Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Reviews

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Oct 29, 2013

'Refreshing' could be applied to several aspects of the game's design, with performances and an attention to detail that place it among – if not ahead – of the franchise's best. And with no discernible shortcomings when placed next to its American-Revolution-predecessor, Black Flag is the step into next-gen that many fans have been waiting for.

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PC Gamer
Top Critic
90 / 100
Nov 25, 2013

A gorgeous, relentlessly entertaining open-world piracy simulator packed with interesting 18th century rogues.

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IGN
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a gorgeous, fantastic sequel that gives you the freedom to make your own fun.

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7 / 10
Oct 28, 2013

Frustratingly shallow and hamstrung by underdeveloped gameplay mechanics, and yet somehow the fact that that an open world pirate game exists at all is enough to provide a certain amount of fun.

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Oct 28, 2013

An ambitious start for Assassin's Creed on next-gen. The vibrant Caribbean world and bloody piracy shine brightest, while the only sour notes come from contrived series story beats and repetitive missions--both need rethinking for AC5.

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8.3 / 10.0
Oct 29, 2013

Fun when you're chasing down your interests, but the enthusiasm deflates when working through the campaign missions

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Polygon
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2013

Assassin's Creed 4 is constantly waiting for its dare-to-be-great moment

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9 / 10
Oct 28, 2013

Easily the most ambitious Assassin's Creed game in years, Black Flag is an outstanding adventure by any standard.

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Kotaku
Top Critic
Yes
Oct 28, 2013

A fun, gorgeous-looking high seas adventure that improves on the Assassin's Creed formula while letting us live a fantasy life as a pirate.

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Dec 2, 2013

Black Flag takes a sharp left turn from the series' traditional progression, but the ways in which it diverges are what make it one of the most purely entertaining games in the franchise.

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Dec 2, 2013

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is right up there with the best games in the series. Building a game entirely around the sea based features found in ACIII sounded gimmicky when it was announced earlier this year, but Ubisoft nailed it on all fronts

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8 / 10
Nov 9, 2013

The sign of a fantastic open world can be found in its ability to effortlessly suck you into even the most insignificant of activities, and Black Flag excels on that front. Wii U owners looking for an expansive, value-packed adventure should surely set their sails for the Caribbean. There's plenty of gold for the taking.

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7 / 10
Oct 28, 2013

Flawed yet addictive, Assassin's Creed may be in need of a change.

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Nov 5, 2013

"Assassin's Creed IV" is very different from the five games that preceded it, but proves that a little change can be a good thing.

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Unscored
Dec 1, 2013
► WTF Is... - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag ? video thumbnail
Unscored
Nov 18, 2013

It's the best Assassin's Creed yet! Which is 90% because Black Flag, a a third-person action adventure about pirates in the Caribbean, isn't really an Assassin's Creed game in the traditional sense, and 10% because the lead character is from Swansea.

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90 / 100
Apr 20, 2014

This next-generation launch has been described as a little anemic, but I'd have to disagree. There are some incredible games hitting the market this holiday season, and this is one of them. The PlayStation 4 version of the game is mechanically the same as the PlayStation 3 version, but the new engine is eye-poppingly awesome. The new visual tech has gameplay implications, which is rare and highly appreciated. In the end you really can't go wrong with either version, but the PlayStation 4 version has entirely too many bells and whistles to not recommend. The fact that I've had a bout of OCD and needed to find each and every thing in the game speaks volumes.

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8 / 10
Jul 12, 2022

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag doesn't always sail a straight course, but this is still an excellent entry in an occasionally choppy property. Clumsy traversal mechanics and some dire mission types prevent the release from reaching legendary status, but the slick naval combat, luxurious landscapes, and surprisingly compelling online suite make this a package worth plundering. If the series continues in this entry's direction, then there'll be no reason for Ubisoft to drop the anchor on its alternate history escapades just yet.

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8 / 10
Nov 22, 2013

Like its winsome protagonist, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is fixated on pursuing the riches of high-seas piracy and seems reluctant to be drawn into convoluted Templar plots. The most self-aware Assassin's Creed title to date, and one that makes the most of some aging mechanics.

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8.8 / 10.0
Jan 2, 2014

Man the cannons and brace for impact, because Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is here to blow up any preconceived notions you had about the annual franchise. With a great cast of characters and a huge world to explore, this next-generation sequel is the best installment since Assassin's Creed II.

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