After taking a year off following the mixed reception of Syndicate, Ubisoft returned with what amounted to a full reboot of the Assassin’s Creed formula. Origins didn’t just change settings. It changed everything. The combat system, the progression structure, the approach to open world design, and even the tone of the storytelling all received fundamental overhauls. Set in Ptolemaic Egypt during the twilight of the pharaohs, Origins felt like a studio that had listened to years of criticism and responded with genuine ambition.
The result was one of the most well-received entries in the franchise’s history. Bayek of Siwa became an instant fan favorite, ancient Egypt proved to be one of the most stunning settings in gaming, and the shift to RPG mechanics gave the series a new foundation that would carry it forward. Not everything worked perfectly, but Origins earned its name by truly feeling like a new beginning.
Bayek’s Egypt Is a World Worth Exploring
The recreation of ancient Egypt is staggering in scope and detail. From the bustling streets of Alexandria to the vast emptiness of the desert, from the Nile Delta’s lush farmland to the towering pyramids of Giza, Origins presents a world that feels alive and historically rich. The Discovery Tour mode, which strips out combat and lets players explore Egypt as an interactive museum, speaks to the research and care that went into building this version of the ancient world.
Bayek himself is one of the franchise’s best protagonists. His quest for vengeance after the murder of his son gives the story an emotional core that many previous entries lacked. The relationship between Bayek and his wife Aya adds complexity to the narrative, and the voice performance brings warmth, humor, and grief to a character who could easily have been one-dimensional. Players connect with Bayek in a way the series hadn’t achieved since Ezio.
The new combat system was a dramatic departure from the counter-and-kill chains of earlier games. Hitbox-based combat with light and heavy attacks, dodging, and shield mechanics gave fights a weight and challenge they previously lacked. Different weapon types, from dual blades to massive war hammers, each felt distinct and encouraged experimentation. Boss fights against phylakes and other powerful enemies became genuine highlights rather than the forgettable encounters of past titles.
The RPG progression system added layers of engagement that kept players invested over the long haul. Leveling up, crafting gear, and choosing abilities from a skill tree gave every hour of play a sense of forward momentum. Side quests were generally well-written and often revealed interesting stories about life in ancient Egypt, making exploration feel rewarding beyond just the numbers going up.
The Ubisoft Open World Problem Persists
Despite the reinvention, Origins still falls into some of Ubisoft’s open world traps. The map is enormous, perhaps too enormous, and some regions feel like they exist more to justify the world’s size than to provide meaningful content. The question mark icons dotting every corner of the map can feel overwhelming, and the completionist urge to clear them all reveals how much of the content is functionally similar.
Level gating is a persistent frustration. Wandering into areas above your level means enemies become damage sponges while killing you in a few hits, which clashes with the idea of an open world you should feel free to explore. The game sometimes forces grinding through side content to reach the appropriate level for story missions, and while much of that side content is good, the mandate to do it rather than choosing to do it changes the dynamic.
The stealth mechanics, once the series’ bread and butter, feel somewhat diminished. Enemies that are significantly above your level can survive assassination attempts, which fundamentally undermines the fantasy of being a skilled assassin. The series’ identity crisis between stealth action and RPG combat creates moments where the game feels uncertain about what it wants to be.
The modern-day storyline with Layla Hassan failed to capture players’ imaginations. After years of diminishing returns on the present-day framing device, Origins introduced a new character who most players found uninteresting compared to even the later Desmond sections. These segments feel like contractual obligations rather than compelling narrative.
A Franchise Reborn in the Desert Sands
Origins proved that Assassin’s Creed could evolve beyond its established formula without losing its identity. The historical tourism, the conspiracy-laden storyline, and the satisfaction of sneaking through enemy camps all survived the transition to RPG mechanics. What Origins added, meaningful character progression, challenging combat, and a protagonist worth caring about, more than justified the risks Ubisoft took with the redesign. The game set a template that Odyssey and Valhalla would follow, for better and worse.
Should You Play Assassin’s Creed: Origins?
Anyone who fell off the Assassin’s Creed series due to formula fatigue should give Origins a serious look. It’s also an excellent entry point for newcomers, since the story stands largely on its own. Players who prefer tight, focused experiences might find the sheer size overwhelming, and those who loved the stealth-first approach of the original games may mourn what was lost in the RPG transition. But for open world RPG fans who want a gorgeous, historically rich setting and a protagonist worth rooting for, Origins delivers.
The Verdict on Assassin’s Creed: Origins
Origins earned its title by truly reinventing its franchise. Bayek’s story of vengeance and sacrifice provides emotional weight that grounds the sprawling Egyptian playground, and the combat overhaul gave the series mechanical depth it had been missing for years. Open world bloat and level gating prevent it from reaching its full potential, but the ambition and execution on display make it one of the best entries in the franchise. This is the game that proved Assassin’s Creed still had something to say.