Assassin's Creed Shadows is the latest entry in the legendary AC game series, featuring two new protagonists in a chaotic Sengoku-era Japan. Read our review to learn what it did well, what it didn’t do well, and if it’s worth buying.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Review Overview

What is Assassin's Creed Shadows?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an open-world action-adventure game from Ubisoft and the fourteenth main entry in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series. Set in the late Sengoku period, it follows dual protagonists Yasuke and Naoe as they navigate Japan on the brink of unification under Oda Nobunaga, who seeks to suppress rebellion at every turn. As agents on opposite sides of the conflict, it’ll be up to them to decide their fate amidst one of the most chaotic eras in Japanese history.

The game retains the series’ signature open-world exploration and stealth-based combat while introducing the Animus Hub, a new feature debuting as part of Ubisoft’s Period Three development cycle for the franchise.

Assassin's Creed Shadows features:
　⚫︎　Two playable protagonists with different play styles
　⚫︎　Interactive and customizable shinobi hideouts
　⚫︎　Open-world scouting with changing seasons
　⚫︎　Collectible weapons, armor, equipment, and decorations
　⚫︎　Espionage, assassination, and stealth missions with Naoe
　⚫︎　Combat and assault missions with Yasuke
　⚫︎　Canon Mode and Immersive Dialogue Options

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Assassin's Creed Shadows's gameplay and story.

Digital Storefronts
Steam		Epic Games		PlayStation		Xbox		Ubisoft
Price			$69.99

Assassin's Creed Shadows Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Confusing But Imaginative Open-world Elements Surprisingly Fun “Base-Building” Mechanics Breathtaking Landscapes Canon Mode and Immersion Options are Great	Story is Too Fragmented to Make Any Sense Combat is Unrefined and Clunky Animation Doesn’t Look Good Up Close Missing the Heart of Assassin’s Creed

Assassin's Creed Shadows Overall Score - 66/100

Assassin's Creed Shadows isn’t an awful game, but it’s not the one AC fans have been waiting for—or the one they deserve. Clunky combat, awkward facial animations, and a shift away from the series' classic charm make it a mixed bag. Newcomers face their own hurdles with its Byzantine narrative and hefty AAA price tag.

Still, with its impressive world design, solid production value, and novel new mechanics, Shadows offers just enough to maybe be worth buying on sale if you're not an AC purist.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Story - 6/10

It wouldn’t be an Assassin’s Creed story if it was linear, and Shadows might just take the crown for one of the most fragmented narratives in the series. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—if anything, it feels more like Assassin’s Creed than some other aspects of the game—but it does make for a bumpy ride. And considering this game is meant to be Ubisoft’s grand entry point into AC’s so-called “Period Three,” it’s not exactly the smoothest way to start.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Gameplay - 7/10

Shadows stands at a crossroads, torn between trying something new and sticking to the series' staples—though it might have swerved a little too hard into uncharted territory. It’s the Assassin’s Creed gameplay we know and love… except when it isn’t, which is usually whenever Yasuke takes the stage. On the bright side, the new additions, like scouts and hideouts, don’t hurt the overall experience—just the part that actually feels like Assassin’s Creed.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Visuals - 7/10

Shadows’ visuals are caught in a tug-of-war between jaw-dropping Sengoku-era landscapes and Ubisoft’s ever-persistent butterface syndrome. Thankfully, the stunning scenery wins out—hence the higher-than-average score—but seriously, how has Ubisoft still not cracked the code on animating mouths? At least they’re no longer turning invisible like they were in Unity, and both protagonists manage to look respectable most of the time.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Audio - 8/10

Helms off to Ubisoft for the voicework in this game—it’s actually pretty solid! Not that Assassin’s Creed has ever really struggled in that department, but credit where it’s due. The music nails the era, even if it is a bit unremarkable, and the sound effects are crisp enough, but the real show-stealer is the immersive dialogue mode, with its Japanese and Portuguese dubs making an otherwise awful time-period feel just the tiniest bit more real.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Value for Money - 5/10

