What Assassin's Creed Games Are Multiplayer: A Dive into the Shadows of Cooperative Gameplay

The Assassin’s Creed series, known for its rich historical narratives, breathtaking open worlds, and intricate stealth mechanics, has occasionally ventured into the realm of multiplayer gaming. While the franchise primarily focuses on single-player experiences, several entries have introduced multiplayer modes that allow players to step into the shoes of assassins and compete or cooperate with others. This article explores the Assassin’s Creed games that feature multiplayer components, their unique mechanics, and how they fit into the broader context of the series.

The Evolution of Multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed

The introduction of multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed was a bold move, as the series had always been celebrated for its single-player storytelling. However, Ubisoft saw an opportunity to expand the franchise’s appeal by incorporating competitive and cooperative gameplay. The result was a series of innovative multiplayer modes that blended the stealth and assassination mechanics of the main games with unique social dynamics.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (2010)

The first foray into multiplayer came with Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. This game introduced a competitive multiplayer mode where players assumed the roles of Templar agents training in the Animus. The objective was simple yet thrilling: locate and assassinate your target while avoiding being hunted yourself. The mode emphasized stealth, strategy, and deception, as players had to blend into crowds, use disguises, and outwit their opponents.

The multiplayer in Brotherhood was praised for its originality and depth. It offered a variety of modes, including Wanted (a free-for-all assassination mode), Alliance (team-based gameplay), and Manhunt (a cat-and-mouse game between hunters and prey). The progression system allowed players to unlock new abilities, weapons, and customization options, adding a layer of replayability.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations (2011)

Building on the success of Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed Revelations expanded the multiplayer experience with new maps, characters, and modes. The game introduced the Artifact Assault mode, where teams competed to capture and return artifacts to their base. Additionally, Revelations refined the existing mechanics, offering more balanced gameplay and improved matchmaking.

One of the standout features of Revelations was the inclusion of a narrative element in the multiplayer. Players learned about the Templars’ perspective and their use of the Animus for training purposes. This added a layer of depth to the multiplayer, making it feel more integrated into the overarching story of the series.

Assassin’s Creed III (2012)

Assassin’s Creed III continued the tradition of competitive multiplayer but introduced a new mode called Wolfpack. Unlike the previous games, Wolfpack was a cooperative mode where up to four players worked together to eliminate targets within a time limit. The mode required precise coordination and communication, as players had to chain kills to maximize their score.

Wolfpack was a refreshing addition to the multiplayer lineup, offering a more collaborative experience compared to the competitive modes of earlier games. It also served as a precursor to the cooperative gameplay that would later be explored in Assassin’s Creed Unity.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag marked the last entry in the series to feature competitive multiplayer. The game retained the core mechanics of its predecessors but introduced new maps and characters inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. The multiplayer also included a progression system that allowed players to unlock ship customizations for the single-player campaign, creating a sense of continuity between the two modes.

Despite its polished gameplay, Black Flag’s multiplayer failed to attract a large player base, leading Ubisoft to reconsider the inclusion of competitive multiplayer in future titles.

The Shift to Cooperative Gameplay

After Black Flag, Ubisoft shifted its focus from competitive multiplayer to cooperative gameplay, aiming to create a more immersive and narrative-driven experience.

Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014)

Assassin’s Creed Unity introduced cooperative multiplayer missions that allowed up to four players to explore Paris together. These missions were designed to complement the single-player campaign, offering unique stories and challenges that required teamwork and coordination. Players could choose their approach, whether it was stealthy infiltration or all-out combat, and the missions scaled in difficulty based on the number of participants.

The cooperative mode in Unity was a significant departure from the competitive multiplayer of previous games. It emphasized collaboration over competition, allowing players to experience the world of Assassin’s Creed together. However, the mode was plagued by technical issues at launch, which hindered its potential.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015)

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate did not feature a traditional multiplayer mode but included a cooperative element in the form of the “Assassin’s Creed Initiates” program. This online platform allowed players to complete challenges and earn rewards that could be used in the single-player game. While not a full-fledged multiplayer experience, it provided a sense of community and shared progression.

The Absence of Multiplayer in Recent Titles

Since Syndicate, the Assassin’s Creed series has largely abandoned multiplayer in favor of expansive single-player experiences. Games like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla have focused on delivering rich, open-world adventures with deep RPG elements. While these titles have been critically acclaimed, some fans have expressed a desire for the return of multiplayer or cooperative gameplay.

The Future of Multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed

Rumors and leaks suggest that Ubisoft may be exploring new multiplayer experiences within the Assassin’s Creed universe. Projects like Assassin’s Creed Infinity and standalone multiplayer titles could potentially revive the franchise’s multiplayer legacy. Whether these will be competitive, cooperative, or a blend of both remains to be seen.

Related Questions

1. Which Assassin’s Creed game has the best multiplayer mode?
   Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is often regarded as having the best multiplayer mode due to its innovative mechanics and balanced gameplay.

2. Can you still play multiplayer in older Assassin’s Creed games?
   While the servers for older games like Brotherhood and Revelations are still active, the player base has significantly dwindled, making it difficult to find matches.

3. Will future Assassin’s Creed games have multiplayer?
   Ubisoft has hinted at the possibility of multiplayer returning in future titles, but no official announcements have been made.

4. What made Assassin’s Creed multiplayer unique?
   The emphasis on stealth, strategy, and social deception set Assassin’s Creed multiplayer apart from other competitive games.

5. Is cooperative gameplay better than competitive multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed?
   This is subjective, but many players appreciated the cooperative missions in Unity for their focus on teamwork and shared storytelling.