These are the best Ubisoft games

Amelie Looker
6 Min To Read
Saturday, Mar 27, 2021

Since its founding in 1986, French developer Ubisoft has worked on hundreds of games, spanning multiple genres and console generations. In the beginning, the company focused on minor titles - plus a handful of games based on licenses such as Indiana Jones, Sesame Street, Batman and even Charlie’s Angels. Today, however, its huge catalog of original games has made it stand out as one of the most prolific video game studios, and here are the highlights.

Rayman Legends

From a commercial point of view, Rayman has always been behind Mario. However, there are those who claim that Rayman is a superior platformer, citing 2013’s Rayman Legends as one of the best of its kind. Regardless of your stance, there’s no denying that this game is quite the gem. Its graphics alone are a spectacle, and when combined with great music and countless content, we get Ubisoft’s best platformer. It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since its release. Fingers crossed that we get a new Rayman for the PS5.

Rainbow Six: Siege

When it launched in 2015, Rainbow Six: Siege wasn’t overflowing with content, though it went on to establish what would become one of the best tactical shooter games of all time. Today, five years later, Siege is highly respected. It provides its community with a slick online first-person shooter that emphasizes teamwork and competitive action. This is not just any shooter; to achieve victory you must communicate effectively with your team, take advantage of your environment and make good use of your long list of artifacts.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Sadly, the Prince of Persia series has been dormant for about a decade. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t remember The Sands of Time, which debuted in 2003, offering gamers a mix of 3D platforming, fast-paced action and a time rewind mechanic that made it stand out at the time. It was a much darker take on the 3D action genre, which had been born just a few years earlier. Although there is no doubt that today the passage of time is noticeable, The Sands of Time stands out as one of Ubisoft’s most important games. Seventeen years later, the impact it had on the action platformer genre can be clearly seen.

Far Cry 3

Far Cry had been around for nearly a decade before its third installment popularized the series. Just like certain films, Far Cry 3 portrayed a villain that almost made you want him to win, with a high focus on narrative and believable performances. And playing it was hilarious. There was something thrilling and beautiful about exploring the lethal Rook Islands, full of creatures you could hunt. Never mind all those jokes that say this game is nothing more than Skyrim with guns; the fact is that Far Cry 3 is still one of the best shooters out there.

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

It’s not easy to decide which of the Splinter Cell games is the best. They all have unique qualities that make them stand out. Our choice? Pandora Tomorrow, from 2004. Numerous quality of life improvements can be found over the original, but the real draw here is an exceptional multiplayer mode that pitted players against each other in a balanced, nuanced and diverse online gaming experience. There was a time when we had frequent installments in the Splinter Cell series, but unfortunately that time is behind us. There’s nothing left to do but pray to the gods at Ubisoft to grant us a new entry in the near future.

Just Dance 2020

It’s easy to underestimate Just Dance. Sure, you might look ridiculous playing it, but that’s precisely what makes it so much fun. And after 11 installments and millions of copies sold, it’s certainly a game that brings people together. The most recent installment, Just Dance 2020, includes an “All Stars” mode with a playlist that includes fan-favorite songs from previous versions. And the implementation of Just Dance Unlimited, which gives users access to a streaming archive of songs, makes it a game overflowing with content. Not since the heyday of Guitar Hero and Rock Band has a game like this shaken up its audience with a shared music experience.

South Park: The Stick of Truth

This game wouldn’t have to be this good. In fact, if not for some delays that delayed its release until 2014, it would have been far inferior. However, it somehow manages to capture the essence of South Park and combines it with simple RPG mechanics, all in a condensed experience of around 12 hours. Thanks to the efforts of series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who had a big hand in the game’s development, it feels like a new, interactive season of the show.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Speaking of games with licenses that in theory shouldn’t work, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was one of the biggest surprises of 2017. A Mario turn-based strategy game that wasn’t created by Nintendo and also features the awful Rabbids? Yet somehow it works, and to date it’s one of the best games on Nintendo Switch. It combines the quirkiness of Mario and the Rabbids, and to that it adds challenging gameplay that almost feels like X-COM, but more lighthearted. Don’t be fooled by those colorful graphics; you’ll have to pay attention to succeed in this game.

Beyond Good & Evil

Beyond Good & Evil is a title we still remember fondly, 17 years later. It’s a game that successfully combines stealth game mechanics with beautiful graphics and clever puzzles, all with a rustic European style that ties it all together. The art direction alone makes it stand out, and with such a breadth of gameplay styles available to the gamer, you’ll never get bored. It certainly looks and feels like a game of its era, and while its mechanics may be a bit dated, Beyond Good & Evil is still a classic.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

With so many incredible games in the series, choosing Assassin’s Creed Origins wasn’t easy. But it’s just impossible to ignore the wonders of ancient Egypt and Ubisoft’s supercharged RPG mechanics. Unlike previous titles in the series, Origins completely redefines what an Assassin’s Creed game is, giving us experience points to earn, an extensive skill tree to fill out, and a much less linear approach. But it still feels like Assassin’s Creed, with some of the mechanics of the original. The focus on complex combat is undoubtedly one of its strengths and makes it feel like a mature evolution of a once simplistic stealth game.