Summary
TheAssassin’s Creedseries has a longstanding connection to medieval history. The very first game was set during the Third Crusade, and the setting would be revisited inRevelations.Unity, despite mostly being about the French Revolution, opened with the destruction of the Order of the Knights Templar in 1312.Valhallainvited players to explore early Medieval England as a Viking.Mirageintroduced many Western players to the Abbasid Caliphate. And nowShadowstakes players into Feudal Japan. There’s no doubt that theAssassin’s Creedseries is a great choice for players who want an epic medieval adventure, especially one that leans more on history, as opposed to a more fantasy-oriented title likeThe Elder ScrollsorThe Witcher. But what other options are there for fans who want something new?
There are plenty of options for strategy and roleplaying gamescentered around building and managing a kingdom, but what about something that fits more with the things people love aboutAssassin’s Creed? Details like the open world, the stealth mechanics, parkour, and inspiration from history. Fortunately, for those players, there are some great choices for games to look into.
Assassin’s Creedisn’t the only option on the market for fans keen on a medieval game from Ubisoft. Their other big one isFor Honor, a multiplayer medieval combat simulator. This one is admittedly a bit more fantasy than historical, as it mixes up different parts of the Middle Ages and even slips in a few pieces of the Ancient World. But the main focus is combat between three major types of medieval warriors: knights, samurai, and Vikings (all of which have appeared inAssassin’s Creedgames). And of course, each faction has different classes with unique skill sets.
Sticklers for historical accuracy might get annoyed by some of the liberties taken, up to and including the presence of female knights. But those just looking to have fun battling their friends are sure to have a good time. Game modes range from one-on-one duels to castle siegesso there are a lot of great options for medieval mayhem.
When it was first released in 2020, Sucker Punch’sGhost of Tsushimareceived a lot of comparisons toAssassin’s Creed. Some fans even went as far as to argue it was definitive proof that the series needed to do a Feudal Japan setting (something long requested but which wouldn’t happen untilShadowsfive years later). It is a bit more grounded, lacking the sci-fi and conspiracy aspects ofAssassin’s Creed(though multiplayer has a more mythological bent), but it does feature a detailed open world inspired by real medieval history. While it avoids appearances by actual historical figures,Ghost of Tsushimadoes take place during the real-life Mongol invasion of Tsushima in 1274.
Protagonist Jin Sakai is a samurai who faces the hard lesson that his rigid code of honor is ineffective against an enemy who fights dirty, and has to turn to guerrilla tactics to save his home. In doing so he becomes the titular “ghost” who strikes fear into the hearts of Mongols.
A lot of gameplay involves situations familiar toAssassin’s Creedplayers, some of which may have even recursively influencedShadows. Jin relies heavily on stealth and ambush tactics to break up the Mongolian Empire’s hold on Tsushima, with options for epic Kurasawa-inspired swordfights as well.There’s also a sequel coming out this year, so it’s a perfect time to prepare by checking out this classic.
Warhorse’s popular RPG series (currently made up of two games) does put a bit more emphasis on medieval combat and roleplaying, but it does still have a lot of things that should attractAssassin’s Creedplayers, particularly its emphasis on actual history. There’s less in the way of conspiracies and secret societies, although that doesn’t stop the games from making up for it with themes of political intrigue.Kingdom Come Deliverancetakes place in 15th-century Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), against the backdrop of the real-life dispute between Wencelaus IV and his brother Sigismund over the throne. Protagonist Henry starts as a peasant who gets caught in the middle,eventually becoming a knightin Wenceslaus’s army. Naturally, the stories of both games involve encounters with real historical figures and events.
Although the main selling point is realistic medieval combat, bothKingdom Come Deliverancegames are designed to be open-ended and include lots of options for how to do things. They offer a fully open world with nonlinear quests and multiple ways to accomplish objectives. That includes many portions where stealth or diplomacy is a more practical option. Of course, it can also be a bit more challenging since there can be serious consequences for getting caught, which can mean getting stuck in the pillory at best or outright executed at worst.
It should be noted, however, that gameplay inKingdom Come Deliveranceis extremely complicated. This is especially true for combat, which has a much greater learning curve thanAssassin’s Creed.
As the title implies, Asobo’sA Plague Taleseries takes place during the Bubonic Plague (1346-1353), the infamous pandemic that wiped out half of Europe. The overarching story (currently comprising two games) follows the former noble Amicia De Rune as she tries to protect her younger brother from the worst of it, as well as unscrupulous characters who want to use his unique abilities to their own ends.
Although not an open world,A Plague Taledoes have a lot of the hallmarks of a goodAssassin’s Creedgame.There’s the historical backdrop, with the first game even touching on the Hundred Years War and the Inquisition, a secret society called “The Order” that keeps getting involved, and Hugo himself, who could effectively be described as a human piece of Eden.
A Plague Taleis also notable for putting a lot more emphasis on stealth, which is a big part ofAssassin’s Creed.What sets it apart is the extra pressure. Unlike mostAssassin’s Creedprotagonists, Amicia isn’t an experienced fighter and can get killed in one hit if she’s caught. So dealing with enemies requires a lot more discretion and resourcefulness.
5Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
A Punishing Adventure In The Sengoku Era
Assassin’s Creedis well-known for its portrayals of history, but it sometimes likes to touch on the mythological side of things, too.Origins,Odyssey, andValhallaall played with the mythologies of their settings, usually via dream sequences or Isu relics. What if there was a game that could tap more intothatside of things?Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis just the game for that desire. This one takes place in medieval Japan during the Sengoku Period, and its main character is a Shinobi (not too far off from an Assassin), but it also features encounters with everythingfrom rival samurai to a giant snake. Although it doesn’t have an open world, it does offer parkour and an agility-based combat system that encourages stealth, both of which are featuresAssassin’s Creedplayers will recognize.
However, it is worth warning potential players that it is a FromSoftware game. That means it will be immensely challenging and potentially frustrating to some audiences. Players should be ready to take on a grueling challenge before starting.
