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Some points might well make this ambitious, yet somewhat divisive entry the best in the series—as it improves, refines, and expands on areas the earlier titles had introduced. In other matters, Valhalla could qualify as the worst released, due to the failure of the execution of vital features and a few odd quirks.

Updated February 5th, 2022 by Stephen LaGioia: When it comes to Ubisoft’s Viking epic Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the dynamic has changed somewhat following the various updates, tweaks, and additions since its release over a year ago. While a number of issues have been ironed out, the game still has its share of unique quirks and weaker areas that aren’t for everybody; even for some more oldschool fans.

At the same time, rotating events and memorable DLC packs like Wrath of the Druids have added even more intrigue and depth to this adventure. The anticipated Dawn of Ragnarok looks to further solidify Valhalla’s immortality with even more alluring content. As such, it seemed fitting to revisit this list and insert a few more ways in which the game is considered good—and ways it still lags behind.

14 BEST: A Plethora Of DLC And Added Content

Not that it needed it, but Valhalla has been augmented over the past year-plus with some of the deepest, most appealing DLC packs, events, and added material in the series. From the majestic Wrath of the Druids to the grandiose Siege of Paris, Ubisoft has kept fans busy with this ever-expanding Viking journey.

The studio’s also embraced one of the more enjoyable features in the game with a new mode; the rewarding (and free) River Raids. As such, Valhalla begins to feel more like a thriving, fluid virtual world, with season-specific events like the winter-themed Yule Festival. These qualities make the game among the most evergreen in the franchise.

13 WORST: Still Fairly Prominent Game Freezes And Bugs

Valhalla can be a marvel from a visual and technical standpoint, especially when enjoyed on the more capable Series X and PS5. Still, this great experience can be dampened somewhat by somewhat frequent technical blemishes. These range from painstakingly long load times (which even crop up on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X), graphical bugs, and game freezes.

Gamers have reported getting stuck in an area, or being unable to complete a particular quest, for instance. And while Ubisoft has made a point to iron out some of these issues, they’re still relatively prominent as compared to most older AC games.

12 BEST: Gorgeous Visuals

It’s hard to deny that when it comes to graphics, Valhalla is second to none. Of course, visuals don’t make a great game on their own by any stretch. But in a period game that thrives on atmosphere and engrossing fans in the experience, having a sleek, detailed aesthetic goes a long way.

The lush, expansive locales of Valhalla truly manage to shine here—with detailed models, dynamic lighting, vast draw distances, and vibrant, crisp textures. All of these elements help set the scene for a memorable, cinematic experience.

11 WORST: Synchronization Points Are A Degree More Pointless

One of the more appealing aspects and a staple feature of AC has been the viewpoints or synchronization points, which help players in numerous ways (or used to). In earlier entries, these points proved crucial, as they’d uncover large swaths of the map, key items, and other points of interest, while granting fast travel points.

Valhalla’s version of these focal points is a mixed bag, to say the least. While it can be fun climbing the diverse range of elevated points, their significance has been whittled down quite a bit. In this game, they’re little more than fast travel hubs. Add this to the towering height of most and the whopping 70-plus points, and it can be tough to find the motivation to tackle these.

Then there’s the often-treacherous act of leaping from these lengthy points. Doing so can lead to a quick death, as missing the small stack of hay or water body can be easy to do.

10 BEST: Combining Plotlines Of The Series

Rarely has the Assassin’s Creed series chosen to bring together major plotlines over a decade prior to the current game. Valhalla does just that, combining the Desmond Miles games with that of Layla Hassan’s. It’s a practice that hasn’t been seen before in the series. This has been repeated and further emphasized with the recent Crossover Stories event, which merges the universes of Valhalla and Odyssey.

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While most games might make one feel annoyed for storylines being left unresolved, Valhalla solidly addresses most lingering plot threads, while cleverly tying things together. If one wants to engage in a complete experience where the story is concerned, Valhalla has to be the best choice in the series.

9 WORST: Little To No Originality

If anyone’s played either of Assassin’s Creed Origins or Odyssey, Valhalla won’t surprise them in the slightest. The game is a total copy of previous titles, right down to the gameplay and every other mechanics that come with it. It’s always a matter of time for the law of diminishing returns to kick in and Valhalla is that point.

Other than the story, there’s nothing here that one hasn’t seen before, with zero originality coming the player’s way and only a few blending of aspects in order to mask the fact that it’s a repeat of older mechanics. It’s hard not to judge the game for essentially doling out an expansion of previous titles.

8 BEST: Balance In Land And Sea-Based Gameplay

Going forward, the series might just well have been changed for the better where naval gameplay is concerned. As far back as Assassin’s Creed III, this aspect was something of a chore, mainly having to do with the uneven combat between ships.

Valhalla brings the best version of sea-based gameplay in the series, placing it in a more adventurous light by focusing on the exploration part of things rather than relentless combat that nobody enjoys. Players can relax while on the sea and choose to go on raid missions, bring a fine balance never seen before.

7 WORST: The Horrible Eagle Vision

Easily one of the most maligned points of the newer games has to be the eagle vision. This was changed from the previous color-coded style to protagonists seeing through a literal eagle, which has been taken to the worst level in Valhalla.

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Not only is there not even an eagle anymore—it’s a raven—but using this feature is now a frustrating chore that requires players to zero in on finding the location themselves. This achieves nothing since one would need to do that on foot anyway, making the eagle vision completely useless.

6 BEST: Flexibility With Protagonist Choices

Due to some protagonists’ execution done right and others not quite so, fans generally have their own preferences over who the best assassins have been. Valhalla manages to subvert this practice, bringing in two sides of the same protagonist by allowing us to switch between male or female at any point.

This prevents a sequence from feeling out of place, as one can even let the game decide which area suits the assassin’s particular gender. Effectively, all the bases are covered for a distinct and quality protagonist so that fans can be satisfied.

This is complemented by a fairly open-ended story arc, and the ability for Eivor to make various choices throughout the campaign. While the effects of these choices usually are small, it’s an effective way for players to project their own traits and tactics on the character, making it feel as if they’re in the game.

5 WORST: Needless Side Missions

Most players won’t count Valhalla among the open-world games with the best side missions. Quite the opposite, as the title instead wastes quite a bit of time over menial tasks. In fact, it’s easy to get stuck in a playthrough because unclear side missions become mandatory or cryptic.

What’s worse is that these quests can interrupt and clash with the main story, forcing the player to go through with them in order to progress with the campaign. More often than not, the side missions have to do with collecting items from undesignated places, setting up for hours’ worth of time wastage. These more straightforward scavenger hunts and simple tasks are a stark contrast to the detail and depth found in most other areas of the game.

4 BEST: More Customization Options

Even for those who prefer other games that are like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, there’s almost no contest between most and this one when it comes to customization. Valhalla brings forward a number of options to change the appearance and style of the protagonist.

This even borders on GTA levels of distinct looks for the main character and many fans love how they can make Eivor look according to how they want. Previous Assassin’s Creed games only had the protagonist’s dressing style be a changeable option, so Valhalla certainly serves as a trailblazer.

Added to this, and even more significant, is the game’s system of upgrades and gear customization, which is both intuitive and nuanced. Features like Runes and boosts for complete armor sets, while subtle, go a long way in allowing a player to mix and match traits they favor.

3 WORST: Meaningless Locations

There is no avoiding padding of the environment in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In order to get from one place to another, players must often trek long distances through some fairly empty locations that have little substance. Many areas seem interchangeable with others and their only purpose seems to make the map larger at times.

Fast travel mitigates some of the downtime and repetition, but players need to reach them before they’re accessible; often dull, drawn-out feats themselves.

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The appeal and novelty of massive environments don’t last long for many, since the repetitive areas don’t have much in the way of a unique identity. Some of the larger open-worlds in the Assassin’s Creed series have at least provided distinct locations, but that’s not the case with Valhalla.

2 BEST: Value For Money

Despite a few glaring issues, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is ultimately worth the selling price. It might well be worthy of inclusion in the list of longest games, and at least this justifies the cost for the product. After all, the hours’ worth of gameplay will keep one busy—and the diversity of tasks and gameplay as a whole keeps many coming back for more.

It does do the job in keeping longtime fans invested until they’ve finished with the campaign. For most, providing an extended run is just what they want and that means Valhalla will do just the trick as it often grows on the player once they’re fully accustomed to its world.

1 WORST: Convoluted Skill Tree For Simplistic Combat

The skill tree aspect is one of the notable blemishes that Valhalla repeats from the series. This time round, there’s no coherence to it due to dozens of options that don’t show any apparent difference in gameplay even after one has upgraded them. This is bogged down further by a “fog of war” shroud that obscures most of the tree until players use their skill points, making long-term plotting for upgrades an exercise in futility.

Semi-related to this is the combat, which, at least before the aquision of some abilities, is rather simple and straightforward. As a result, leveling up through the skill tree can feel inconsequential. When it comes to core combat that disregards flashy moves and abilities, the Assassin’s Creed series has never been terribly strong. Yet, Valhalla manages to lower the bar in some ways by presenting a convoluted skill tree that contrasts with the somewhat clunky, simple combat.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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