Assassin's Creed Syndicate - The Dreadful Crimes is a single-player action-adventure DLC that adds a focused set of investigation missions to the core experience of Assassin's Creed Syndicate on PC. Set in 1868 London, the content shifts emphasis toward detective work amid the game's established open-world setting, where players control the Frye twins Jacob and Evie to unravel a series of crimes.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on gathering and connecting evidence across multiple locations in London. Players scan environments with Eagle Vision to highlight clues, interview witnesses for statements, and piece together timelines or motives to identify suspects. Each mission requires careful observation rather than direct combat or traversal as the primary activity, though the twins' movement and combat abilities remain available when needed. The investigations draw from period-inspired storytelling, with cases involving murders, kidnappings, and other incidents that build toward a larger conclusion in a prominent city landmark.
Progression ties directly to completing these cases, granting access to new equipment. Finishing the first five unlocks a cloak for Evie and a belt for Jacob. Solving the full set of ten missions rewards a combat cane usable by both characters. The ally system incorporates a young Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who assists in the deduction process during key segments.
Game Modes
This DLC operates entirely in single-player mode with no multiplayer components. The ten missions function as self-contained side investigations that players access via map markers once the base game reaches an appropriate point in its sequence. Each case stands alone but contributes to an overarching narrative thread that resolves in the final mission. The structure encourages methodical play, with optional objectives tied to thorough clue collection and accurate suspect identification.
Unlike the main campaign's emphasis on gang control, free-running, and open combat, these missions isolate the deduction elements into a distinct format. Players toggle between the twins as needed, applying their individual skills to different aspects of the cases without altering the fundamental investigation rules.
Story and Setting Integration
The missions unfold against the backdrop of Victorian London already established in the base game. Cases reference the era's social tensions and iconic districts, maintaining consistency with the twins' ongoing activities. The penny-dreadful tone influences the case presentations, presenting dramatic scenarios that players resolve through logic rather than action set pieces. Integration allows the content to slot into an existing playthrough without requiring a separate campaign start.
Is It Worth Playing?
Players who enjoy methodical puzzle-solving within an established action-adventure framework will find value in the change of pace these missions provide. The investigation focus stands apart from standard Syndicate activities, offering a contained experience that rewards attention to detail and logical connections. Reception among those who have completed the content highlights the writing and the novelty of the detective format as strengths, with many noting it as a worthwhile addition for owners of the base game. Availability remains straightforward through digital storefronts for PC, and the DLC continues to function without requiring additional updates or seasonal content. Those seeking more traditional open-world objectives or multiplayer elements may prefer to skip it in favor of the main campaign alone.