Explore 9th-Century Baghdad in Ubisoft’s Free Discovery Tour App: Medieval Baghdad
Ubisoft brings history to your fingertips with a stunning augmented reality experience based on Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
Ubisoft is once again blurring the lines between history and gaming with the release of the Discovery Tour App: Medieval Baghdad—a free transport that takes users into the heart of 9th-century Baghdad during the height of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Built using the richly detailed world of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the Discovery Tour App lets players explore the ancient city like never before—through historical entries, immersive mini-games, and breathtaking 360° AR experiences. Whether you’re a student of history, a long-time Assassin’s Creed fan, or just curious about the Golden Age of Islam, this app offers a rare opportunity to interact with a lost city of innovation, culture, and power.
Two Ways to Time Travel: Codex Mode and Exploration Mode
The Discovery Tour App: Medieval Baghdad offers two distinct modes to engage with:
1. Access Codex Mode – An Interactive Encyclopedia
Step into a mobile library of knowledge. The Codex Mode provides:
- Hand-curated historical entries from Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s “History of Baghdad” feature.
- A focus on art, science, politics, architecture, and daily life during the Abbasid Empire.
- Augmented Reality (AR) experiences that bring ancient artifacts and architecture to life.
Whether you want to examine an intricately scanned Ruby Lustre Bowl from the Arab World Institute Museum or better understand the structure of a madrasa, Codex Mode is a cultural goldmine delivered in bite-sized, engaging pieces.
2. Explore Baghdad – A Gamified History Tour
This is no ordinary history lesson.
In Explore Baghdad, players take on a narrative-driven, gamified quest that takes about two hours to complete. You’ll:
- Traverse the streets of ancient Baghdad in 360° views.
- Solve minigames and earn Codex entries.
- Learn as you play, uncovering the city’s political dynamics, commercial power, and artistic flourishes.
It’s part scavenger hunt, part historical adventure, and all of it can be experienced on mobile, tablet, or desktop browser—no game console required.
Real Artifacts, Real History, Real Accessibility
The Discovery Tour App isn’t just a gamified museum; it’s a collaborative global effort. Developed with immersive tech experts Sugar Creative and funded with support from the Welsh Government’s Creative Wales, the project goes beyond traditional gaming to become a standalone cultural experience.
By integrating museum-grade 3D scans of actual historical artifacts—like the Ruby Lustre Bowl—the app merges academia with interactivity, offering users a rare chance to engage with history in high fidelity.
"We wanted players to not only explore the streets of Baghdad, but also feel the cultural heartbeat of the Abbasid era,” said Ubisoft in its announcement.
A Digital Window into the Abbasid Empire
Baghdad during the 9th century wasn’t just another city—it was the epicentre of the Islamic Golden Age.
As the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, it stood at the forefront of:
- Scientific discovery (from astronomy to algebra),
- Literary achievement (with iconic works like One Thousand and One Nights),
- Architectural marvels (from the Round City to ornate mosques),
- And cross-cultural exchanges spanning from Spain to India.
Thanks to the Assassin’s Creed Mirage game engine, all of this is faithfully recreated—allowing users to walk the streets, inspect the architecture, and grasp the vibrancy of the era.
How to Access the Discovery Tour App
The app is entirely free and available today via:
There’s no need to own Assassin’s Creed Mirage to enjoy it, though fans of the game will appreciate the world’s familiar visuals and layered storytelling.
In an era where many historical sites have been destroyed or lost, especially in regions affected by conflict, digital reconstruction becomes more than entertainment—it becomes preservation.
Ubisoft’s Discovery Tour series has always walked the line between education and immersion, but Medieval Baghdad stands out for its:
- Accessibility (free, cross-device, no login required)
- Visual fidelity (leveraging AAA game assets)
- Interactive learning (AR, 360°, gamified content)
- Cultural respect (authentic stories, real-world artifacts)
It sets a new bar for what interactive historical education can look like—and makes a strong case for how games can build bridges across time.
Final Thoughts
The Discovery Tour App: Medieval Baghdad is more than a side project—it’s a powerful example of how gaming can preserve, honour, and share global heritage in a way no textbook ever could.
Whether you’re exploring for fun or education, this is a must-download for fans of history, Assassin’s Creed, or just beautifully executed worldbuilding.