Assassin's Creed 3 set the stage for the series' naval gameplay

Assassin's Creed 3 is both fascinating and fundamental to the series' later development. Its expansive wilderness and smaller settlements felt restrictive compared to the franchise's massive cities, but they established a model that Ubisoft carried forward into Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla and Shadows.

The game also introduced ships. While Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is remembered for its nautical open world and piratical antics, AC3 already let players explore the Eastern Seaboard and parts of the Caribbean through naval side missions.

Pretty much everyone seemed to agree that captaining a ship felt incredible, yet those naval elements were relatively limited in AC3. It was Black Flag that expanded the idea into a full-scale nautical experience.

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