7 Long-Running Video Game Franchises (And Where To Start With Them)

7. Assassin's Creed

Start with: Assassin's Creed II

On the surface, the Assassin's Creed games may appear simple. They all take place in different time periods so they can't be too connected, right? Well, the Assassin's Creed games also contain a modern plot that connects all the games together.

Luckily, nobody (including Ubisoft) seems to really care about this modern plot. Ever since Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the modern-day side of things has been disappearing more and more. So what you can do is join the rest of the Assassin's Creed fans and pretend that the modern-day stuff doesn't exist.

Whilst you could start with most Assassin's Creed games, Assassin's Creed II is your best bet.

Widely regarded as one of the best Assassin's Creed games for a reason, the game allows you to explore Italy during the Italian Renaissance, going to iconic cities such as Florence and Venice. You might think the combat would have aged poorly being an older title, but it still feels great. There's a reason the combat didn't change much until Assassin's Creed Origins, eight years later.

Lastly, AC 2 has a simple but compelling story featuring Ezio Auditore, arguably the best character to grace the series.