For thirteen years now, Ubisoft has been chasing a pirate. While there have been some great “Assassin’s Creed” games since the 2013 release of “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” (I’m particularly fond of “Origins” and “Odyssey”), and a truly awful movie, nothing has felt quite as accomplished as the beloved pirate simulator. While “Assassin’s Creed” already had a strong critical reputation from its first three games, it was the release of “Black Flag” that revealed the potential of this series: blending addictive storytelling, open-world exploration, naval combat, and even a bit of a history lesson into what is widely recognized as one of the best games of its era.
So it makes sense that Ubisoft would take a break from chasing that glory with new games to revisit it directly, remaking the story of Edward Kenway into the gorgeous “Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced,” available this week for PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The best “Assassin’s Creed” game is now even better.
One of the most visually striking games of 2026, “Resynced” reminds gamers of a certain age why “Black Flag” felt like such a bolt of lightning while also slipping into a few of the traps that would define the lesser entries in this series that would follow. In the end, “Black Flag Resynced” is a consistently entertaining piece of storytelling that sails through modern gaming waters despite its open-world ballast.
In a controversial decision, the “Resynced” version of “Black Flag” removes all of the Abstergo Industries material, which has been disintegrating from this franchise for years anyway. If you’re unfamiliar, the early games in “Assassin’s Creed” lore centered on a company called Abstergo that developed an “Avatar”-esque way for people to explore genetic memories. It was an explanation for how each installment could feature a different time period and protagonist, but it got clunkier and more distracting each time, and it makes sense that “Resynced” would eliminate it almost entirely, although elements of “Animus” side missions, collectibles, and even currency remain. Still, purists will be annoyed that such a hefty chunk of the original story has been excised.
“Black Flag” opens in 1715, as you step into the shoes of Edward Kenway, who kills an assassin named Duncan Walpole and assumes his identity. From the beginning, the writers of “Black Flag” are cleverly playing with mistaken identity in a manner that feels right in tune with famous stories of pirates from film and literature. Both “Pirates of the Caribbean” and The Pirates of Penzance play with similar elements.
The expansive storytelling sees Kenway amassing power and assembling a team of pirates as he gets drawn into a plot involving the Templars and a mysterious figure known as the Sage. As the plot moves forward, Edward crosses paths with legendary characters like Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet (who would inspire “Our Flag Means Death”), Benjamin Hornigold, Anne Bonny, Charles Vane, and many more. It’s a narrative sandbox set in the Golden Age of Piracy that stands to this day as the best game of its kind in this period and subject matter.
One of the reasons for that is what was breakthrough naval combat back in 2013 and still rocks in 2026. Shortly after the opening chapters of the game, Edward takes control of a ship called the Jackdaw, which becomes an open-seas killing machine. You can upgrade elements of the ship, like its cannons, mortar, and ramming ability, as you sail the waters to decimate ships for supplies and even manpower. In 2013, it was almost soothing to just sail the open seas in search of a new adventure, and that element has been upgraded in this version with even stronger graphics and environmental elements like storms, rogue waves, and more. As the story takes you around the Caribbean to locations like Havana, Nassau, and Kingston, just getting there can be half the fun.
Of course, “Black Flag” also features extensive segments on land, most of which involve Edward having to kill waves and waves of enemies. There have been numerous “quality of gameplay” additions to the resynced version, including a parrying system and the ability to crouch with a single button instead of only in specific spots in the environment. The combat does start to get repetitive very early, as there are only a few enemy types and they’re relatively easy to defeat. What offsets the repetition is the detail in the upgraded graphics, which gives the game a more three-dimensional feel than any other “Assassin’s Creed” game to date.
Whether it’s synchronizing high above cities and islands or creeping through mansions full of enemies, “Assassin’s Creed” has never looked so good. Yes, there’s the occasional glitch in the pre-release version, but those will likely be patched out soon (it’s an Ubisoft pattern to never fully judge a game for a few weeks due to post-release tweaks), and “Resynced” will be one of the best-looking games of 2026. Developed in the Unreal Anvil engine, the water effects, from waves to storms, are particularly impressive, but it’s the way shadows play across the landscape that’s truly remarkable. It’s a captivating game just to watch someone else play.
Even those who played “Black Flag” repeatedly in the 2010s will find enough new content here, beyond the graphics, to justify the purchase. There are new storylines involving supporting characters, including an excellent series of quests involving three officers who can join you on your journey. There are new customizable options, including a pet you can keep beside you on the Jackdaw and new sea shanties. Of course, there’s a new photo mode to show off the graphics to your friends.
I’ll admit that some of the repetitive combat of “Black Flag” felt more like the issues I’ve had with some recent “Assassin’s Creed” releases than I expected due to the rose-colored glasses of memory I have when I think about the original experience, but that’s to be expected with a 13-year-old game. And I’ll admit that the game, like all “AC” games, has a few too many side missions and collectibles scattered throughout the world of the game, giving it a sense of bloat that works against its streamlined main story.
These are minor complaints for a very fun game that joins recent remakes like “Silent Hill 2” and “Resident Evil 4” in bringing a classic experience to a new generation. Set sail.
