Assassin's Creed: 10 Most Shocking & Heartbreaking Moments

10. Elise's Death (AC Unity)

While Unity is considered one of the lesser games in the main series, there's no denying one of the strongest elements in the story is the forbidden Assassin/Templar romance between playable protagonist Arno and his childhood sweetheart Elise.

Through the course of the game we see them put aside their respective differences and beliefs, and join forces to avenge the death of Elise's father and Arno's mentor. Because of the nature of Assassin's Creed games we know this can't have a happy ending, and yet a number of sequences through the game (including a brilliant air balloon chase mission) hint that there may be a chance for these forbidden lovers.

It is even Elise, and not the Assassins, who brings Arno back from the brink after he is cast out from the Brotherhood.

And so, her death at the climax of the game (effectively giving her life to complete her revenge mission) serves as a reminder that there are no proper happy endings in this series, and Arno is left a tortured man as a result of her death.