Summary
Ubisoftis one of the largest gaming companies, with a long history of developing major franchises, some spanning over ten main games. Alongside relatively newer series likeWatch Dogs,The Crew, andThe Division, some of Ubisoft’s most iconic franchises — likeFar CryandGhost Recon— have been around for over two decades, with regular releases that appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers. Many of Ubisoft’s popular military-focused franchises arebased on the works of American novelist Tom Clancy.
Below are some of Ubisoft’s most well-known and expansive series, each with at least six main titles. While fans have been eagerly awaiting new installments for some of these franchises, there is hope on the horizon for the return ofSplinter Cell,Prince of Persia, andHeroes of Might and Magic. Fingers crossed that these upcoming titles will be worth the wait.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at thebest Ubisoft franchisesas they currently stand.
The originalSplinter Celldebuted in 2002 to great success, quickly becoming one of thebest stealth-action tactical seriesavailable. Sam Fisher’s iconic night-vision goggles with their distinctive green lights became one of the most recognizable images in the genre. The series hit its peak between 2004 and 2006, with Ubisoft releasing new entries annually.Splinter Cell: Chaos Theoryis widely regarded as the best from this period, praised for its intricate level design, flexible mechanics, and attention to detail.
In 2010, Ubisoft attempted to reinvent the series with a more action-oriented approach inSplinter Cell: Conviction, which was released after several delays. The new formula was further refined withSplinter Cell: Blacklist(2013), but after that, the series went on an extended hiatus. Fans have long been pleading for the return of Sam Fisher, and Ubisoft has finally answered with the announcement of theSplinter Cellremake. The remake aims to stay true to the original while expanding its potential to attract a new generation of players.
Heroes of Might and Magicis a legendary turn-based strategy series that Ubisoft, unfortunately, hasn’t been able to fully capitalize on since acquiring the rights in 2003, following 3DO’s bankruptcy. The first release under Ubisoft wasHeroes of Might and Magic 5by Nival Interactive, which many fans consider the last great entry in the series. Subsequent installments received mixed reviews, being praised mainly for their graphics but criticized in other areas.
In an attempt to rebrand, Ubisoft renamed the series toMight and Magicfor the sixth and seventh installments, but these changes didn’t resonate as hoped. However, the upcomingHeroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, developed by Unfrozen and set for a 2025 release, promises a return to the series' traditional roots. Many fans are hopeful that this game will finally realize the full potential of the franchise and recapture the magic that made it beloved by so many.
Initially created by Jordan Mechner and Broderbund,Prince of Persiawas acquired by Ubisoft in 2001. The series has a history similar toSplinter Cell, enjoying huge popularity in the early 2000s, with theSands of Timetrilogy widely considered the peak of the action-platforming genre. However, by the 2010s, the franchise had lost its momentum. Ubisoft attempted to breathe new life into the series with the visually stunningPrince of Persia(2008) and later tried to capitalize onSands of Timenostalgia withThe Forgotten Sands(2010). Unfortunately, neither effort achieved the success Ubisoft had hoped for, and the series was somewhat overshadowed bythe parkour-orientedAssassin’s Creed.
After more than a decade of inactivity, Ubisoft announced aSands of Timeremake, which has since been delayed and rebooted multiple times. However, 2024 saw the release ofPrince of Persia: The Lost CrownandThe Rogue Prince, two well-received titles that suggest the franchise is finally getting the long-awaited second chance it deserves.
Ghost Reconis another of Tom Clancy’s military franchises, launched in 2001. UnlikeRainbow Six, whichfocuses on SWAT-style local operations,Ghost Reconis more militaristic, featuring vast open spaces, the use of war machines, and tactical planning on a larger scale. The series experimented in the mid-2010s with titles likeAdvanced Warfighter 2andFuture Soldier, which explored the future of large-scale military operations.
The modern resurgence of the franchise came withGhost Recon Wildlands, which highlighted the series' strengths: an expansive open world, seamless co-op gameplay, and a focus on tactical combat. However, the most recent entry,Breakpoint, followed a similar formula but was marred by a rushed launch, questionable design choices, and technical issues. To Ubisoft’s credit, they continued to support the game, andBreakpointis now in much better shape, though the brand’s reputation remains somewhat tarnished as fans await the next installment.
One of Ubisoft’s most expansive franchises,Rainbow Sixdebuted in 1998 and has since produced ten mainline games. Initially known for offering some of the deepest single-player tactical shooters, the series later shifted its focus toward cooperative play, especially withRainbow Six: VegasandVegas 2. It then embraced team-based multiplayer withRainbow Six Siege.
Although the most recent co-op entry,Rainbow Six Extraction, flew largely under the radar, the franchise remains strong due toRainbow Six Siege. Nearly nine years after its release,Siegeis still one of Ubisoft’s most-played titles, boasting over 85 million registered players andlikely exceeding 20 million copies sold.
When the originalFar Cry, developed by Crytek, launched in 2004, few could have predicted that the tropical first-person shooter would evolve into one of Ubisoft’s biggest franchises. The series spent years trying to find its identity, but everything changed with the release ofFar Cry 3in 2012, which became a huge success. Since then, the series has been defined by its memorable villains, player freedom, and vast, vibrant open worlds — elements that have been refined with each subsequent entry.
EveryFar Crygame since the third installment has been a best-seller and remains one of the most popular single-player shooters on the market. However, the latest release,Far Cry 6, didn’t resonate as strongly with audiences, as the formula began to feel repetitive and lacking innovation. Ubisoft is likely planning to reinvent the series with the next entry, rumored for a fall 2025 release.
Assassin’s Creedis Ubisoft’s flagship open-world stealth-action franchise, launched in 2007 with a focus on movement and parkour. It quickly became one of the company’s most iconic brands in the gaming industry. With regular high-quality releases (for the most part), the series has successfullybalanced its legacy with innovations. The core concept of exploring various historical settings has proven to be a winning formula, even though the modern direction of the series — beginning with theWitcher 3-inspiredAssassin’s Creed Origins— has split the fanbase.
In an effort to please its core audience, Ubisoft recently releasedAssassin’s Creed Mirage, a smaller-scale title marketed as a return to the series' roots, featuring more stealth-oriented gameplay compared to larger, RPG-like entries such asOdysseyandValhalla. The next major installment,Assassin’s Creed Shadows,with its samurai-focused setting, is one of the most anticipated games of the year, drawing both excitement and controversy ahead of its launch. This title will also introduce theAssassin’s Creed Infinityhub, which will include the upcomingAssassin’s Creed: Codename Hexe.
