- Multiple popular posts and online sentiments suggest that Assassin’s Creed players are growing tired of the series’ non-linear campaigns.
- Many recent AC entries have featured non-linear gameplay, which is quite unpopular with many players.
- Fans want Ubisoft to return to linear-based campaigns to improve the storytelling and character development in AC titles.
The early Assassin’s Creed games quickly became a staple among gamers, but the same can’t be said for the recent entries in the franchise. According to players, the earlier titles featured better storytelling and well-written characters compared to the newer ones.
Now, AC players across various forums and social media posts argue that the main culprit behind the drop-off in quality is the new story structure used in recent releases. These players have grown tired of non-linear campaigns and want linear gameplay instead.
Why it matters: Assassin’s Creed players argue that the series’ most recent titles feature good first acts, but the storytelling heavily drops off as soon as the non-linear gameplay segment starts. AC Shadows was also criticized for this reason.
Many players across these threads have agreed that non-linear campaigns in Assassin’s Creed result in a bland experience. The world and the story stagnate as the protagonist hunts targets across the map, following the same repetitive gameplay loop.
This is quite different from earlier Assassin’s Creed games, which featured memorable characters and a linear story that naturally developed the world and relationships.
The aftermath of Ubisoft’s new story structure can also be seen in AC Shadows, where the game’s first act features solid character introductions and a strong call to action. Still, the story suffers a decline as soon as the non-linear gameplay fully opens up in the second act.

As a result, only 2.6% of Steam players and 5.9% of PS5 players finished the second act before dropping the game entirely.
Do you think the modern Assassin’s Creed games are lackluster because of the RPG genre, or is the non-linear gameplay the real culprit here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.