Assassin’s Creedgames have typically favored self-contained stories with each entry featuring a new setting and a unique protagonist, with the one exception so far being the Ezio trilogy. This has the advantage of making the series accessible to new players, who can theoretically jump into any game and have a decent idea of what is happening without having to play several other games first. However,Miragedoes something a bit different with the series. While it presents a very different setting, itopted to take Basim—a supporting character fromValhalla—and put him front and center. This kind of thing has been done in DLCs, like giving Adéwalé a campaign forBlack Flag, but it has never been done as an entire game before now. The choice to make what is otherwise a fairly self-contained game tie back toValhallais certainly an interesting one.
But Basim is hardly the only supporting character who could benefit from his own game. The series is full of interesting characters that simply weren’t the primary focus at the time. In some cases, they were only playable for a short while at a very specific point in the game, and sometimes they were limited to NPC roles. However, many of them have hidden and interesting stories to tell that could very well be the basis for a full game.
The Italian assassin Ezio Auditore quickly exploded in popularityafterAssassin’s Creed 2,to the point where he went on to star in two more games before the series tried a new protagonist. However, while Ezio’s story might have concluded withRevelations, it is worth noting that Ezio comes from a family of Assassins. Players havetechnicallymet some of his descendants: Edward and Haytham Kenway, Connor, as well as William and Desmond Miles, but there are several much closer relatives to Ezio himself who probably have some interesting stories to tell.
A prequel to the Ezio saga could follow his father Giovanni or his uncle Mario, the latter of whom was a close mentor. Ubisoft could also revisit his sister Claudia, who became an assassin at the end ofBrotherhood. Yet another option would be to follow Ezio’s children, who have yet to make an appearance in the actual games.
The great thing about following one of the Auditores is it would mean revisiting one of the most popular parts of the franchise, while still offering something new. It would also be a good opportunity to bring back the Renaissance setting, andeven expand on it by exploring other parts of the era.Revelationsdid a bit of that already by moving the setting from Italy to Constantinople. A game centered on one of the Auditores could do something similar by taking place in another country. England would be the obvious choice, but it could be interesting to visit Germany and explore the rise of the Protestant Church.
5Anne Bonny
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flagwon over a lot of fans with its choice to portray the Golden Age of Piracy. The game combined epic ship-based combat with a compelling story that intertwined some of history’s most notorious piratesand remains a favorite of the series. The pirate angle proved so popular it returned (albeit in modified form) forRogueandOdyssey, so there is certainly demand for a new pirate game.
But what about a pirate game where players can actuallyplayas a real pirate from history? There were lots of historical pirates portrayed in the game, but most of them are dead by the end—except for Anne Bonny. In real life, she disappears from historical records, and her exact fate is disputed. The game takes advantage of this uncertainty to allow her to survive and continue her pirating career.
This would make Anne Bonny a logical choice for a follow-up toBlack Flag, especially with protagonist Edward Kenway retiring. The upside is a game centered around Anne Bonny would not be constrained by history. The plot could have her go anywhere, meaning it could theoretically explore any number of locations or events, all while maintaining the gameplay that captivated so many fans. For instance, it could have Anne Bonny cross paths with other famous pirates from around the same time in other parts of the world like the notorious Ching Shih.
Assassin’s Creed Originsmostly focused on Medjay Bayek, buthis wife Aya also played a major rolein creating what became the Assassin Brotherhood. The Greek-descended Egyptian assassin quickly proved a fan favorite. The demand for a sequel following her has been circulating among players for a while, especially after it came out that her role inOriginswas greatly diminished by interference from misogynistic executives.
Originseven left a convenient jumping-off point for an Aya-centered game. She was shown to have left Egypt and changed her name to Amunet, with the implication that she is continuing what her husband started. IfOriginsended with the foundation being laid for the Hidden Ones, a sequel would logically follow how Amunet expands them, turning them from a group of vigilantes into an internationally coordinated secret society.
Originsalso presented a logical setting for such a game: Ancient Rome. The climactic scene showed Aya taking part in the infamous assassination of Julius Caesar alongside real-life conspirators, Brutus and Cassius. The logical direction for a sequel would be to portray the consequences of Caesar’s death: a brutal civil war that ended with his son Augustus coming out on top and becoming the first Emperor of Rome.
Despite the controversies aroundAssassin’s Creed Unityand division among fans, one of its supporting characters did manage to win people over—the templar Elise De La Seure. She quickly rose to popularity, overshadowing the actual protagonist Arno Dorian, and the game’s French Revolution setting.
Unitymade an interesting choice by having allies and enemies on both sides, with a big part of the plot involving an attempt at reconciliation between the Assassins and Templars. A game centered on Elise could explore that aspect in more detail, highlighting both the good and bad sides of the faction normally cast as the bad guys. Admittedly such a game would have to be a prequel.
That is unless Ubisoft is open to undoing her death at the end ofUnity. They already have the Staff of Hermes. Maybe that or a similar artifact could be used to bring her back for more adventures?There are a lot of fans who would love that. Then they could have Elise moving forward into the Napoleonic era or the 1832 June rebellion (the one that inspiredLes Misérables). Or perhaps moving out of France altogether and exploring other parts of Georgian-era Europe.
Assassin’s Creed 3delighted in messing with the viewer’s expectations when it introduced Haytham Kenway. He was initially set up as the hero, with the player given a decent amount of time to get invested in his story only to find out he is actually the lead Templar and the primary antagonist.
ButHaytham nonetheless proved an interesting addition to the cast. The first act where he is made playable is the best part of the game. If anything, Haytham was actually a far more interesting character than theactualprotagonist. Even as an antagonist, he stood out from his predecessors. His presence showed the conflict between the Assassins and Templars to be less black and white than in previous games. He wasn’t just a power-hungry tyrant like the Borgias, but actually had relatable motives and goals, and pointed out several flaws in the alleged “good guys.”
A game about Haytham would have to be a prequel to3since he dies in that game, but it would be a great opportunity to see the better side of the Templars with a more engaging protagonist than Shay Cormac. Kenway’s story was somewhat expanded inRogue, but there is another interesting angle to take. Players have seen him as a Templar grand master, but know little of the story of how he got there. A game following a younger Haytham with the nice backdrop of Georgian England could explore how he is drawn into the Templar Order and manages to climb their ranks. They could even get into the differences between him and his predecessors and have a plot about trying to stamp out corruption in the Templars' ranks and reform it into something better.
1Lydia Frye
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicatewas mainly centered around the twins Jacob and Evie Frye and their adventures in Victorian London, but there was a hidden third playable character: Jacob’s granddaughter Lydia Frye. The section made an interesting choice, jumping ahead to the First World War, with a story about Lydia helping Winston Churchill break up a German spy ring.
Unfortunately, the level proved really short and didn’t leave a lot of room to develop Lydia as a character or to take full advantage of the new timeframe. A game centered around Lydia could build on what was established in the bonus level and offer a lot more about the Assassins' part in the First World War, as well as further develop her connections to Churchill and relationships with the twins.
While the obvious choice would be to return to the First World War as seen inSyndicate, and maybe even expand beyond London, there are other options. Moving slightly earlier would bring players into Edwardian England, while moving slightly later would mean entering the Great Depression, both of which could also make great settings.
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