Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Ubisoft has tinkered around behind the hood and gotten this series back on the right track. Long may it continue, as Syndicate is the best Assassin's Creed game in a long, long time.

77%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

79% User Score Based on 17,042 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 41 reviews

Platforms

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About

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy, historical and science fiction themes. It was developed by Ubisoft Quebec, in collaboration with Ubisoft Annecy, Bucharest, Kiev, Montreal, Montpellier, Shanghai, Singapore, Sofia, Toronto studios and was released on October 22, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a single-player historical open world game set in 1868 London during the Industrial Revolution. As Jacob Frye, an Assassin fighting for justice, lead your underworld organization to take back the city from Templar control and experience a good story with stellar mechanics, impressive graphics, and an amazing soundtrack. However, be prepared for grinding, some bugs, and a possible abundance of ads.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,042 reviews

story2.4k positive mentions

stability818 negative mentions

story
9,062 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The story of "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" is generally viewed as decent but lacks the depth and engagement found in earlier titles of the franchise. Players appreciate the dual-protagonist dynamic of the Frye twins, Jacob and Evie, and the historical context of Victorian London, which adds a unique flavor to the narrative. However, many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of missions and a predictable plot, leading to a sense of disconnection from the characters and their motivations. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable gameplay and a rich setting, its story is often considered a weak point.
- “The story, featuring two main characters, is a nice touch and keeps things interesting.”
- “The story is decent, and the missions are fantastic, well constructed and enjoyable to play.”
- “The dual-protagonist dynamic between Jacob and Evie Frye added depth to the story, and their distinct personalities made the game enjoyable.”
- “The story is boring and predictable, following an uninteresting structure of 'picking out every minion and then the boss'.”
- “The story is completely disjointed and you get more side missions than you know what to do with with no relevance on the story whatsoever.”
- “The main story is somewhat short, and the pacing is all over the place, with side quests feeling more like main quests given how big they are.”
gameplay
3,215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
9%
The gameplay in "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging mechanics, such as the introduction of the grappling hook and the ability to switch between two protagonists, Jacob and Evie, each offering distinct playstyles. However, players have noted that the overall experience can feel repetitive and formulaic, with some criticizing the combat mechanics as simplistic and the parkour system as clunky. While the game is visually impressive and offers a rich depiction of Victorian London, technical issues and a lack of innovation in core gameplay elements have left some players feeling underwhelmed.
- “The gameplay is very good and engaging, with its carriages and grapple mechanics and electric bombs.”
- “The fluid combat mechanics and the introduction of new gameplay elements, like the rope launcher, kept the action fresh and exciting.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, with excellent stealth, assassination, and combat mechanics.”
- “The gameplay can be a bit clunky, and there are a few glitches here and there.”
- “The setting is alright, story is not that interesting and the gameplay is very repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is some of the most boring in the series, failing to offer anything new or exciting to keep players engaged.”
graphics
1,763 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
The graphics of "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visual representation of Victorian London and the game's overall aesthetic. While some players note that the graphics are impressive for a 2015 title, others feel it is a downgrade from "Unity," citing issues like lower draw distances and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the game is recognized for its beautiful environments and character models, though performance can vary significantly based on hardware capabilities.
- “The graphics are amazing on their own and for a game made 9 years ago (2015), the variety of skills there are to choose from while keeping it easy to get skill points is awesome.”
- “Followed in the same art direction and graphic upscale as seen in 'Assassin's Creed: Unity', London of the year 1868 is represented proudly with stunning visuals: eye-appealing color palette and clear, if not quite realistic texture.”
- “The graphics are great; I love the Victorian setting of the game.”
- “This game also is a massive graphical downgrade from Unity; I believe if this game had Unity’s graphics, it would be much better looking than any other game in the franchise so far.”
- “The game looks graphically worse than Unity; the draw distance is super low due to an omnipresent fog, which also reduces performance, because if you remove the fog, you will get a performance boost and realize how bad the city looks at the far end.”
- “Syndicate falls short of its predecessors, with dull visuals and boring gameplay.”
stability
866 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
2%
94%
The stability of "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate" has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly impact gameplay. While some users noted that the game is less buggy than its predecessor, "Unity," the overall consensus is that it remains a frustratingly unstable experience, particularly on PC. Players have encountered issues ranging from minor visual glitches to major game-breaking problems, leading to a mixed reception regarding its stability.
- “The game runs great and I have not experienced any game-breaking bugs at all.”
- “Overall this is a solid game that runs really well (i5 4440, gtx 980, 8gb ram) on all but maxed settings, as usual, the Nvidia game(doesn't)works stuff murders your framerate (having all the Nvidia stuff turned on will eat a solid ~15 fps if not more) but with those turned off it runs great and still looks good.”
- “I'm about 4 hours into the game, gameplay is awesome, graphics are great, so far no glitches, running a solid 60fps.”
- “The game was very buggy and crashy on PC.”
- “The amount of glitches and bugs is absolutely inexcusable.”
- “It's certainly a buggy experience, getting stuck and all the way with crashes to desktop.”
optimization
