Assassin's Creed Mirage gameplay was revealed for the first time in the 2023 PlayStation Showcase. AC Mirage is clearly trying to "return to the roots" of the franchise, with fewer RPG elements, no silly gadgets, and a single, urban location. In fact, it's clearly taking most inspiration from the very first Assassin's Creed game.
We don't hate Valhalla, in fact we don't hate any of the more recent RPG-style Assassin's Creed games. They breathed life into the franchise after Syndicate. But now the RPG-style of AC game has become the very thing it swore to destroy: a tired format that needs replacing. So, we're returning to the world of linear stealth-action in Assassin's Creed Mirage.
Is Ubisoft destined to oscillate between these two styles for eternity, or will the bizarre AC Infinity project bring something genuinely new to the franchise? That's a discussion for another day. Although, if you are interested, you can listen to our thoughts on the future of Assassin's Creed here:
You can find gameplay of AC Mirage below.
- If you're persuaded by the gameplay, you can pre-order AC: Mirage here .
Assassin's Creed Mirage Gameplay: Nostalgia-Bait, But It Looks Fun
Okay, before we get any further, here is the gameplay trailer (first broadcast during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase):
Woah, what a gorgeous location? But it isn't simply the fact that we're returning to the Middle East that reminds us of Assassin's Creed 1, nor is it the remarkably similar character design of the protagonists.
The assassin we see in this Mirage gameplay relies solely on parkour and the hidden blade, they aren't laden with bizarre and lethal contraptions. And the objective of the game is also remarkably clear: find and eliminate targets. Of course, there will be some variation in how you can do this, as in the first Assassin's Creed game, but the methods are quite grounded. Sneak through the crowd or bribe the guards.
Personally, we're hugely in favor of Ubisoft returning to this style of game in Mirage. As fun as the RPG titles were, they seemed to lose sight of what the franchise was purportedly about: assassination.
What do you think of Mirage, can it recreate the magic of the first game, or is it destined to underwhelm?
If anyone here is disappointed by the gameplay direction of AC Mirage, here's a reminder of why not every game needs to be an RPG: