Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,948 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Game Cover
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.
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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.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,948 reviews
story1,262 positive mentions
stability429 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully recreated Victorian London, immersing players in a rich historical setting.
  • The dual-protagonist system with Jacob and Evie Frye adds depth and variety to gameplay, allowing players to experience different playstyles.
  • The introduction of the grappling hook enhances traversal, making it easier and more enjoyable to navigate the city.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • The story is often considered weak and predictable, lacking the depth and engagement found in earlier titles of the series.
  • Combat mechanics can feel repetitive and unresponsive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • story4,727 mentions

    The story of "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" follows twin assassins Jacob and Evie Frye as they navigate the tumultuous landscape of Victorian London, aiming to liberate the city from Templar control. While the narrative features engaging character dynamics and historical figures, many players find the plot to be predictable and lacking depth, with repetitive mission structures that detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the game is praised for its vibrant setting and enjoyable gameplay mechanics, making it a solid entry in the franchise, albeit not the strongest in terms of storytelling.

    • “The story, featuring two main characters, is a nice touch and keeps things interesting.”
    • “The story is rich and playful with characters that are vibrant in personality.”
    • “The story is engaging, charming, and filled with historical figures, making the experience immersive.”
    • “The story made no sense, the gameplay was very unidirectional even for an open world, not much to do or interact.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent and the plot starts and continues for the first few missions as: 'we are good, London currently bad but our father is kinda secret in everything.'”
    • “The story is very dry, rushed, and not engaging.”
  • gameplay1,675 mentions

    The gameplay of "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the refined mechanics and the introduction of new features like the grappling hook, which enhances traversal and combat. However, some criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the overall lack of innovation compared to previous titles, leading to a sense of stagnation in the series. While the game offers engaging combat and a vibrant depiction of Victorian London, technical issues and clunky controls detract from the experience for some players.

    • “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 story made no sense, the gameplay was very unidirectional even for an open world, not much to do or interact.”
    • “Every game takes such care to build a world in meticulous detail and then dump a ton of quick-time event gameplay over the top of it like they have forgotten what the whole point of games is.”
    • “The gameplay is some of the most boring in the series, failing to offer anything new or exciting to keep players engaged.”
  • graphics919 mentions

    The graphics in "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" are generally praised for their strong visual presentation, particularly in capturing the atmosphere of Victorian London, with detailed environments and character models that still hold up well for a game released in 2015. While some players note a downgrade in graphical quality compared to "Unity," many appreciate the game's aesthetic and the improvements in performance and optimization, allowing for smoother gameplay. However, there are also criticisms regarding limited graphics options and occasional graphical glitches, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are stunning and gameplay mechanics are well done.”
    • “The graphics look amazing, especially when you see the reflection of the buildings in the pond.”
    • “The city is absolutely amazing, it's so rich in detail and graphically it holds up to 2023 standards.”
    • “This game 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. If you remove the fog, you will get a performance boost and realize how bad the city looks at the far end.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics looked incredibly bad, any way that you look at it.”
  • stability454 mentions

    The stability of "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users noted improvements over previous titles like "Unity," the game still suffers from frequent freezes, unresponsive controls, and mission-related issues, making it frustrating for many. Overall, the game's stability issues are a major drawback, leading to mixed feelings about its overall enjoyment.

    • “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 on all but maxed settings, and with the right adjustments, it 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 is buggy, often stopping players, dealing random damage, and flipping carts with horses.”
    • “The game was very buggy and crashy on PC.”
    • “The amount of glitches and bugs is absolutely inexcusable.”
  • optimization324 mentions

    The optimization of Assassin's Creed Syndicate has received mixed feedback from players. While many note improvements over its predecessor, Unity, with smoother performance and better graphics, numerous users report persistent issues such as stuttering, crashes, and frame rate drops, particularly during demanding scenarios like driving carriages. Overall, while some players find it well-optimized for mid to high-end systems, others express frustration with its inconsistent performance and bugs, indicating that further optimization is still needed.

    • “The game itself is pretty well optimized and actually runs smoother and requires less hardware to run at 60fps than AC Unity.”
    • “This game seems pleasantly optimized for PC as opposed to recent predecessors in the AC series!”
    • “Great optimization! The game works like a charm and it has a very good and improved gameplay.”
    • “The game also suffers from several performance bugs, and gamers should expect to experience some frame stability drop even on more intensive hardware.”
    • “When it comes to performance, the game tends to crash a lot, there are a lot of visual glitches (texture, NPCs, clipping...), some missions are bugged and in case I didn't mention it yet some collectibles are glitched too.”
    • “But the optimization of this one is just terrible, even my RTX 3070 had trouble running this game on 2K ultra settings, sometimes FPS dipping to 60.”
  • music229 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric and well-composed soundtrack that fits the Victorian setting beautifully, featuring classical arrangements and street performances. However, some players feel that the soundtrack lacks memorability compared to previous entries in the series, with a few noting that certain tracks can be repetitive or annoying. Overall, while the music enhances the game's ambiance, opinions vary on its impact and lasting impression.

