Assassin's Creed Odyssey Review Roundup: What Do The Critics Think?

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is now available, bringing the blockbuster action series to ancient Greece. After Ubisoft saw diminishing returns from its annual sequels, the company took a year off to put more time into its next installment. The result was Assassin's Creed Origins, a well-received return to form that borrowed some heavy RPG elements like loot, and revised some of its staid mechanics.

Odyssey is the first sequel since Origins, and it follows just a year after. Though Ubisoft has already confirmed another isn't coming next year, this game following so hot on the heels of the last one runs the risk of exhausting fans again. The critical reception suggests that the shine hasn't worn off quite yet, with generally positive reviews that note this one isn't quite as novel, but learns its lessons well from its predecessor. Read on for a look at impressions from around the industry, or check GameSpot's sister site Metacritic for a wider view.

• Game: Assassin's Creed Odyssey
• Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Release date: October 5
• Price: US $60 / £49 / AU $78

GameSpot -- 8/10

"Assassin's Creed Odyssey's ambition is admirable, which is reflected in its rich attention to detail for the era and its approach to handling the multi-faceted narrative with strong protagonists at the lead. While its large-scale campaign--clocking in at over 50 hours--can occasionally be tiresome, and some features don't quite make the impact they should, Odyssey makes great strides in its massive and dynamic world, and it's a joy to venture out and leave your mark on its ever-changing setting." -- Alessandro Fillari [Full review]

GamesRadar -- 5/5

"In the end this journey is all about choice. The people you decide to let live, the romances you have, the sexuality lines you blur, the questlines you follow, the people you help and hinder and the RPG picks you make. It's an utterly beautifully crafted world and story, with cutscenes for literally days. After 70 hours I've only just finished the main storyline and I still have plenty to see in Odyssey's Greece, and it's a joy to keep on exploring." -- Sam Loveridge [Full review]

IGN -- 92/100

"Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a resounding achievement in world building, environment, and engaging gameplay with occasional problems throughout. Its incredible recreation of ancient Greece is something I'll want to go back to long after I've finished its main story, and its excellent systems mesh together in a way that’s hard to beat. While there are definite rough edges, Odyssey sets a new bar for Assassin's Creed games and holds its own in the eternal debate over the best open-world roleplaying games ever." -- Brandin Tyrrel [Full review]

Forbes -- 8.5/10

"Origins was delightful and Odyssey hits almost all the same notes, so there's a lot to like about it as well. But this series needs a bit of breathing room, and I hope it gets another bit of rest after this." -- Paul Tassi [Full review]

Game Informer -- 8.25/10

"Assassin's Creed Odyssey aims high in its attempts to blend innovative additions with returning features. The execution might be uneven, but Ubisoft Quebec ultimately strikes a successful balance among the many parts. The story is compelling, both as a hero's journey and in the way it ties into the series' wider lore. Exploring the world is fun, combat is empowering, and getting epic loot is a thrill. That solid core formula carries Odyssey a long way, but like Icarus and his wax wings, it's not enough to reach the bright star on the horizon." -- Joe Juba [Full review]

The Escapist -- 6/10

"I'm still going to go back once this review is written, to play more, and to definitively solve the mysteries of Kassandra’s odyssey, but I will in all likelihood spend real money on an in-game permanent XP boost to reduce the amount of stuff I have to see that I just don't care about. If that sounds like an endorsement with a small but appreciable 'but' attached, well." -- Arthur Gies [Full review]