Assassin's Creed Origins

Assassin's Creed Origins is an action RPG set in ancient Egypt. Bayek of Siwa, a Medjay and protector of his homeland, gets caught up in a conflict on his quest for justice that leads to the formation of the Hidden Ones.

The adventure combines a large open world with exploration, main and side missions, loot and a reworked combat system.

Released on Oct 27, 2017 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The release introduced more pronounced RPG mechanics to the series.

In 2018, the story expansions The Hidden Ones and The Curse of the Pharaohs followed, as well as the non-violent Discovery Tour.

Origins was released natively for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S it can be played via backward compatibility. Since June 2, 2022, the game supports up to 60 frames per second there.

Compatibility with newer hardware does not mean that standalone PS5 or Xbox Series versions have been released.

You explore cities, deserts, oases and tombs, take on quests and upgrade Bayek's gear. The eagle Senu helps with orientation and spotting enemies.

Weapons differ in type, range and rarity. Experience points you earn unlock new skills that suit different combat styles.

The Hidden Ones was released on Jan 23, 2018. Four years after the main story, the young Brotherhood fights Roman occupiers on the Sinai Peninsula. The expansion adds quests, gear and new progression options.

The Curse of the Pharaohs was released on Mar 13, 2018. Bayek travels to Thebes and the Valley of the Kings, where undead rulers and mythological afterlife worlds shape the story. Both expansions are additional content and are not automatically included in every base game version.

For PC, Steam lists at least Windows 10 64-bit, a Core i5-2400s or FX-6350, 6 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon R9 270 with 2 GB VRAM. DirectX 11 and 42 GB of storage are required.

Recommended are a Core i7-3770 or FX-8350, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon R9 280X.

Alexandria, Memphis, the Pyramids of Giza and the banks of the Nile are key locations. Alongside large settlements, there are temples, tombs, fortresses and remote desert areas.

The story is set in the time of Cleopatra and combines real power struggles with a fictional conspiracy.

Bayek's personal loss drives his search for those responsible. The conflict with the Order of the Ancients grows into a larger movement. Aya also plays an important role in its formation.

Origins thus tells a prequel to the later Assassin Brotherhood rather than another conflict between established orders.

Combat requires good timing for attacks, dodges and use of the shield. Swords, spears, axes and bows offer different ranges and tactics.

If you prefer to move unseen, mark guards with Senu and use cover. The ability paths Warrior, Hunter and Seer open up additional options.

The main missions follow Bayek's search for his enemies. Side quests tell stories of residents, local disputes and dangerous areas.

While exploring, you find tombs and other optional challenges. The combination of free exploration and character development means many tasks can be tackled in any order.

The Discovery Tour has been available since Feb 20, 2018. The non-violent mode turns ancient Egypt into a learning space with 75 interactive tours on culture, geography and history.

You can explore the world at your own pace and choose from 25 characters. The mode was released as a free update for owners of Origins and as a standalone PC version.

With photo mode, you can capture the landscape, architecture and characters. The pyramids, temples and vast deserts are especially characteristic subjects.

If you want to get to know these places better, the Discovery Tour also offers historical explanations.

Origins is a single-player adventure. The campaign around Bayek is not structured as a shared co-op mode. Combat and exploration take place within a personal story.

The two major story expansions also continue this single-player concept.

Ubisoft Montréal developed Assassin's Creed Origins, and Ubisoft published the game. Its new combat system, stronger focus on gear and vast game world mark a clear shift in gameplay within the series.