Feudal Japan (Roughly 1467 AD)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
If there’s one time period that Assassin’s Creed fans have been pining to see for years, it’s Feudal Japan. The era of history is absolutely rife with potential for the series, both aesthetically and thematically. Imagining a Samurai and Ninja-based Assassin’s Creed game is absolutely tantalizing, and there are plenty of historical characters that could fit right into the franchise’s timeline. In particular, the conquest of Oda Nobunaga seems perfectly fit, with Nobunaga himself being a legendary man that could function as the main antagonist of the game. You could even have a system similar to that of Syndicate, with the main character having to systematically take down Nobunaga’s general, and take part in the rebellion founded by Mitsuhide Akechi.
The Sengoku Period has been explored countless times in video games, but the unique mechanics and narrative of Assassin’s Creed could put an entirely new spin on the beloved setting.
Wild West (American Frontier 17th Century AD)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
The Wild West is yet another frequently used setting in video games that Assassin’s Creed could bring its own unique spin to. Ideally, a Wild West game would cast you as some kind of noble outlaw, constantly hounding the efforts of the Templars trying to gain control of the American Frontier.
There are countless legends of the Wild West that could appear; Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Doc Holiday, the list goes on. The era of Cowboys and Outlaws was heavy in idealism, and like in the Age of Piracy, people lived according to their own set of goals and ideals. This makes the time period perfect for the philosophical conflict between the Assassins and Templars. Really, in the end though, who doesn’t want to see a duel-wielding Assassin with a pair of sleek pistols?
Aztec Empire (Roughly 1428 AD)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
The Aztec Empire represents an area of the world not yet explored by the Assassins Creed series, located in the area now known as Mexico and Central America. In particular, there are two periods in the reign of the Empire that have potential, the founding of the Triple Alliance from a civil war fought between Azcapotzalco and its former tributary provinces, and the arrival of the Spanish, bringing about the end of the Aztecs.
Part of what makes Aztec culture so attractive for Assassin’s Creed is its polytheistic religion, with the culture worshipping a multitude of different deities. This creates the opportunity for a lot of storytelling variation, and a diverse set of towns or settlements to travel to throughout the game. Combine this with the unique weapons and styles of Aztec warriors, and you have an Assassin’s Creed game that could be much more different than anything that’s come before.
Han Dynasty (China Roughly 207 BC)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
Ancient China is another time period that’s been explored consistently in video games, mostly because of the Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, but now Total War and For Honor are also getting in on the action. There’s a reason it’s a popular time period, as the reign of the Han Dynasty is filled with war, political scheming, heroic actions, and more. There’s a wealth of stories and characters for Assassin’s Creed to dig into, whether it wants to dig into Cao Cao’s rise to power as a warlord, or the Jin Dynasty ending the War of the Three Kingdoms era.
Much like setting a game in Feudal Japan, a Han Dynasty setting could present gorgeous graphical opportunities, with grand castle cities and massive battles to wade through. The series has already made its way to China with the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles subseries, but it’d be a real shame to never get a proper entry set in the country.
Viking Age (Roughly 793 AD)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
If games like God of War and For Honor show us anything, it’s that Vikings are a surefire fit for video games. The warlike tendencies of Vikings are what make the time period so attractive for games and other media, but Assassin’s Creed has the unique chance to really dig into Viking culture and lifestyle.
Vikings may have been known for their viciousness abroad, but at home, they actually had a fairly well-ordered society, with laws and regulations to boot. It’d be fascinating to see actual Viking culture represented in a video game, especially with the potential for another Discovery Tour mode, like in Origins. Of course, prominent figures at the time you’d have to meet would include Leif Erikson, the explorer who found the New World 500 years before Colombus, and Erik the Red, the famous Viking leader.
The Hundred Years War (Roughly 1337 AD)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
Despite being a period filled with famous battles and characters, The Hundred Years War is an era not often explored by video games. The 116 years of battle are rife with political machinations, sudden unexplained deaths, and interesting locations to explore. We also haven’t yet seen an Assassin’s Creed game set in the Middle Ages, something that a Hundred Years War game could fix.
Obviously, any game set in this time period would have to prominently feature Joan of Arc, as her tragic story could quite easily play into the larger Templar-Assassin conflict. Just imagine taking part in the massive battles of the Hundred Years War, and roaming the war-torn countryside. It’s an absolutely perfect fit for the future of Assassin’s Creed.
Stone Age (Roughly 8700 BC)
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
The furthest back Assassin’s Creed has been in history so far is Ancient Egypt in Origins, taking place from 49-47 BC. What would really be interesting, however, would be to take the series all the way back to the Stone Age, show us truly ancient history and how that factors into the franchise. The Isu, also known as the First Civilization, are still an enigmatic piece of the franchise’s lore, and it goes without saying that a Stone Age game would have to bring big revelations on their involvement.
Playing as a caveman or cavewoman, you could directly interact with the Isu, learning more about them and their culture in the process. It’d definitely be a huge undertaking for Ubisoft and the story writers would need to double down, but it’s high time we finally learned more about the mysterious Isu and just what Juno has planned.
World War I or II
Future Assassin’s Creed Settings Ubisoft Should Use
World War I was already explored by the series for a few tantalizing moments in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and boy did it leave us wanting more. In a hidden mission in Syndicate, you played as an assassin named Lydia Frye, presumably a descendant of the Frye siblings. Interacting with Winston Churchhill and clambering around a WWI era London showed the potential a setting like this would have.
There are so many iconic battles, historical figures, locations, and more, that a game set in one of the World Wars could explore. Of course, this would be the most recent in history an AC game has gone, and the weaponry used would be a far cry from what we’re used to. However, considering Ubisoft’s experience in shooting titles like Watch Dogs or the Rainbow Six games, it’s not unreasonable to think they could find a way to adapt it for Assassin’s Creed.
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