Summary
Ever sinceAssassin’s Creed Origins, theACfranchise has stepped away from the Brotherhood. Instead, the series has put the focus on an earlier version known as the Hidden Ones. This has let players see the rise of the assassins throughout history, which has been great for fans. However, afterAssassin’s Creed Mirage, Ubisoft should consider leaving that period behind and bringing the franchise back tothe classic Assassin vs. Templar storyit was built on.
With the release ofAssassin’s Creed Mirage, players have been with the Hidden Ones for three games now. Within these games, they have combated mysterious cults and orders rather than the Templars proper. While these titles have been great additions to the series canon, some players also long for a return to form. And sinceAC Miragehas given players a version of the Hidden Ones at their height, it feels like the perfect time to leave them behind.
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The Hidden Ones Saga Should End with AC Mirage
The Hidden Ones were the earliest incarnation of what fans know as the Assassin Brotherhood. They werefounded by Bayek of Siwaand his wife Aya of Alexandria, which players got to be a part of inAssassin’s Creed Origins. It was created to fend off the vile Order of the Ancients who would one day become the Templar Order. After saving Egypt from their influence, the Hidden Ones would expand out across the world, and become the shadowy organization that players have come to know over the years.
Since the startof Assassin’s Creed Origins, players have gotten to watch the Hidden Ones grow in power and strength. They may not have seen them inAssassin’s Creed Odysseyas that took place centuries before their formation, but they did get to see a stronger version of them throughBasim inValhallaandMirage.Valhallalet players see them expand through England whileMiragelet them see a version of the Hidden Ones at one of their strongest points, which led to some exciting stories.
Players have seenthe beginnings of the Hidden Ones, they have seen that middle chapter withMirage, and they have gotten to witness their expansion inValhalla. Now that it feels like they have more complete picture of this early version of the Brotherhood, it feels like the best time to leave it behind. One of the few remaining stories that may be interesting would be to see them officially adopt the moniker of the Assassin Brotherhood in 1090, but the future of the franchise does not seem to include that story right now.
While the Hidden Ones may have been interesting, it feels like the right time toreturn to the Assassin-Templar War. That shift in focus may be exactly what the series needs right now as some fans have become burnt out by the massive RPGs and have been yearning for a return to the core of the series for years. And whileMiragemay have brought them close to that, putting the Assassin Brotherhood at the center again would truly deliver on those wishes.
The Hidden Ones are a core part of the franchise mythos, and it has been a lot of fun seeing them grow and change over the years. However, now that players have seen them at their largest, it feels like the perfect time to move on. There may still be more time periods to explore with them, yet the only way to really bring the series back to its roots would be by re-introducing the Brotherhood. Plus, there are even more periods Ubisoft could explore with them than there are for the Hidden Ones, which makes them the perfect protagonists going forward.
Assassin’s Creed Mirageis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