This game rolls in with the standard AAA price tag of $69.99—hardly a bargain, but at this point, it’s just the industry norm. Whether it’s worth that price depends entirely on your expectations. If you’re hoping for a classic Assassin’s Creed experience, well… you’re getting shortchanged. But if you go in expecting a solid, if unremarkable, action-adventure game, you might just get your money’s worth. So, let’s call it even and split it right down the middle.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Review: Not The AC Game We Deserved or Wanted

Before we dive into the review proper, let’s address the geographically misplaced elephant in the room: from the moment this game was announced, it’s been a lightning rod for strong opinions. Debates over characters, settings, logos, and—well—Ubisoft being Ubisoft have been swirling since day one.

As interesting as it might be to wade into those discussions, this review isn’t the place for it. We’re here to talk about the game as it stands—not the discourse surrounding it. If you’re looking for a deep dive into those debates, you’ll have to look elsewhere because, at the end of the day, real-world controversies shouldn’t overshadow a fair critique of the game as a product—especially when there’s plenty to say about that on its own.

With that rather lengthy disclaimer out of the way, let’s take a leap of faith into Assassin’s Creed Shadows—because, let’s be honest, it’s about time Ubisoft set an AC game in Japan. The premise practically writes itself, so why did it take them this long? More importantly, was it worth the wait? Did Ubisoft spend all those years cooking up something truly special?

As much as it pains me to say it, the short answer is no. This isn’t the Assassin’s Creed set in Japan that we’ve all been eagerly anticipating. But don’t let that completely put you off—because while it may not be the AC game we wanted or deserved, it’s the one we got. And surprisingly? It’s not half bad if you’re willing to meet it halfway.

Two New Heroes in Sengoku-era Japan

Ah, the Warring States period of Japan—a historical goldmine that’s been adapted time and time again, from Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin in 2024 to the latest arc of Record of Ragnarok. With so many moving parts, it’s an era brimming with storytelling potential, and honestly, Ubisoft couldn’t have picked a better time period to adapt—well, maybe the early industrial era for sheer aesthetic flair, but that’s a different conversation.

That said, I’m genuinely pleased with what AC Shadows does with its premise and setting. Rather than relying on historical figures as protagonists, it introduces two arguably original characters, each representing opposing sides of Nobunaga’s expanding influence. Throw in the Portuguese as cultural wildcards, bringing gunpowder and Christianity into the mix, and the game starts to feel like more than just AC, but in Japan.

Of course, other aspects of the game drag it back down to exactly that, but that’s getting ahead of things. First, let’s discuss who you play as.

In AC Shadows, you take on the roles of Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke (formerly known as Diogo), each offering a distinct playstyle that mirrors their respective backgrounds as a Shinobi and a Samurai. Naoe embodies the classic Assassin’s Creed experience—agile, stealthy, and deadly with a hidden blade. Playing as her means slipping through the shadows, planning out assassinations with precision, and ensuring no one lives to tell the tale.

If your idea of no witnesses leans more toward obliterating everyone in a grand display of power, then Yasuke is your guy. His combat style is all about direct, face-to-face encounters, cutting down leagues of enemies with sheer strength and technique—because, well, that’s the way of the Samurai.

That said, don’t expect a Cloak and Dagger (from Marvel Rivals) situation where you can seamlessly switch between them on the fly. Each character has their own dedicated story sections, and it’s only once their paths converge that you get to choose between them as missions demand.

From this basic character setup, you’ve got everything you need for me to dive into the story. But before that—how do you actually play this game? If you were expecting the classic Assassin’s Creed formula—parkour, exploration, a hefty dose of cutscenes, and the occasional equipment swap—well, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Black Flag’s Settlements Make a Return with Scouts and Seasons to Boot

AC Shadows brings plenty of fresh ideas and remade old ideas to the table, which is no small feat for a series more than ten games deep. Alongside the usual Assassin’s Creed staples—assassination missions (obviously), slick parkour, stealthy takedowns, towering viewpoints, leaps of faith, and the eternal struggle against the Templars—Shadows mixes in a healthy helping of previous mechanics and completely new ideas.

