What Assassin's Creed Games Are Multiplayer: Exploring the Shadows of Cooperative Gameplay

The Assassin’s Creed series, known for its rich historical settings, intricate narratives, and stealth-based gameplay, has also ventured into the realm of multiplayer experiences. While the core of the franchise has always been its single-player campaigns, several entries have introduced multiplayer modes that allow players to step into the shoes of assassins and compete or cooperate with others in unique ways. This article delves into the multiplayer aspects of Assassin’s Creed games, exploring how they have evolved and what they offer to fans of the series.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood: The Birth of Multiplayer

The first foray into multiplayer within the Assassin’s Creed universe came with Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood in 2010. This game introduced a competitive multiplayer mode where players could assume the roles of Templars and assassins, engaging in a cat-and-mouse game of stealth and strategy. The mode was praised for its innovative approach, blending the series’ signature stealth mechanics with competitive gameplay. Players could choose from a variety of characters, each with unique abilities, and compete in modes like “Wanted” and “Alliance.”

Assassin’s Creed Revelations: Expanding the Multiplayer Experience

Following the success of Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed Revelations (2011) expanded on the multiplayer formula. It introduced new characters, maps, and modes, such as “Deathmatch” and “Artifact Assault.” The game also added a progression system, allowing players to unlock new abilities and customization options as they leveled up. The multiplayer in Revelations was more refined, offering a deeper and more varied experience for players.

Assassin’s Creed III: A New Frontier in Multiplayer

With Assassin’s Creed III (2012), the series took its multiplayer to the American Revolution. The game introduced a new mode called “Wolfpack,” where players could team up to take down AI-controlled targets. This cooperative mode was a departure from the competitive nature of previous multiplayer offerings, providing a fresh experience for players who preferred working together rather than against each other. The game also featured traditional competitive modes, ensuring that there was something for everyone.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag - Naval Multiplayer

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) brought the multiplayer experience to the high seas. While the game’s single-player campaign focused on naval combat and exploration, the multiplayer mode introduced a unique twist with “Game Lab.” This mode allowed players to create custom game types, offering endless possibilities for multiplayer matches. The game also retained traditional modes like “Wanted” and “Deathmatch,” ensuring that fans of the earlier multiplayer experiences were not left out.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: Cooperative Missions

Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014) marked a significant shift in the series’ multiplayer approach. Instead of competitive modes, the game introduced cooperative missions, where up to four players could team up to complete specific objectives. These missions were integrated into the main story, allowing players to experience the narrative together. The cooperative gameplay emphasized teamwork and strategy, offering a different kind of multiplayer experience that was more aligned with the series’ core themes of brotherhood and unity.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: The Absence of Multiplayer

Interestingly, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015) did not feature any multiplayer modes. This decision was likely influenced by the mixed reception of the multiplayer in previous games and a desire to focus on refining the single-player experience. While some fans missed the multiplayer aspect, others appreciated the return to a purely single-player focus, which allowed for a more immersive and narrative-driven experience.

The Future of Multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed

As the Assassin’s Creed series continues to evolve, the future of multiplayer remains uncertain. While some fans hope for a return of competitive or cooperative modes, others prefer the series to remain focused on its single-player roots. Recent entries like Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017), Odyssey (2018), and Valhalla (2020) have not included traditional multiplayer modes, instead opting for expansive open worlds and deep narrative experiences. However, the success of games like Assassin’s Creed Unity suggests that there is still potential for multiplayer in the series, whether through cooperative missions or entirely new modes.

Conclusion

The multiplayer experiences in the Assassin’s Creed series have been diverse and innovative, offering players new ways to engage with the franchise’s rich world. From the competitive stealth of Brotherhood to the cooperative missions of Unity, each game has brought something unique to the table. While the future of multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed remains unclear, the legacy of these modes continues to influence how players interact with the series. Whether through competitive play or cooperative storytelling, the multiplayer aspects of Assassin’s Creed have left an indelible mark on the franchise.

Related Q&A

Q: Which Assassin’s Creed game introduced multiplayer first? A: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (2010) was the first game in the series to introduce a multiplayer mode.

Q: What was unique about the multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed Unity? A: Assassin’s Creed Unity introduced cooperative missions, allowing up to four players to team up and complete objectives together, integrating multiplayer into the main story.

Q: Did Assassin’s Creed Syndicate have multiplayer? A: No, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate did not feature any multiplayer modes, focusing instead on a purely single-player experience.

Q: What was the “Wolfpack” mode in Assassin’s Creed III? A: “Wolfpack” was a cooperative multiplayer mode in Assassin’s Creed III where players teamed up to take down AI-controlled targets.

Q: Has there been any multiplayer in recent Assassin’s Creed games like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla? A: No, recent entries in the series have not included traditional multiplayer modes, focusing instead on expansive single-player experiences.