Should I play Assassin’s Creed 1 in 2025? Is the game worth it after eighteen years? Does it deserve a remake?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has landed with a thud—well, at least for a lot of fans. Sure, it’s visually stunning, with amazing stealth mechanics, and the last time we had dual protagonists was back in 2015 – Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. If we talk about the Assassin’s Creed Shadow reviews, they seem to be a mixed bag. Some praise the feudal Japan setting, and the amazing visuals, while many are criticizing the game for having a weak story, and the RPG mechanics. In our Assassin’s Creed Shadows review, we highlight some of its biggest flaws in detail and explain why although the game is fun, it has nothing much that is new to offer.
However, still the game seems to be a success, as Assassin’s Creed Shadows had 1 million players right on day one. However, there is a lot of debate and rage about whether Shadows is a true “Assassin’s Creed” game, many players are also talking about the original title—the one that started it all.
And maybe, just maybe, realizing that the first Assassin’s Creed… might still be the best.
Let’s break it down.
(This is not an Assassin’s Creed 1 Review, but more of an analysis of what made the first game so special).
What is the oldest Assassin’s Creed game?
The game that kicked off the entire franchise eighteen years ago was none other than Assassin’s Creed (2007). Ubisoft dropped this historical sci-fi mind-bender, which seemed way ahead of its time. The game was about genetic memory, secret societies, and… actual assassinations! You played as Altair Ibn-La’Ahad, the most stoic man to ever stab nine people in a hood. And it was glorious.
It wasn’t just a stealth game—it was a whole vibe.
Nostalgia Isn’t Just Rose-Tinted – It’s Earned
Modern Assassin’s Creed games want you to invest 10+ hours before the story even gets interesting. AC1? You’re thrown into the heart of the Crusades, doing actual assassinations within an hour or two. No wolves to pet, no annoying minigames, no RPG leveling nonsense. Just a blade, a creed, and a target.
It was focused. It was raw. It was new.
And while newer games drown inside so many side quests about helping farmers find goats, carrying out deliveries from one place to the other, AC1 stuck to what mattered: espionage, tension, and the cold satisfaction of blending back into the crowd after a kill.
What Made the First Assassin’s Creed Game Special then– And Still Special Now
Altair: The OG Assassin
Playing as Altair made you feel like an actual Assassin. Cold, silent, and efficient—like John Wick without the puppy trauma. His story arc, from an arrogant blade wielder to disciplined master, gave the game its emotional depth.
Also, no fetch quests. Altair doesn’t fetch.
The Tone: Grim, Grounded, and Philosophical
Assassin’s Creed 1 had a serious tone that’s missing in newer entries. It felt like a thriller set during the time of the Crusades. The dialogues with your targets? Genuinely haunting. They’d question your motives, justify their actions, and make you wonder if maybe—just maybe—you weren’t the good guy after all.
This is something that we don’t see in the modern entries.
Simplicity Was Strength
No stamina bars. No crafting menus. No skill trees. You had a sword, a hidden blade, a few tools, and your brain. The gameplay loop—investigate, plan, execute—was elegant and immersive. You actually felt like an assassin.
Now you’re an assassin-demigod-Viking-mercenary-warrior-hybrid with 14 questlines that has no connection to the story.
The Cities: Intimate and Immersive
Jerusalem, Acre, Damascus—these weren’t just map markers. They felt alive. Not because of endless NPC chatter, but because of the mood. The architecture, the music, the ambient tension—every rooftop and alley whispered secrets. You didn’t need 50 side quests to enjoy exploration.
Why AC1 Still Holds Up in 2025
Though it has been 18 years since the release of the original game, it might still appeal to many players. And if you are new to the franchise, it is definitely the best Assassin’s Creed game to start with. Let us see why….
Modern Fatigue = Retro Relief
Assassin’s Creed Shadows (and its predecessors, especially Valhalla) suffer from Ubisoft’s open-world fatigue syndrome: overlong campaigns, checklist objectives, bloated mechanics. AC1 is the cure. It’s short. It’s sharp. It respects your time.
Replaying it feels like a deep breath if you have had an RPG-induced asthma attack.
It’s Actually a Game About Assassins
Imagine that—an Assassin’s Creed game where you do assassinations! Not castle sieges, not bear wrestling tournaments, not naval warfare. Actual stealth. Actual intel gathering. Actual kill-and-vanish gameplay.
Altair didn’t need a fire katana. Just a plan and a blade.
Desmond Miles: A Modern-Day Protagonist We Actually Cared About
Before the modern-day arcs turned into exposition dumps, we had Desmond—an average guy kidnapped and pulled into an extraordinary conspiracy. Players also wanted to know what happened to him and his story, not just skip back to the past.
Al Mualim: The Best (and Probably Toughest) Villain
While later villains leaned into theatrics, few matched the philosophical weight and betrayal of Al Mualim. He wasn’t just a twist villain—he was the creed’s corruption in flesh, long before we saw it in Assassin’s Creed Rogue. And that final boss fight? Still one of the toughest, most unexpected moments in the franchise.
Still Playable, Still Beautiful
Sure, the gameplay does seem a bit clunky now. Limited weapons, lesser NPC interactions, climbing is less fluid, and the guards sometimes yell the same line on loop. Despite all of Assassin’s Creed 1’s flaws, the very fact that Assassin’s Creed Mirage is constantly compared to Assassin’s Creed 1, despite a 16-year gap, proves just how ahead of its time the original was—and remarkably, its visuals still hold up even today.
So… Is It Time for a Assassin’s Creed 1 remake?
Yes. A thousand times yes. Give us the same tone, the same simplicity, the same Altair—just with the ability to choose better weapons and smoother parkour. Not just a remake- we also need a proper sequel to Altair’s story- Revelations didn’t just show us enough! But until that day comes, the original still holds its ground.
Because Assassin’s Creed 1 wasn’t just the beginning—it was the blueprint. The purest form of what this franchise was meant to be.
And in a world where gaming companies care more about money and less about legacy, it’s refreshing to go back to a game that understood the assignment. So, yes, an Assassin’s Creed 1 remake is exactly what Ubisoft needs, if they really care about the fans of this franchise.
Final Thoughts
While this may not be proper Assassin’s Creed 1 Review, we have thoroughly explained what made the first game so special. Mirage tried to return to the roots, but somewhat failed.
Assassin’s Creed 1 didn’t have photo mode. Or dialogue options. Or fire arrows. But what it did have was clarity, purpose, and a damn good reason to leap off a tower and into a bale of hay.
So, if you’re tired of being everything except an assassin in modern AC games, maybe it’s time to go back to the start.
Altair is waiting. And he doesn’t need a legendary gear score to prove anything.
What is the price of AC Shadows in India?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the latest in the franchise has released. For PC players, Steam and Epic Games Store, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is priced at ₹4,899—a hefty sum for Indian gamers. Especially when you could buy three to four classic AC games (including AC1) at less than half of that price, during a sale. Read in detail here about AC Shadows price in India.
Maybe it’s time we start looking back instead of forward!
If you are a PC gamer, do check out our list of the best graphics for games like Elden Ring Nightreign.
