Which Assassin's Creed game first lets players control a Templar as its main protagonist?

Assassin's Creed Rogue is the first game in which players control a Templar as its main protagonist.

Released in 2014, Rogue follows Shay Patrick Cormac, an Irish Assassin who becomes disillusioned with the Brotherhood after a catastrophic mission. Shay eventually defects to the Templars and hunts former Assassin allies, presenting the familiar conflict from the opposing faction's perspective.

The game is set during the Seven Years' War and uses North Atlantic environments, the Appalachian River Valley, and New York City. Its naval gameplay builds on systems from Black Flag, while its story connects directly with Assassin's Creed III and Unity. Shay's actions also help explain the circumstances surrounding the opening of Unity.

The phrase “first” refers to a main protagonist who is explicitly a Templar during the game, not merely a playable character temporarily aligned with or associated with the Order. Other games feature Templar characters and antagonists, but Rogue makes a Templar-affiliated character the central playable lead.