Assassin’s Creed’s Most Infuriating Side Missions Revealed

Since its debut in 2007, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series has captivated millions with its historical settings, stealthy parkour, and sprawling open worlds. With 12 mainline games by 2025, the franchise has offered countless side missions to flesh out its worlds, from thrilling assassinations to tedious chores. While fans often groan about repetitive tailing missions, some lesser-known side activities have quietly infuriated players with their clunky design, absurd requirements, or sheer monotony. “It’s not the tailing missions you hate!” one fan exclaimed on social media, echoing a sentiment that the worst offenders are often unexpected. From cataloging cow-milking in Assassin’s Creed III to defending dens in Revelations, we dive into the most exasperating side mission from each mainline Assassin’s Creed game, revealing why these hidden flops are sparking heated debates among fans.

Assassin’s Creed (2007): Informant Escort Missions

The original Assassin’s Creed laid the groundwork for the series but stumbled with repetitive side content. While tailing missions drew early complaints, the informant escort missions were a stealthy nightmare. Players had to guide slow-moving NPCs through guard-heavy areas to gather intel, but the NPCs’ erratic behavior—wandering into danger or stopping abruptly—often triggered detection. Unlike tailing, which allowed some control, escorts felt like babysitting, with failure punishing players for NPC mistakes. These missions, meant to enrich Altaïr’s investigations, instead frustrated with their lack of agency and clunky AI, setting a low bar for side content.

Assassin’s Creed II (2009): Courier Deliveries

Assassin’s Creed II revolutionized the series with Ezio Auditore and a vibrant Renaissance Italy, but its courier delivery missions were a dull blemish. Players raced across Florence or Venice to deliver letters within tight time limits, navigating rooftops and crowds. Unlike the engaging Romulus crypts or Leonardo missions, these deliveries offered no narrative depth, feeling like busywork to pad the map. The strict timers and finicky parkour controls often led to failures, especially when Ezio clipped a wall or misjudged a jump. Fans expected stealth or combat, not postal services, making these missions a forgettable chore.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (2010): Shop Renovation Quests

Brotherhood refined Assassin’s Creed II with a robust assassin recruitment system, but its shop renovation quests were a tedious grind. Players invested florins to rebuild Rome’s shops, unlocking new gear, but the process involved repetitive treks to banks and merchants, with minimal interaction. Unlike the thrilling Cristina missions, these quests lacked story or challenge, feeling like a management sim stapled onto an assassin fantasy. The time spent managing finances clashed with Ezio’s swashbuckling persona, leaving players yearning for more dynamic side content.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (2011): Den Defense

Revelations introduced Ezio’s final chapter, but its Den Defense mini-game was a notorious misstep. Players stationed assassins to fend off Templar assaults on controlled dens, managing resources in a tower defense format. Unlike the engaging Romulus lairs, Den Defense was clunky, with sluggish controls and uninspired strategy, breaking the flow of stealth and combat. Required only once in the story, it triggered repeatedly if players drew too much Templar attention, punishing exploration. Fans found it a jarring detour, far worse than the expected tailing gripes.

Assassin’s Creed III (2012): Encyclopedia of the Common Man

Assassin’s Creed III brought Connor to colonial America, but its “Encyclopedia of the Common Man” side mission was a masterclass in monotony. Players scanned homestead NPCs with Eagle Vision to log mundane tasks like “shoveling hay” or “milking cows,” often waiting for specific times of day. Unlike naval battles, which thrilled, this mission felt like stalking for no purpose, with no narrative payoff. Glitches at launch made some tasks inaccessible, and the sheer number of entries—49—tested even completionists’ patience. It’s the poster child for AC’s padding woes.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013): Warehouse Raids

Black Flag sailed to success with its pirate adventure, but warehouse raids were a stealthy letdown. Edward Kenway infiltrated guarded warehouses to steal resources, requiring precise timing to avoid detection. Unlike the exhilarating shipboarding missions, these raids were repetitive, with identical layouts and unforgiving AI that triggered instant failure if spotted. The stealth focus clashed with Black Flag’s swashbuckling vibe, and the rewards barely justified the effort. Fans loathed tailing missions, but these raids’ lack of variety made them a quieter frustration.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue (2014): Legendary Ship Battles

Rogue built on Black Flag’s naval combat, but its legendary ship battles pushed difficulty to punishing levels. Unlike standard naval missions, these battles pitted Shay Cormac against overpowered ships with massive firepower, requiring perfect timing and upgrades. The rewards—cosmetic items or minor loot—felt underwhelming, and the battles’ trial-and-error nature drained the fun. Compared to the game’s engaging Templar-hunting side quests, these fights were a slog, overshadowing Rogue’s compact strengths. Fans skipped them, proving they were no match for the series’ stealth roots.

Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014): Paris Stories – The Food Chain

Unity dazzled with its French Revolution setting, but the “The Food Chain” Paris Story mission was a convoluted mess. Arno Dorian infiltrated a black-market food ring, navigating a multi-step process of tailing, eavesdropping, and combat, only to face vague objectives and finicky stealth requirements. Unlike the dynamic assassination sandboxes, this mission’s cluttered design and lack of clear direction frustrated players, especially with Unity’s buggy launch amplifying glitches. It stood out as a low point in an otherwise rich side quest lineup.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015): Carriage Escort Missions

Syndicate brought Victorian London to life with Jacob and Evie Frye, but its carriage escort missions were a bumpy ride. Players protected slow-moving carriages from attackers while driving, but the carriages’ clunky controls and tendency to crash into obstacles made them maddening. Unlike the thrilling gang wars, these missions offered little reward for their high failure rate, with NPCs often dying due to poor AI. The vehicle mechanics, a novel addition, felt forced, making these escorts a forgettable detour from Syndicate’s strengths.

Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017): Papyrus Puzzles

Origins reinvented Assassin’s Creed as an RPG in ancient Egypt, but its Papyrus Puzzles were a puzzling misfire. Bayek solved cryptic riddles to find hidden loot, requiring players to scour the map for obscure landmarks. Unlike the vibrant tomb explorations, these puzzles often led to tedious searches with minimal narrative or reward, breaking the game’s immersive flow. Their trial-and-error nature clashed with Origins’ streamlined design, leaving players wishing for more engaging side content.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018): Message Board Quests

Odyssey’s sprawling Greek world was a marvel, but its message board quests were a grind. These auto-generated tasks—fetching items, killing bandits, or delivering goods—lacked story or context, feeling like filler to pad the massive map. Unlike conquest battles, which thrilled, these quests were repetitive, with identical objectives across regions. Their low rewards and lack of connection to Kassandra’s journey made them a chore, proving that even Odyssey’s epic scope couldn’t salvage uninspired side content.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020): World Events – The Drinking Challenge

Valhalla’s Viking saga hid its side quests as “world events,” but the Drinking Challenge was a tipsy flop. Eivor competed in drinking contests, mashing buttons to gulp ale while balancing a swaying camera. Unlike the poetic flyting battles, these events were repetitive, with clunky mechanics and no narrative depth. Required for some settlement upgrades, they forced players into a mini-game that felt out of place for a warrior, turning a potential cultural nod into a tedious hurdle.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage (2023): Contracts – The Fake Message

Mirage returned to stealth roots in 9th-century Baghdad, but the “The Fake Message” contract was a stealth slog. Basim delivered a forged letter, requiring precise navigation through guard-heavy areas with unforgiving detection. Unlike the game’s assassination-focused contracts, this mission’s rigid pathing and lack of flexibility frustrated players, especially with its meager rewards. It clashed with Mirage’s streamlined design, feeling like a relic of the series’ less polished past.

Why These Missions Stand Out

These side missions, often overshadowed by tailing complaints, earned their infamy through poor design, lack of engagement, or clashing with each game’s core appeal. Whether it’s the mindless cataloging in Assassin’s Creed III or the forced mini-games in Valhalla, they highlight Ubisoft’s occasional missteps in balancing quantity with quality. Fans crave stealth, story, and freedom, not errands or tower defense. As Assassin’s Creed Shadows looms, these flops remind Ubisoft to prioritize meaningful side content over filler. So, dive into the debate, revisit these frustrating missions, and see why they’re driving fans wild.