Assassin's Creed Mirage

It's best to think of this entry in Ubisoft's flagship game franchise as a spin-off rather than a full-fledged sequel. Not only is Assassin's Creed Mirage priced a little less than most big-budget games, it's also significantly shorter than recent entries in the series, taking only around 30 hours to complete compared to Assassin's Creed Valhalla's 100-plus hours. However, those hours are packed with expertly designed locations and missions that tell a tight and compelling story about a man who feels the need to atone for a tragic mistake by pledging himself to greater purpose and doing what's right. The world map may be relatively small, but it brims with gorgeous desert vistas and stunning architecture that begs to be investigated and explored as Basim slowly but surely unravels the identities of the men who are pulling the strings of Baghdad's most powerful people.

The action feels similarly scaled back, but in such a way as to put a premium on stealth and tactics. Basim is not a battlefield warrior, so blindly charging into enemies is likely to get him killed. Instead, players must have him blend with crowds and hide in bushes, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The assassin's skills he gradually acquires along the way promote strategy and forethought, eventually giving players the ability to tag up to five enemies that Basim will take down automatically with a tap of a button in a swift, finely choreographed strike. Some series fans will surely miss the trademark epicness of other games in the Assassin's Creed series, but Mirage stands nicely on its own as a kind of extended side quest starring a compelling hero.