Best Side Quests In Assassin’s Creed Games, Ranked

Summary

• Some side quests enrich a game world by integrating seamlessly with story and atmosphere.
• Unforgettable missions like Accidental Philosopher in Origins highlight character dynamics and humor.
• Legendary Ships in Black Flag offer challenging naval battles that feel epic and legendary.

Some side quests exist just to pad out an open world, a checklist of errands that players dutifully tick off before moving on. But then there are the ones that feel like they belong, the ones that weave themselves into the game’s story, atmosphere, or themes so well that they become unforgettable. Assassin’s Creed has always had a knack for crafting engaging side content, from intense naval battles to philosophical debates with questionable mentors.

Here are the seven best side quests in the franchise, ranked not just for their gameplay but for how they enrich the world around them.

7

Accidental Philosopher

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Not all great side quests need high-stakes drama. Accideaaaantal Philosopher in Assassin’s Creed Origins is proof that even a simple rescue mission can be wildly entertaining when paired with sharp writing and an unforgettable character.

Tefibi is a wannabe philosopher with more confidence than common sense, and his mother, Tjepu, is at her wit’s end trying to keep him out of trouble. Bayek, ever the reluctant babysitter, tracks the boy down, following a trail of blood to a seaside hut. Turns out, Tefibi is alive, just slightly mauled—and still talking a mile a minute.

The quest is straightforward, featuring some light tracking, escorting, and a brief fight, but what makes it great is the dynamic between Bayek and Tefibi. The kid’s endless chatter—debating fables, history, and the Medjay legacy—transforms a simple fetch quest into one of Origins’ most charming and unexpectedly hilarious moments.

6

The Silver-Tongued Traitor

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

What starts as an odd encounter with a fast-talking merchant in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla quickly turns personal for Eivor. Sulke Silvertongue peddles supposed relics from history—Christ’s cross, Ragnar’s snakeskin—but among the junk, Eivor spots something truly valuable: a helmet belonging to her father, Varin.

Realizing Sulke was present the night her village fell, Eivor chases him down, cutting through hired muscle along the way. The confrontation is bittersweet—Sulke insists he wasn’t a traitor, only a coward who scavenged to survive. Eivor is left with a choice: end his miserable existence or leave him to his shame.

What makes this side quest worthwhile is the unexpected inclusion of Eivor’s past, which looms over every decision, turning a simple chase into a meditation on survival, honor, and the ghosts we can never truly outrun.

5

Legendary Ships

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

It’s one thing to be a feared pirate. It’s another to take on the kind of ships that could single-handedly wipe out an entire fleet. Scattered across the map are four Legendary Ships, each one a behemoth of destruction, waiting to send Edward Kenway to the ocean floor.

These battles are brutal. Each ship has its own tactics, from sheer firepower to maneuverability that should be illegal for something that size. The HMS Prince bombards players with mortars, while El Impoluto charges head-on like a battering ram from hell. And if players are brave (or foolish) enough, they can take on the twin ships La Dama Negra and HMS Fearless at the same time.

What makes these fights so special isn’t just their difficulty—it’s the way they turn naval combat into something that feels legendary in every sense of the word. Beating one of these ships is an achievement that turns Kenway into a true terror of the seas.

4

Charles Dickens Memories

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Charles Dickens wasn’t just one of the greatest writers of his time—he was also deeply fascinated by the supernatural. In Syndicate, players join him on a series of investigations into ghosts, curses, and other strange occurrences plaguing London.

From chasing the legend of Spring-Heeled Jack to investigating a supposedly haunted house, these quests are dripping with the eerie atmosphere of Victorian folklore. The best part? Dickens himself is as theatrical as you’d expect, reacting to every twist with the kind of dramatic flair that would make any storyteller proud.

While the investigations themselves are often rooted in rational explanations (as any good skeptic would expect), they capture the paranoia and fascination with the occult that defined the era. It’s a rare side quest that feels like a history lesson wrapped in an adventure, with just the right amount of ghost stories to keep things interesting.

3

Kingfisher And The Robin

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

The Greek world of Odyssey is filled with betrayals, but few sting as much as this one. Set on the island of Skyros, this quest follows Agapios, a man desperate to save his brother Neritos from the clutches of a criminal organization known as the Dagger.

By the time players reach Neritos, it’s clear there’s no happy ending here. Agapios still believes his brother can be saved, but Neritos is too far gone, completely loyal to the Dagger. The choice given to players is a cruel one: encourage Agapios to keep trying, which leads to his death, or force him to see the truth, shattering him completely. Either way, Neritos fights to the death, leaving Agapios broken and questioning everything. It’s a stark reminder that in Odyssey, not every problem can be solved with a blade or a well-timed speech. Sometimes, people are already lost before you even get there.

2

The Body In The Brothel

Assassin’s Creed Unity

In the shadowy underbelly of revolutionary Paris, Assassin’s Creed Unity presents a grisly murder mystery that tests Arno’s investigative skills. A young woman named Suzanna is found brutally beaten and bound in a brothel, surrounded by instruments of sadistic torment. Suspicion immediately falls on the infamous Marquis de Sade, a man with a well-earned reputation for excess and cruelty.

The case leads Arno through a tangled web of clues—bloodstained whips, secret letters, and conflicting testimonies. As he pieces together the truth, he uncovers a far more calculated crime. Someone seeks to frame de Sade, using his own perversions against him. The true killer, de Sade’s vengeful valet Olivier, is unmasked, confessing his hatred for his master’s abuses.

This side quest shines with its layered storytelling, forcing players to sift through lies, moral ambiguity, and the brutal realities of post-revolution France, making it one of Unity’s most compelling investigations.

1

The Calling

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Basim finds himself drawn into a mystery that blurs the line between dreams and reality. A note left behind by Nehal speaks of a deep unease—a feeling born from their time at the palace and a strange pull toward an ancient place in the desert, north of the ‘Aqarquf Dunes. Nehal recalls an oasis, a presence calling out from the sands. But was it a memory or merely a dream?

Seeking answers, Basim follows Nehal’s obsession, uncovering shards held by members of the Tha’abeen. Through careful trading and pursuit, he amasses these fragments and exchanges them for powerful Isu artifacts, remnants of a forgotten era. This side quest adds an eerie, almost mystical depth to Mirage, foreshadowing Basim’s larger destiny.