    • “The music is pretty, and fits the time so well; I just wish there were more of it.”
    • “The soundtrack uses a lot of public domain pieces, but the performances are excellent and the soundtrack was a real high point in my experience.”
    • “The music fits the story and the environment perfectly.”
    • “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.”
  • humor157 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the sibling dynamic between Jacob and Evie Frye genuinely funny and engaging, often leading to humorous interactions and banter. While some appreciate the comedic elements and quirky glitches that add levity to the gameplay, others criticize the humor as inconsistent or forced, particularly in the writing of certain characters. Overall, the game successfully incorporates a lighthearted tone amidst its action, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a blend of humor with their gaming experience.

    • “The characters are quirky and funny, which feels out of place (in a good way) considering it's an AC game.”
    • “Jacob and Evie are fun to play; there's a healthy dose of humor, and it's probably the most historically accurate Assassin's Creed yet.”
    • “The male protagonist, Jacob Frye, is a deeply flawed, relatable, fun assassin, with an amazing sense of humor, sharp wit, upbeat attitude, and really badass, lore-friendly skills.”
    • “The train robbery and ship robbery are so underwhelming that it's not funny.”
    • “The jokes feel forced and often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
    • “I expected a lot of humor, but the attempts at comedy fell flat and felt out of place.”
  • grinding144 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly for completionists. While some appreciate the removal of certain frustrating elements from previous titles, they still find the side missions and resource gathering to be monotonous and time-consuming. Overall, players suggest that while grinding is necessary for progression, 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 lot of grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “If you're a completionist, this game is still grindy as all hell.”
    • “The missions are grindy and repetitive.”
    • “The game gets tedious very fast.”
  • atmosphere128 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive recreation of 19th-century Victorian London, capturing both the beauty and the darker elements of the era. Players appreciate the detailed environments, historical references, and the dynamic soundscape that enhance the overall experience, making exploration feel alive and engaging. While some technical issues and gameplay mechanics are noted as drawbacks, the rich atmosphere remains a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “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.”
    • “Victorian London is mesmerizing and atmospheric, as is the stunning attention to minor details in places like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St. James Park, Trafalgar's Square, etc.”
    • “The atmosphere in London is unremittingly bleak and the upbeat protagonist feels seriously out of place.”
    • “The atmosphere of Jack the Ripper is so much more tense than the main game, it gives a real sense of what Londoners must've been going through in August 1888.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization67 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received significant criticism, primarily due to the presence of microtransactions in a single-player experience, which many players view as a cash grab. While some microtransactions are deemed optional and not essential for gameplay, they are perceived as intrusive and detrimental to the overall experience, with players feeling that progression is intentionally slowed to encourage purchases. Overall, the monetization practices have left a negative impression, overshadowing the game's positive elements.

    • “The game features microtransactions, but they are not necessary and just pay-to-cheat.”
    • “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.”
    • “The fact that you have microtransactions to buy a map in order to have collectibles marked is a terrible move by Ubisoft, since before you could always get these with enough playtime alone.”
    • “It's just a cash grab, and I lose respect for companies that do it.”
    • “The game would be more fun if you weren't intentionally handicapped at the start so you would be tempted to buy microtransactions.”
  • character development59 mentions

    Character development in "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the dynamic between the twin protagonists, Jacob and Evie Frye, and their individual arcs, which include personal growth and sibling rivalry. However, some 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. While the character designs and interactions are generally well-received, the narrative's simplicity and abrupt endings leave some players wanting more substantial development.

    • “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.”
    • “The character development is quite strong in this game, and the overall tone of the game remains comical.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional52 mentions

    Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with many players finding the story boring and the characters lacking depth, which diminishes emotional engagement. While some moments evoke feelings, particularly towards the end, the majority of reviews highlight a disconnect between players and the narrative, often describing it as tedious and uninspired. Despite some enjoyable gameplay elements, the emotional resonance is generally deemed insufficient, leaving players feeling detached from the characters and their journeys.

    • “The end of the game makes me shed a tear every time.”
    • “There are some tense emotional moments, but without seeming too dramatic.”
    • “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.”
    • “Boring story, bland characters, and really boring and repetitive gameplay.”
    • “Boring story with nearly nothing memorable.”
    • “Boring story, but interesting combat.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players praising the game's engaging mechanics and side missions that enhance replay value, while others criticize it for having limited replayability once the main story is completed. Overall, the game offers a blend of replayable quests and activities, but many agree that it lacks the depth for extensive replay after the initial playthrough.

    • “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.”
    • “Though, I will say the game has little to zero replayability.”
    • “This game has no replayability whatsoever, but an adventure to try out once.”
    • “Overall, this is a great game but my only problem with it is its little replay value.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Play time

12hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
19hMain story
55hCompletionist
5-35hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 59 analyzed playthroughs

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