With Ubisoft taking a reprieve from a new Assassin’s Creed game this year, it’s not hard to imagine the publisher is hard at work devising 2020’s all but guaranteed release. While there have been rumors abound speculating a return to Rome, there are plenty of other places the globe-trotting franchise hasn’t yet gone. With a plethora of fascinating points throughout history all across the world, there is no shortage of options to be explored. But where exactly should Assassin’s Creed go next?

To Boldly Go Where No Assassin Has Before

Feudal Japan

It’s been longed for by fans since the dawn of the franchise and hinted at for nearly as much time. Japan is the no-brainer option for Ubisoft to tackle, given the larger than life stories of samurai and dynastic families, as well as the natural beauty of the feudal time period. Specifically, Assassin’s Creed should head to the Edo period of Japan, and chronicle the fall of the samurai. Much like the death of the wild west in American culture, a tale of once-revered heroes and villains made obsolete could strike the somber tone the series is so fond of.

The change of scenery would bring with it architecture and weapons not yet seen in the main series as well. Serene temples and towering castles would ensure Assassin’s Creed maintains the high flying action it’s known for, and an open world akin to Odyssey would make for an absolutely gorgeous landscape. Pair that with the ability to wield kunai, shuriken, and katanas, and longtime fans of the franchise would be effortlessly enthralled.

Prohibition Era New York

This may be a long shot for diehard fans of the series to embrace, but there are several valid reasons a game in the prohibition era of New York could work perfectly. Mobsters and bootleggers ran the streets of New York, carving out its criminal underground with subversive tactics and cunning escapades. If that doesn’t sound exactly like the Assassin Order, then nothing does. Granted, there would have to be some major mechanical changes to the gameplay, but skulking through Templar hideouts disguised as mafia dens sounds like a blast.

The high rises and sprawling alleyways of the Big Apple would lend to phenomenal landscapes as well. A leap of faith from a mid-construction Empire State Building and the view from the Statue of Liberty’s torch are enticing in imagination alone. Seeing moments like these play out in a full-fledged title sounds like the stuff of dreams.

The Age of Vikings

When considering the stealthy takedowns and shady tactics Assassin’s Creed has been known for, the age of the Norse warlords may not seem like a good fit. This notion has shifted though, thanks to the things Assassin’s Creed Odyssey did to shake up the norms of the franchise. Odyssey brought everything to the table that is necessary to craft an excellent Viking title: Large scale battles, impactful combat, and naval warfare. A Scandinavian setting was not the obvious choice prior to Odyssey’s release, but now it seems like the logical next step.

Combine these well-executed gameplay aspects with the larger than life mythos ingrained into the soul of Viking lore and it starts to make all the more sense. Odyssey featured mythological monsters like the Cyclops, gorgon, and minotaur, so the inclusion of Nordic creatures would fit right in. Considering Ubisoft’s affinity for essentially reskinning already released titles, the age of pillage and plunder could be the Assassin Order’s next destination.