Let’s start with the base-building first because I know that’s what you’re here for. Yes, AC Shadows has base-building—or, well, something close to it. Instead of constructing an entire base piece-by-piece Minecraft-style, you’re laying out hideout communities building-by-building. Given that the usual gameplay loop for AC revolves around running, jumping, and stabbing for 40 minutes straight, at least for the first few games, this is definitely a curveball, especially if you’re new.

These safehouses, called Kakurega, unlock a few hours into the game, and you’ll be able to expand them by collecting materials from enemy encampments. And trust me, there’s a lot you can add if you’re willing to put in the effort. We’re talking forges, stables, extra rooms, scout headquarters, pathways, and even gardens—all of which you can arrange within a grid system, following the roads of your chosen territory.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a settlement system in Assassin’s Creed. Black Flag had its fleet management, and Valhalla let you upgrade Ravensthorpe, but those were largely passive, offering benefits and resources. Shadows takes a more hands-on approach with its Kakurega, making them integral to exploration and mission access.

And that brings us to Scouts, a system I’ve mentioned a few times now. Despite the name, they’re less like allies and more like resources. They don’t fight alongside you, but they do provide reconnaissance and help with navigation.

Shadows follows the same open-world, quest-based structure seen in Odyssey and Valhalla, where you wander between waypoints, find a target, and either eliminate them or infiltrate a base before eliminating them. The twist with Shadows is that waypoints aren’t static or pre-marked on the map. Instead, you have to earn them through scouting and deduction.

Every mission briefing in Shadows comes with clues about where your target was last seen. Instead of simply following a marker, you have to piece together the location yourself and send out scouts accordingly. If you guess right, they’ll uncover waypoints, and sometimes even extra ones you weren’t expecting. But scouts are a limited resource, so use them recklessly and you might find yourself hunting blind. Luckily, they replenish each season, which brings us to another fresh mechanic: Seasons.

Since Shadows spans years of conflict against Nobunaga, time actually passes as you complete missions. This affects the world in small but meaningful ways—like snow providing extra stealth in winter or summer rains reducing visibility. It’s more of an immersion tool than a game-changer, but it does spice things up just enough to keep things from getting too predictable. As someone who appreciates a little RNG-induced chaos, I kind of love it.

And that’s everything new Shadows has. It also has skill trees and equipment upgrades on top of a non-linear progression, but those are well-established at this point of the series’ norm. It’s time we discuss its world and how amazing it is.

Easy to Get Lost in This Landscape (In A Good Way)

The Sengoku-era Japan depicted in AC Shadows is, in a word, breathtaking. Viewpoints offer stunning vistas, even when it’s just endless stretches of forest. Urban areas feel alive and bustling, while rural villages have a distinct charm that makes them feel genuinely lived-in.

Ubisoft’s attention to historical detail really shines through with its immersive dialogue setting. Turning this on removes modern English entirely, replacing it with authentic Japanese and Portuguese dubs based on the character’s background. Even small details, like Portuguese NPCs speaking broken Japanese to reflect cultural integration, add to the authenticity. It’s easily one of the strongest aspects of the game’s presentation and makes the world feel rich and believable.

Someone Assassinated the Narrative and Crippled the Combat

Unfortunately, immersion only goes so far when both the story and combat—arguably the two biggest reasons people play Assassin’s Creed—are fractured beyond belief.

The storytelling is as fragmented as ever—because, well, it’s Assassin’s Creed. We get flash-forwards, flashbacks, time skips, and every timeline-twisting trick the Animus system can throw at us. There are even flashbacks within flashbacks if that’s your thing.

For longtime fans, this is par for the course, but newcomers? They’re in for a rough time. Before you even get a solid grasp of the Sengoku-era conflicts, the game reminds you there’s a meta-layer you weren’t prepared for. Ubisoft really should have streamlined the onboarding process for new players by now, but instead, they’re hit with three separate Animus flashbacks in the first 20 minutes. I hope you’re paying attention because you’re going to be juggling these timelines like Ubisoft tried to juggle their shooters.

