Is the parkour in Assassin's Creed Valhalla any good?
Valhalla's parkour is good enough for exploration but not the series' best. Like Origins and Odyssey, it lets Eivor climb nearly any surface, which makes cliffs, ruins and monasteries easy to reach. The trade-off is that free-running across rooftops feels slower, heavier and less precise than in the earlier, city-focused games such as Assassin's Creed II, Unity or Syndicate.
What works
- Climb almost anywhere: cliffs, walls and towers rarely stop you, so exploration feels open.
- Viewpoints and Leaps of Faith are still there and fit the large map.
- Mounts and longships cover the distances that parkour would not.
What doesn't
- Few dense cities: England and Norway are mostly countryside and small towns, so there are few rooftop routes that reward chaining moves.
- Weighty animations: Eivor is a Viking warrior, and the movement is built for combat and exploration rather than acrobatics.
- Less control: compared with Unity's dedicated parkour-up and parkour-down inputs, routes are harder to steer precisely, and Eivor sometimes grabs the wrong ledge.
Bottom line
If you liked climbing in Origins or Odyssey, you will be comfortable with Valhalla. If you want the fast urban free-running the series started with, older entries such as Assassin's Creed II, Unity and Syndicate do it better.
FAQ
Is parkour possible in every Assassin's Creed game?
Yes. Free-running and climbing are core to the series, though the style shifted from city rooftops to open-world climbing with Origins (2017).
What is the first Assassin's Creed game?
Assassin's Creed (2007), starring Altaïr in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. Ezio debuted in Assassin's Creed II (2009).
Which Assassin's Creed is considered the best?
Assassin's Creed II and Black Flag are the most common fan picks, with Origins and Odyssey favorites among RPG-era players.
Can you romance Astrid in Valhalla?
Yes. Astrid is one of Eivor's optional romance partners.
When was Assassin's Creed Shadows released?
After two delays, Assassin's Creed Shadows launched in March 2025.