8 Historical Eras Assassin's Creed Could Still Visit

Since the beginning of the franchise, one setting has been mooted far more than any other whenever fans are surveyed about settings they would like to see – feudal Japan.

Separated from the rest of Asia by water and mostly unknown to Westerners bar the odd Portuguese or Dutch trader until a combination of British, American and Russian might in the mid-1850s forced them to open their borders, Japan’s culture and history are looked upon with wonder and fascination by outsiders.

The term ‘Feudal Japan’ spans almost seven centuries, from 1185 to 1868. Ostensibly the structure of the country at this time was nominal rule by an Emperor and actual rule by a Shogun, who oversaw landowners called Daimyo and their armies of samurais (or ronin if they were master-less). Ninja (or shinobi), meanwhile, came to prominence about halfway through this period before falling into obscurity towards the end. Casting a player as either warrior would allow the fulfilment of countless childhood fantasies.

Either the Sengoku period, where Japan was largely unified under two warlords (Nobunaga and Hideyoshi), or the early Edo period stand out as the best possible settings given the upheaval experienced by the whole country. The 47 Ronin incident in 1701 could also be a fascinating backdrop to weave a story around.

Japan’s mythology is as rich as its history and although plenty of other games have put players into the heart of both, Assassin’s Creed’s time to do it justice is long overdue.