The framing story is set in the 21st century and features series protagonist Desmond Miles who, using a machine known as the Animus, relives the memories of his ancestors to find a way to avert the 2012 apocalypse.

The main narrative is set in 18th-century Colonial America from 1754 to 1783, and follows two characters whose stories are interconnected: Haytham Kenway, a British Templar who attempts to build a presence for his Order in the colonies during the French and Indian War; and Ratonhnhaké:ton / Connor, Haytham's half-Mohawk son, who becomes an Assassin to protect his people's lands and avenge his mother's death, and battles the Templars' attempts to influence the outcome of the American Revolution.

Assassin's Creed III is set in an open world and presented from the third-person perspective with a primary focus on using each playable character's combat and stealth abilities to eliminate targets and explore the environment.

A number of downloadable content (DLC) packs were released to support Assassin's Creed III, including The Tyranny of King Washington, a story expansion set in an alternate timeline from the base game's events.

While its modern-day narrative continues from the events of Assassin's Creed III, the main plot is set during the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century and follows Haytham's father and Connor's grandfather, Edward Kenway.

The main narrative of the game follows Ratonhnaké:ton, also known as Connor, an 18th-century Assassin from Colonial America, and his involvement in various events during the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War.

Close combat has been modified, allowing Connor to dual-wield weapons and take down multiple opponents at once and players no longer need to manage the lock-on mechanic.

Haytham's story serves as a prologue to the main narrative, and takes place from 1754 to 1755, at the onset of the French and Indian War, which paved the way for the American Revolution.

[20] Like the previous games in the series, the story includes segments set during the modern day, in 2012, which again follow Desmond Miles and his efforts to save humanity from an impending disaster.

The modern-day sections feature many returning characters from the previous four games in the series, including protagonist Desmond Miles (Nolan North), his estranged father William (John de Lancie), and friends Shaun Hastings (Danny Wallace) and Rebecca Crane (Eliza Schneider).

[27] Haytham is aided by several historical figures portrayed here as members of the Templar Order, including Charles Lee (Neil Napier),[28] William Johnson (Julian Casey), John Pitcairn (Robert Lawrenson), Thomas Hickey (Allen Leech),[29] Benjamin Church (Harry Standjofski), and Nicholas Biddle (Fred Tatasciore).

The era also features several other historical figures such as George Washington (Robin Atkin Downes), Samuel Adams (Mark Lindsay Chapman), Israel Putnam (Andreas Apergis), Thomas Jefferson (John Emmet Tracy), Benjamin Franklin (Jim Ward), Edward Braddock (Carlo Mestroni), Mason Weems (Tod Fennell), Paul Revere (Bruce Dinsmore), and the Marquis de Lafayette (Vince Corazza).

After the events of the previous game Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Desmond, William, Shaun, and Rebecca find the Grand Temple of the First Civilization in a cave in New York and access it using their Apple of Eden.

Instructed by his Order (later revealed as the Templars) to find the Temple they believe it opens, Haytham travels to the American Colonies and recruits several allies to aid his expedition.

In the process, he meets and falls in love with a Mohawk woman, Kaniehti:io, who enlists his help in eliminating Edward Braddock before taking him to the Grand Temple, which Haytham is unable to access.

After William is captured while trying to recover the final battery, Desmond storms Abstergo's headquarters in Rome, kills Cross and Warren Vidic, and rescues his father, reconciling with him.

Juno explains that if the solar flare occurs, Desmond will become a messiah-like figure to other survivors and will be revered as a god after his death, but will have his legacy manipulated to control future generations.

[43] Reports that Assassin's Creed III would take place during the American Revolution surfaced following a supposed "inside source" at Ubisoft, who made such a claim in January 2012.

[51] Creative director Alex Hutchinson said Ubisoft steered clear of making the Assassin's Creed III protagonist a female character because the game's setting is not a strong match.

This extensive patch was designed to address a list of around one hundred identified bugs present within the single-player campaign and online multiplayer modes plaguing the player experience.

Dubbed the "Gold Edition", the download includes the game, PlayStation Vita title Assassin's Creed III: Liberation and a Season Pass (a first for the series).

[72] Dutch site Entertainment Business reported that thieves made off with a truck on November 14, 2012, in transporting the entire launch shipment of Assassin's Creed III on PC for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

[89] The remaster contains enhanced visuals, lighting, and resolution, improved character models, and several modified game mechanics, with all previously released downloadable content also included.

The available awards are an "Assassin's Creed III Theme" (available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC); "The Life Scratcher Pack", which allows the player to increase the capacity of Connor's tool pouches, and unlock exclusive multiplayer profile items; "Ezio's Outfit'", an outfit similar to the one worn by Ezio Auditore in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, but with a differently colored cape; and "The Renegade Pack", which unlocks the Multiplayer Night Stalker's costume and additional profile items.

[99] The story revolves around an alternative history "The United Kingdom of America", wherein George Washington has seized an Apple of Eden, becomes corrupted by its power, and dubs himself King.

[104] Daniel Bischoff of GameRevolution gave it 5/5 stars, saying "Combining the best of the franchise so far, Assassin's Creed III doesn't disappoint long-time fans who've been with the series while also making it easy enough to jump in for the kill.

[116] PC Gamer was more critical, giving the game a 72/100 and stating that Assassin's Creed III had "Entertaining storytelling and fantastic naval combat marred by terrible mission design and endemic feature creep."

"[118] Jose Otero of 1Up.com gave the game a decent score but felt the gameplay cycle was getting stale, he stated: "AC (Assassin's Creed) can only sail on its past success for so long before it sinks into a sea of formulaic design.

In September 2012, franchise main writer Corey May stated that the Assassin's Creed III plot leaves possible sequels "plenty of room to play".

The survey asked participants how they would feel about a return of Desmond, Connor and the American Revolution setting, and if they would purchase such a title if it were to be released next year, suggesting that Ubisoft had its eye on repeating the Brotherhood and Revelations route of the Ezio trilogy.