603 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
48%
26%
The optimization of Assassin's Creed Syndicate has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues such as stuttering, crashes, and visual glitches, particularly when using higher graphics settings or during specific gameplay scenarios like driving carriages. While some users report smoother performance compared to its predecessor, Unity, and commend its graphics, others express frustration over the game's inconsistent frame rates and the need for further optimization, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, while there are improvements, many players still find the game poorly optimized for PC.
- “Assassin's Creed Syndicate surpasses Unity with improved performance and fewer bugs.”
- “This game is definitely optimized better than Unity was.”
- “The game runs smoothly at a constant 60fps (that is with most 'Nvidia GameWorks' features disabled) and certainly outshines the performance of Unity.”
- “The game also suffers from several performance bugs, and gamers should expect to experience some frame stability drop even on more intensive hardware.”
- “Game keeps crashing, not optimized at all, very frustrating to run, a shame since the story seemed interesting.”
- “But the optimization of this one is just terrible, even my 3070 RTX had trouble to run this game on 2K ultra settings, sometimes FPS dipping to 60... I've read many comments about this problem, many people did experience this too.”
music
441 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The music in "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and well-composed soundtrack that effectively captures the Victorian setting. While some players found the music to be beautiful and fitting, particularly the classical arrangements, others felt it lacked memorability compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for enhancing the game's immersive experience, though some players wished for a greater variety and more impactful themes.
- “The music is pretty, and fits the time so well; I just wish there were more of it.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, with a great mix of classical and contemporary music that perfectly fits the game's setting.”
- “The music in this game is amazing, which surprised me as I never found music to be a notable strength of the AC series.”
- “Unfortunately, the soundtrack in the game falls flat, being far less memorable than other games in the series.”
- “The most annoying one is the music box tune that plays every single time you load into a new area or fast travel.”
- “The music is lackluster, although there are some rather nice pieces.”
humor
311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the sibling dynamic between Jacob and Evie Frye genuinely funny, often leading to laugh-out-loud moments. While some appreciate the lighthearted tone and comedic glitches, others criticize the humor as forced or juvenile, particularly in Jacob's character. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor into its narrative and gameplay, making it an enjoyable experience for those who appreciate a comedic touch in their action-adventure titles.
- “But hey folks, there is one thing that is very amusing - on PC the carriages are almost uncontrollable - drive those things at full speed, and use the boost - kill everyone on the streets, mash the opposition, smack down light poles, run up walls, go careering out of control - it's so dumb it's hilarious, I nearly cried I was laughing so hard, but I did 'deliver' my kidnap person.”
- “Jacob and Evie take a little time to get fun, as they are semi-standoffish, but by the end I found myself audibly laughing at Jacob's jokes and Evie's cleverness.”
- “The characters are very fun to play as and have a very funny sense of humor, and the locations you are taken to are just so immersive.”
- “The train robbery and ship robbery are so underwhelming that it's not funny.”
grinding
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
13%
86%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment to progress. While some appreciate the ability to grind for upgrades and collectibles, others find the side missions and resource gathering to be uninspired and frustrating, leading to a feeling of burnout. Overall, players suggest that while grinding is a core part of the experience, it can detract from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel like a chore at times.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “The collectibles in this game aren't as tedious as they were before (with the exception of the helix glitches) and actually have a valid reason to collect them, such as pressed flowers granting colors for your outfits and music boxes for a special reward.”
- “I know, they are just side quests and there isn't really a reason to play all of them, but if you are trying to complete the full game, it gets kinda grindy and after one or two districts, it isn't just fun.”
- “The game gets tedious very fast.”
- “The side activities consist of you doing the same 4 missions over and over again in order to liberate the city, it's just tedious.”
atmosphere
231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive recreation of 19th-century Victorian London, capturing the essence of the industrial revolution with detailed environments, historical landmarks, and a fitting soundtrack. Players appreciate the dark, intense ambiance that enhances the narrative, although some note that technical issues and gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, providing a rich backdrop for exploration and storytelling.
- “The atmosphere is dark, evil, and intense, immersing you in an adrenaline rush and stress that is surprisingly incredible.”
- “The city comes to life with bustling crowds, vibrant markets, and iconic landmarks that evoke the atmosphere of the time period.”
- “As a Londoner, I wanted to explore an immersive and atmospheric Victorian-era London in a video game for a while now and Syndicate completely delivers on that premise.”
- “The atmosphere in London is unremittingly bleak and the upbeat protagonist feels seriously out of place.”
- “What really struck me was the dread and atmosphere, especially when playing as Jack the Ripper, it touches on the assassin's relationship with greater society and how it's getting more and more difficult to be secret while maintaining a relationship with important figures or public institutions like the police, and the fear mechanic was the cherry on top.”
- “The overall world is great, I live in London and I feel they really nailed the atmosphere and aesthetic; however, in terms of gameplay, Syndicate really falls down.”
monetization
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
63%
30%
