Assassin's Creed Odyssey
A Spartan mercenary navigates war and myth in ancient Greece.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey, an action role-playing game from Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft, hit shelves in 2018 as the eleventh mainline entry in the series and the follow-up to 2017's Assassin's Creed Origins. Like its predecessor, it offers a sprawling open world and leans heavily into role-playing game mechanics, prioritizing combat and exploration over stealth. Naval battles, a staple of earlier titles, also return in a big way. The story unfolds against a mythological backdrop of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, spanning 431 to 422 BCE. Players step into the sandals of a Spartan mercenary who fights for both sides while searching for their family and dismantling the shadowy Cult of Kosmos. The game also continues the modern-day arc of Layla Hassan, who uses the Animus to relive the mercenary's memories in search of a powerful artifact.
Development kicked off shortly after the release of Assassin's Creed Syndicate in 2015. Building on Origins, Odyssey pushed the series further into action RPG territory by adding player-choice mechanics. It places a heavier emphasis on historical mythology than other games in the franchise, while the classic conflict between Assassins and Templars takes a backseat. The development team drew inspiration from contemporary RPGs like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Fallout 4. The Flight composed the game's music.
Odyssey launched worldwide on October 5, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. Critics generally praised its gameplay, graphics, characters, role-playing elements, and world design, but pointed out issues with over-ambition, pacing, and microtransactions. The shift toward role-playing mechanics at the expense of traditional Assassin's Creed features drew mixed reactions from both critics and players. Commercially, it was a hit, selling over 10 million copies by March 2020.
Ubisoft backed the game with several downloadable content packs, including two story expansions: Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis. The next mainline entry, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, arrived in November 2020, set in medieval England and Norway during the Viking expansion, and wrapped up Layla's storyline.
Gameplay-wise, Odyssey is a third-person action RPG.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Developer
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Director
- Jonathan Dumont · Scott Phillips
- Producer
- Marc-Alexis Côté
- Designer
- Jordane Thiboust · Julien Galloudec
- Artist
- Thierry Dansereau
- Writer
- Jonathan Dumont · Melissa MacCoubrey · Hugo Giard
- Composer
- The Flight
- Series
- Assassin's Creed
- Engine
- AnvilNext 2.0
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · Stadia
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Assassin's Creed Odyssey continues the modern-day story arc of Layla Hassan, who relives the memories of a Spartan mercenary through the Animus device to find a powerful artifact. Players can choose to play as either Alexios or Kassandra, descendants of Spartan king Leonidas I. The plot follows the mercenary as they fight on both sides of the Peloponnesian War, attempt to reunite their family, and eliminate the Cult of Kosmos. Additional questlines involve defeating mystical creatures from Atlantis and taking down cultists.
Development began shortly after Assassin's Creed Syndicate (2015). The team was inspired by contemporary RPG titles including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Fallout 4. The music was composed by The Flight. The game facilitated the series' transition into action role-playing games by introducing player-choice mechanics, dialogue options, and multiple endings. It places a larger focus on historical mythology and a smaller focus on the Assassin-Templar conflict compared to other series entries.
Odyssey received generally positive reviews, with praise for its gameplay, graphics, characters, role-playing elements, and world design, but criticism for its over-ambition, pacing, and inclusion of microtransactions. The prioritization of role-playing mechanics over traditional Assassin's Creed elements drew a mixed response. Ubisoft supported the game with downloadable content including two story expansions: Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis. The game was followed in November 2020 by Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Reader's Guide
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is significant as a key entry in the series' shift toward action role-playing games, building on the foundation laid by Origins. It introduced player-choice mechanics that affect the story and lead to multiple endings, a departure from the linear narratives of earlier titles. The game's open world, set in ancient Greece, emphasizes exploration, naval combat, and conquest battles between Athens and Sparta. Its combat system offers light and heavy attacks, dodging, parrying, and three skill trees (hunter, warrior, assassin), with stealth and open combat both viable. The inclusion of a bounty system and mercenaries adds dynamic world interactions. Odyssey's legacy includes its commercial success, selling over 10 million copies, and its influence on the series' direction, as seen in the subsequent title Valhalla. The mixed response to its reduced focus on traditional Assassin's Creed elements and its microtransactions reflects ongoing debate about the series' evolution. The game's two story expansions expanded its mythological themes, and its modern-day narrative continued Layla Hassan's arc, which concluded in Valhalla.
Did You Know?
- The game features two modes of gameplay: Guided mode and Exploration mode.
- The game sold over 10 million copies worldwide by March 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Assassin's Creed Odyssey?
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is an action role-playing game built by Ubisoft Quebec and shipped by Ubisoft in October 2018. It is the eleventh core installment in the Assassin's Creed line and the direct sequel to the 2017 entry, Origins.
What powers and gameplay role does the player have in Assassin's Creed Odyssey?
You play as a Spartan mercenary—either Alexios or Kassandra—wielding melee weapons, a bow, and a warship across a vast open world of ancient Greece. The game emphasizes RPG-style progression through skill trees, equipment upgrades, and dialogue choices rather than the stealth play that defined earlier titles.
How does the story of Assassin's Creed Odyssey end?
The campaign wraps up with the player dismantling the Cult of Kosmos and confronting the final antagonist, a figure tied to the mythological threads of the narrative. A modern-day epilogue then links the protagonist to Layla Hassan, an Assassin operating in the Animus, tying the ancient tale back to the series' overarching plot.
Why is Assassin's Creed Odyssey considered important for RPG fans?
It was the first mainline Assassin's Creed to fully commit to role-playing systems—branching conversations, multiple narrative outcomes, and deep character build options—effectively rebranding the franchise as an action RPG. That pivot gave the series a competitive foothold in the same space as The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age.
What is the setting and time period of Assassin's Creed Odyssey?
The action takes place during the Peloponnesian War, roughly between 431 and 422 BCE, pitting Athens against Sparta. Players roam the Greek mainland, its islands, and mythological sites drawn from ancient legend.
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