Philosophy in Gaming: The Assassin's Creed

Ten years ago on the third of November a brand new title named Assassin's Creed hit store shelves for the first time. Marketed as a historical sandbox action-adventure title the game's success exceeded all expectations and would go on to launch dozens of products from sequels, prequels, graphic novels, novels, animated shorts, a movie, and if the deal with Netflix works out, a TV series. Now in 2017 the Assassin's Creed franchise stands alongside titans of the industry like Mass Effect and Halo and surpasses them and all of it is based around these mysterious cloaked killers who live their lives on the basis of a code, a creed, the Assassin's Creed.

La Shay' Wakion Motlak Bal Kollon Momken, or as it translates: "Nothing is true, everything is permitted." At first glance these six words do not mean much and may even seem a call to anarchy. Yet for an action series the Assassin's Creed franchise spends a great deal of time explaining what these words mean, or at least what lessons can be taken from them. I find three examples in particular really help show the depth to these words starting with Edward in Assassin's Creed IV who outlines a solid foundation. After years of struggle and hardship the impulsive pirate Edward Kenway began to understand that the creed which seems to instruct that nothing can be believed and no rules are to be followed is not the final form of wisdom, merely the first step on the road to wisdom. In a world where there are countless prophets and ideologues who claim have all the answers the Assassin's Creed stands out as something that does not pretend to have any answers at all, instead it sets out to be a guidepost to the first step on the journey to wisdom.

For the next step we return to the beginning with Altair Ibn La Ahad, the Assassin of the original game, who explains the logic behind the components of the creed. Essentially as Altair explains the creed teaches that knowledge and truth must be sought out, not taken for granted and that the world as it is presented to us should continually be questioned and affirmed for oneself. The second part of the creed outlines that laws are not mystical creations but are mortal constructs built by logic and should be understood as such and are open to be questioned and, if necessary, changed.

To further expound on Altair we move to Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the protagonist of Assassin's Creed II who in the second sequel to that title explains the creed to his future wife. Ezio outlines the creed as a call to personal responsibility, it is not a doctrine or dogma, not a rejection of everything but a reminder to take account of one's own actions and endeavors instead of relying completely on the structures around us. 

Considering this entire thing comes as the fluff behind an action hack-and-slash game series the depth to the Assassin's Creed is something of a surprise. Instead of a formal set of rules to live by the creed is a reminder that the world and knowledge as presented to us should not be taken for granted and we should seek our own wisdom; it urges the individual to take personal responsibility for one's own fate instead of relying on the rules and structures of society to make decisions for us. Behind the sinister hooded figures is a philosophy grounded in individualism. The creed stands as a logical response to the setting of the first game which took place during the Crusades and revolved around the conflict between radical political and religious organizations like the Hashashin and the Crusaders. In a time when religious zealotry served as a call to war and violence the Assassin's Creed serves as a lesson urging personal accountability and the rejection of dogma. From that origin the series has exploded across timelines and media types and become easily one of the most popular gaming franchises of our time, all the while being built on a deceptively simple foundational philosophy rewards thoughtful analysis and reflection.


Games may be a fun way to escape the daily grind but we shouldn't forget that the medium at it's best offers nearly endless opportunities for thoughtful reflection and learning if we but take the time to look for them.