And what’s with the combat in this game?

Naoe’s assassin-style combat is passable—a little clunky, with off-timing windows for parries and attacks, but serviceable overall. Yasuke’s, though? A whole different beast—and not in a good way.

If Naoe’s combat is standard AC, Yasuke’s feels like God of War: Ragnarok—but with a punch-drunk Kratos who can teleport. His hitboxes are bizarre, his target switching is janky, and his camera tracking is straight-up awful. You can get wrecked by low-tier enemies just because the camera decided to take a scenic detour into the bushes.

Comparing it to other open-world action-adventure games like Horizon: Zero Dawn or even the Arkham series (if you’re feeling generous) doesn’t do Shadows any favors. It’s not smooth—but it’s functional. And that’s a problem for a game built around professional warriors and assassins.

Ubisoft Still Hasn’t Figured Out Faces

Just to keep the fail banner waving for Shadows, let’s talk about faces—because, somehow, Ubisoft still hasn’t figured them out in 2025.

To be fair, it’s not as egregious as in the past. Yasuke and Naoe look great, and most NPCs are fine… most of the time. Keyword: most. But the moment they start talking? Oh boy.

Maybe it’s the dub, maybe it’s Ubisoft just having a laugh, but it’s bad enough to compete with the game’s otherwise stunning world design for your attention. At least we’re not back to Unity’s floating eyeballs and dentures. Small wins, I guess?

It’s Only an Assassin’s Creed Game Because of its Flaws

And now we arrive at the end. Perhaps it isn’t clear yet, but AC Shadows isn’t an Assassin’s Creed game because of its strengths—it’s an Assassin’s Creed game because of its pitfalls. The odd facial animations, the janky hitboxes, the Byzantine narrative structure—it’s all quintessentially AC.

But the best parts of the series? The sprawling cities built for parkour, the high-stakes stealth combat, the unmistakable assassin silhouette? They’ve all been pushed aside in favor of safehouses, scouts, seasons, and samurai.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. These new mechanics hint at an interesting future for the series, one that could lead to something truly great. Could. But until that happens (if that happens), Shadows isn’t the long-awaited AC game set in Japan that fans wanted—or deserved.

Is Assassin's Creed Shadows Worth It?

Depends Entirely If You’re Looking For An AC Game

At a AAA premium of $69.99—before factoring in deluxe editions or preorder bonuses—you’d expect top-tier quality. Unfortunately, Shadows doesn’t quite deliver, whether you’re a longtime fan looking for that classic AC experience or a newcomer trying to untangle its TENET-level narrative and janky… everything.

That said, it’s clear a lot of effort went into the game. Its massive world, dense content, and ambitious new mechanics show real craftsmanship. Shadows isn’t a bad game—it’s just not the right game for everyone. For most players? I’d recommend you wait for a sale. For AC fans, maybe pass on this one.

Digital Storefronts
Steam		Epic Games		PlayStation		Xbox		Ubisoft
Price			$69.99

Assassin's Creed Shadows FAQ

How Do You Activate Photo Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

The default bindings for Photo Mode are F3 for mouse and keyboard and L3 + R3 for controllers.

How Do You Earn More Scouts in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Players can earn more Scouts at the start of each Season once the Kakurega is unlocked, up to the maximum limit. Additional Scouts can also be recruited through random encounters in the world, such as helping merchants or rescuing NPCs from Nobunaga’s forces.

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Assassin's Creed Shadows Product Information

Title	ASSASSIN'S CREED SHADOWS
Release Date	March 20, 2025
Developer	Ubisoft
Publisher	Ubisoft
Supported Platforms	PC (Steam) PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X|S
Genre	Action, Adventure, RPG
Number of Players	1
ESRB Rating	ESRB 18+
Official Website	Assassin's Creed Shadows Website

Aaron Bruce Albert..

A massive fan of roguelikes, turn-based RPGs, and open world adventure games. His gold standard games include The Binding of Isaac, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and Dragon Quest Monsters Joker.