the hidden blade, but more subtle was the decision to adopt an early medieval setting, similar to the first game. The original game was set in the Middle East during the Third Crusade in 1191 AD, while Valhalla takes place in Europe during the Viking era around 873 AD. While these are drastically different locations and events (the events of both games would be roughly 318 years apart), both the Crusades and the Viking era are considered part of the medieval period.
While Assassin’s Creed has offered an impressive selection of historical moments, there is only so much that can be covered in a single game. Just as Valhalla revisited the Middle Ages and showed material that would not have fit into the original Assassin’s Creed, there are other historical settings from the games still full of untapped material.
5 The Renaissance (14th Century)
Assassin’s Creed II made the ambitious decision to jump forward from the late Middle Ages into the Early Renaissance with the story of Ezio Auditore, but it was mostly focused on Italy (with Revelations being set in Constantinople). Aside from possibly reconnecting with some familiar faces, a return to the Renaissance could be a great opportunity to explore new material that could not make it into the previous games. There are definitely some major figures of the Italian Renaissance who never made it into Ezio’s story, such as the astronomer Galileo Galilei, but there would be even more potential with a change in location.
A great place to look would be exploring England around the same time, perhaps during the reign of Henry VIII, or his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I. There would be no shortage of famous historical figures, locations, and events. Imagine sailing with Sir Walter Raleigh or Francis Drake against the Spanish Armada, or scaling the walls of the famous globe theater. What if players could do missions for William Shakespeare, himself? Perhaps a sidequest where the player gets to star in one of his shows.
4 The British Empire (19th Century)
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate offered a glimpse into the British Empire at its peak in the 19th century, but it was focused exclusively at its center in London. This was an empire that covered most of the world, but its vast range and influence are mostly discussed in-game, usually through characters from those other places arriving in London. While Queen Victoria is depicted in a positive light, the British Empire did have a reputation for violence and cruelty toward the people it conquered, easily setting up opportunities for corruption and Templar interference. And with nine-tenths of the globe occupied, there is a wide range of choices for locations.
One of the more obvious choices would be India, which is referenced in Syndicate but only appears in Assassin’s Creed: Chronicles. There would be one very iconic historical figure that could make an appearance, Mahatma Ghandi (late 19th, early 20th century), with players having an opportunity to help his famous movement of passive resistance. Another great option would be Africa, perhaps during the Zulu war in 1879. This would offer some great opportunities to re-enact famous battles, especially the Battle of Rorke’s Drift.
3 Vinland – Viking Age (793 A.D. – 1066 A.D.)
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was mostly set in England, but it did have one notable level where Eivor travels to North America, specifically a place called the Vikings called “Vinland.” (Its exact location is disputed, but generally believed to be located in Canada’s eastern seaboard). While some Vikings had already been exploring the area, Vinland would not actually be colonized for a couple of centuries. It would also open the door to exploration of Greenland, which would offer even more Viking history. A game set after Valhalla could follow the famous Viking, Erik the Red as he tries to build a settlement in Greenland, as well as the exploration of Vinland by his son Leif Erikson.
2 Ancient Egypt (3100 B.C. – 332 B.C.)
A big part of the atmosphere in Assassin’s Creed: Origins comes from the realization that Bayek and Aya are living in a dying society. Egypt has already been overtaken by the Greeks, and eventually, it falls to the Romans, with the Ancient Egyptian Civilization fading rapidly. Of course, throughout the game, the player can find remnants of Egypt in its prime, mostly in the ruins that were already ancient when the game takes place. While Origins used this to great effect, there are still many stories to be told of Egypt.
It would be interesting to see an Assassin’s Creed game go further back into Egypt’s history and exploring the stories of past Pharaohs. Perhaps the player could witness the construction of the Pyramids or the Sphynx. Maybe even further back, they could meet Imhotep, the architect who conceived the first Egyptian pyramid. They could explore the Valley of the Kings, a location that only made it into Origins‘ DLC, and witness the reign of Tutankhamun.
1 Ancient Rome (753 B.C. – 476 A.D.)
Assassin’s Creed: Origins depicted a key event in the rise of the Roman Empire (the assassination of Julius Caesar), but only a small portion of the game actually focuses on the Roman civilization. It otherwise only appears in the form of ruins in Brotherhood and Valhalla. There was no shortage of corrupt politicians that would make prime targets for the Hidden Ones. There are plenty of cruel emperors to choose from when looking for someone to take over the Order of the Ancients. Whether it is Nero’s corruption, Caligula’s bloodlust, or Elagabalus’ bizarre “lotteries,” they tend to fit the profile of Assassination Targets, and may even have ties to the Order of the Ancients. The range of options is not even limited to after Rome became an empire.
One story that would lend itself nicely to Assassin’s Creed would be the rebellion of Spartacus around 73-71 BC, which would also include a younger Julius Caesar. Plus, the city itself would be a great setting, with so much architecture to parkour on.
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