Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has always been one of the high points in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. When I first played it in 2013, it immediately stood apart with its blend of stealth, historical storytelling, and full-scale pirate adventure. Sailing across the Caribbean, hunting for treasure, and getting pulled into naval battles gave it a sense of freedom that few Assassin’s Creed games have matched.
Now, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (available for pre-order) brings Edward Kenway’s journey back with a modern rebuild, enhanced visuals, updated combat, improved stealth, deeper naval gameplay, and new story content. Playing on PlayStation 5, I was quickly reminded why Black Flag remains such a fan favourite and why this return feels like a must-play.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Pro
Developer: Ubisoft Singapore
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action-adventure
Available game modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: Mature 17+
A pirate classic sets sail again
The story once again follows Edward Kenway, a brash pirate captain chasing fortune and glory during the Golden Age of Piracy. Edward is not the noble Assassin archetype at first, and that is part of what makes him so interesting. He is selfish, reckless, and often hilariously convinced that every bad decision is actually a brilliant career move. As he crosses paths with figures like Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and others, Edward becomes pulled into the larger conflict between Assassins and Templars. But this isn’t a simple retread of the story, as it offers plenty of new content as well, along with a few new faces.
New story details
Whether you are a new or returning player, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced adds new narrative material, side quests, officer stories, and optional Animus Rifts that offer more to discover. I liked that these additions do not erase the original story’s identity. Instead, they build around it. Some of the new material feels stronger than other parts, but overall it gives Edward’s journey more weight without diminishing the original experience.
Better ways to play
The upgraded gameplay is where Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced makes some of its greatest improvements. The original Black Flag already had a great mix of stealth, combat, and naval action, but some of its systems feel dated today. Resynced smartly updates those areas with a dedicated crouch button, improved visibility systems, smoother parkour, manual jumping, and quicker movement transitions.
I really liked being able to approach encounters with more control. Sneaking through restricted areas feels less rigid, and when things go wrong, the game offers better ways to recover. Combat also feels sharper thanks to parry-focused encounters, perfect parries, chain takedowns, heavy strikes, hidden blade finishers, kicks, sweeps, and new enemy types.
New layered system can cause friction
That said, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced can sometimes feel a little busy. With more systems, prompts, tools, and combat options, a few fights can become slightly chaotic. Still, I would rather have a remake that tries to modernize its mechanics than one that simply leaves everything untouched. A majority of the time, the updates make Edward feel more responsive and capable, so overall the gameplay enhancements are a big win.
Naval gameplay: The Jackdaw is still a treasure of the seas
For me, the Jackdaw ship remains the heart of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. Sailing across the Caribbean, chasing ships, bracing through storms, firing broadsides, and boarding enemy vessels is still incredibly fun. Resynced makes naval combat deeper with new secondary fire modes, modernized weapons, officer abilities, and more ways to build out your ship.
The best moments happen when the open world pulls you off course. I would set out for a main mission, spot a ship worth attacking, chase it across rough water, board it, loot it, then find myself diving for treasure or clearing a nearby side mission. That sense of distraction is one of Black Flag’s greatest strengths. It constantly makes you feel like adventure is waiting just over the horizon.
Graphics and performance: a gorgeous Caribbean playground
Visually, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is stunning. I spent all of my playthrough on the PlayStation 5 Pro. With all the technical enhancements, the Caribbean looks vibrant, detailed, and alive. The water is richer, storms feel more intense, cities look fuller, jungles feel denser, and lighting adds a much stronger sense of atmosphere. There were moments where I stopped just to look at the sunset or watch the ocean crash against the Jackdaw, which is exactly what I want from a modern remake of this game.
Performance was strong overall in my experience, though not flawless. I noticed occasional visual pop-in, minor animation jankiness, and a few moments where the older mission design showed through. Nothing I encountered ruined the experience, but it is worth noting that Resynced still carries some of the structure of a game originally designed more than a decade ago.
Final thoughts on Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a strong return to one of Ubisoft’s best adventures. It respects the original while adding enough new content, visual polish, and mechanical improvements to make the remake feel worthwhile. The sailing is thrilling, the world is beautiful, the combat is more exciting, and the added content gives longtime fans a reason to come back.
If you played the original, Resynced feels like revisiting a favourite vacation spot after a massive renovation. If you are new to Black Flag, this is easily the best way to experience Edward’s pirate adventure. It may not reinvent every single aspect, but it absolutely makes it seaworthy again for modern consoles.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gorgeous visual overhaul on modern hardware | Some older mission design elements remain |
| Naval combat and exploration are still excellent | New systems can occasionally feel busy |
| Strong gameplay, stealth, and accessibility improvements | Minor visual and animation quirks |
Overall assessment of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 5/5
Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5 (90%)