The monetization aspect of the game has received significant criticism, primarily due to the presence of microtransactions that many players feel are intrusive and unnecessary in a single-player experience. Reviewers express frustration over the need to purchase items or boosts that were previously obtainable through gameplay, labeling the monetization strategy as a cash grab that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some acknowledge that the microtransactions are optional and not essential for progression, the overwhelming sentiment is that they undermine the game's value and player experience.
- “Another plus is that, while they're still there (unfortunately), Ubisoft has greatly toned down the in-game microtransactions from Unity.”
- “Microtransactions are still here, but they are optional and mostly worthless.”
- “You don't need to engage in any of it, but the fact that this story-focused, single-player game has microtransactions shows what kind of direction Ubisoft is trying to move toward.”
- “The collectibles aren't bothersome to find and complete, but the fact you have microtransactions to buy a map in order to have these collectibles marked on the map is a terrible move by Ubisoft, since before you could always get these with enough playtime alone.”
- “The whole experience is made miserable to push the purchase of microtransactions (that can't be purchased anymore).”
- “Game's buggy as hell, requires microtransactions for things given in previous games for free, and runs terribly despite no noticeable change in graphics/gameplay/etc.”
character development
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
47%
21%
Character development in "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the dynamic between the protagonists, Jacob and Evie Frye, and their individual arcs, which include themes of rivalry and personal growth. However, several players feel that the overall character development is lacking depth and fails to match the richness of earlier titles in the series, often citing missed opportunities for deeper storytelling and character backstories. While some appreciate the humor and interactions between characters, others criticize the simplistic motivations and abrupt endings to their arcs, leading to a sense of disconnect from the characters.
- “Evie and Jacob have wonderful character development; the brother and sister rivalry really adds to the immersion and really sucks you in.”
- “The main plot builds upon the previous games, but adds very little new to the modern storyline. As for the London scene, it's a simple story of assassins versus templars with a lot of characters on both sides. The narrative is one of the best in the AC series, with lots of chemistry going on between the main two characters as they go through a good amount of character development from start to finish.”
- “What needs to be said about this game has been said before, so I'm just going to comment that this game is totally worth it for its engaging storyline, delightful comedy, character development, and interactions between the two protagonists, Evie and Jacob Frye.”
- “I dragged my way through it... only to appreciate some character development on the last mission...”
- “There were numerous missed opportunities to improve his character development.”
- “As much as Jacob and Evie are 'likeable' characters, there is simply no character development; the protagonists do not 'learn anything new' from their adventures, and their stories are rather abruptly ended.”
emotional
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
27%
The emotional aspect of "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" is largely criticized for its lack of depth and connection, with many players finding the story boring and the characters uninspired. While there are moments of tension, they are often overshadowed by humor that detracts from the emotional weight of key scenes. Overall, players feel that the game fails to create a meaningful emotional experience, leaving them disconnected from the narrative and its protagonists.
- “There are some tense emotional moments, but without seeming too dramatic.”
- “I always appreciate a serious and deep story being told in a light-hearted way, that way you don't feel emotionally stressed sometimes.”
- “If you are a die-hard fan of the Assassin's Creed series, then I definitely recommend picking Syndicate up; the character development in Syndicate felt deep and heartfelt.”
- “A boring story and protagonists with almost no personality.”
- “Boring story, bland characters, and really boring and repetitive gameplay.”
- “Boring story with nearly nothing memorable.”
replayability
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
74%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting it has little to no replay value after completing the main story, while others appreciate the engaging side missions and unique character abilities that offer some replayability. Although certain elements, like the ability to replay missions and explore the open world, provide a degree of enjoyment, many reviewers feel it lacks the depth needed for extensive replayability. Overall, it seems to cater more to completionists than to those seeking a game with high replay value.
- “One of those classic AC games that never loses replay value.”
- “Overall, I really liked the last Maharajah and all of the assassination missions in both the base game and the DLCs; the Hitman inspiration did a lot to add replayability to the game and make those missions feel more engaging.”
- “Your main weapon is a cane-sword, which is a perfect marriage of aesthetics and deadliness; side activities like carriage racing, fight clubs, and gang wars create a unique blend of replayability.”
- “This game has no replayability whatsoever, but it's an adventure to try out once.”
- “Overall, this is a great game, but my only problem with it is its little replay value.”
- “Not much replay value; once you finish the story, it's really just a completionist's game at that point.”

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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 41 critic reviews

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12h Median play time

19h Average play time

19h Main story

55h Completionist

5-33h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 114 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a open world role playing game with fantasy, historical and science fiction themes.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 19 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 55 hours to finish. On average players spend around 19 hours playing Assassin's Creed Syndicate.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate was released on October 22, 2015.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate was developed by Ubisoft Quebec, in collaboration with Ubisoft Annecy, Bucharest, Kiev, Montreal, Montpellier, Shanghai, Singapore, Sofia, Toronto studios.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a single player game.

Similar games include Assassin's Creed Unity, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed III, Assassin's Creed Rogue and others.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Platforms

A series gem, but the formula feels overly familiar