Highlights
Assassin's Creed Mirage takes place in 9th century Baghdad, making it one of the earlier games in the series timeline.
Assassin's Creed Mirage follows the events of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which takes place in Ancient Greece, and Assassin's Creed Origins, which delves into the origins of the Hidden Ones. The main character, Basim Ibn Ishaq, embarks on a captivating journey that intertwines with a civilization that existed more than 70,000 years ago. The tale carries on in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, set a few years after the events of AC Mirage.
The majority of the Assassin's Creed franchise is set in different time periods and locations, each featuring a new historical protagonist. Throughout the past 15 years, the franchise has covered various eras such as Renaissance Italy, Third Crusade Jerusalem, Revolutionary War America, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Greece. Consequently, some fans may find it challenging to determine where Assassin's Creed Mirage fits on the timeline due to the limited connections among the entries. In fact, Mirage is designed as a tribute to the original game but actually takes place a few hundred years later, specifically in 9th century Baghdad. While it is not the most recent installment in the franchise, it is not the first either, as there are a few games set before it.
Where Assassin's Creed Mirage Sits on the Series Timeline
Assassin's Creed Mirage, released in 861 AD, is the third game in the chronological timeline of the Assassin's Creed series. Preceding it are Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Origins.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey, set in ancient Greece from 431-404 BC, allows players to assume the role of either Alexios or Kassandra, Spartan mercenaries embroiled in the Peloponnesian War. Throughout the game, the protagonist uncovers various secrets and conspiracies, mostly centered around the Cult of Kosmos, an early manifestation of the Templar Order.
Moving forward a few hundred years to the period between 49-43 BC, Assassin's Creed Origins introduces players to Bayek, who becomes a member of the Hidden Ones, an organization that eventually evolves into the Assassin Brotherhood.
Assassin's Creed Mirage takes place nearly 900 years after the events of Assassin's Creed Origins. Players control Basim Ibn Ishaq, a thief surviving in the streets of Baghdad. After a life-changing event at the Winter Palace, Basim is recruited by the Hidden Ones and undergoes rigorous training to become an assassin.
In the upcoming years, Basim returns to Baghdad with the intention of eradicating the corruption of the Order of the Ancients. Although most of the events in Assassin's Creed Mirage occur in 860 AD, players familiar with Assassin's Creed Valhalla will know that Basim's story is not a straightforward one. He shares a profound connection with a civilization that existed over 70,000 years ago, adding complexity to the timeline of Assassin's Creed Mirage.
Considering Basim's introduction in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, it is logical that the next RPG installment in the series takes place a few decades after the events of Assassin's Creed Mirage, starting in 872 AD. While Basim's journey primarily unfolds in the historical context of Assassin's Creed Mirage and Valhalla, his story does not reach its conclusion there. In the present-day narrative of Valhalla, Layla and the modern Assassin team discover Basim's preserved body connected to Yggdrasil, an ancient Isu device that allows the transfer of consciousness to humans. Layla is deceived into releasing Basim, who is then able to restore his physical form with the assistance of the Staff of Hermes. Subsequently, he agrees to aid the modern Assassins.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.