Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review: Is it even an Assassin’s Creed game?
After multiple delays, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was finally released on March 20, 2025, marking Ubisoft’s long-awaited entry into feudal Japan. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, macOS, and via Ubisoft+, the game introduces a dual protagonist system featuring Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a samurai inspired by the historical figure of the same name. As the fourteenth major installment in the series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows reintroduces RPG mechanics similar to AC Valhalla, but it also emphasizes stealth mechanics along with open-world exploration, and layered combat. But with rising concerns about the franchise going downhill and losing its connection to core lore, does this game live up to expectations of fans? Does it offer anything new? This Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review breaks it all down.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Story: Feudal Japan Setting & Dual Protagonist
An Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review wouldn’t be complete without breaking down what this game actually is about. Set in feudal Japan, the game takes place during the late Sengoku period—a time of war, shifting alliances, and chaos. Perfect for an Assassin’s Creed story, right?
You mainly play as Naoe, a shinobi who is on a revenge mission after losing the person closest to her- her father. Through her, the gameplay does bring back much-needed classic stealth mechanics. Then there’s the controversial Yasuke, a slave promoted to samurai. Despite the immense controversy, Yasuke is actually more of a secondary protagonist, helping Naoe in her journey rather than leading the game himself. Honestly, Yasuke doesn’t feel out of place, as the game explains how he found himself in feudal Japan quite well. Many players preferred a Japanese samurai protagonist, and many even complained because Yasuke, the historical character was never actually promoted to a Samurai. But if you ignore these things, the game can be fun. That said, some aspects of the character integration deserve more discussion, which we’ll explore further in this Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review.
The Assassin’s Creed Shadows story may feel familiar, as it is much similar to the revenge stories of Ezio, Connor, and Arno, who becomes Assassins to avenge the deaths of their families. (Hell, even Bayek and Eivor’s stories are somewhat similar.) Should Ubisoft not come up with something new? Why can’t we have an interesting protagonist who does what he does because he actually believes in the ideals of the Assassins (like Altair) and not driven by revenge alone?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay: Stealth Shines and Combat Grinds
The Assassin’s Creed Shadows gameplay excels when you’re playing as Naoe. You can even go prone now—finally! It adds new tactical depth and makes infiltration much more immersive. It may just be the best stealth gameplay in the series.
On the flip side, Yasuke brings brute force. If you’re a fan of the RPG trilogy – Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, his combat style might be more preferrable for you. He is a beast!
The problem? Level grinding. Ubisoft forces you to take on side quests just to level up. This was the worst thing about Assassin’s Creed Origins and became worse in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. These quests not just feel repetitive, but they drag down the pace. This annoyance is what made us drop the game after 18 hours. If the developers want us to grind excessively just to stick to the main story, at least they should make the side quest interesting, right?
And let’s not forget—combat can get brutally hard, even on the lowest difficulty, if you don’t keep upgrading yourself. One wrong move, and enemies can one-shot you.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Visuals & Performance for PC, Xbox, and PS5 Versions
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ visuals are gorgeous. The dynamic weather, seasonal changes, and detail in armor and scenery are top tier. But the world feels oddly empty—a lot like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. There are no grand cities like Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s Rome or Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s Baghdad. The beautiful setting just isn’t used to its full potential.
Performance-wise, it runs well. No major bugs or crashes. That alone is a win for Ubisoft in 2025. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game supports 4K resolution with dynamic scaling and performance modes targeting 60 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience on consoles as well. The PS5 version also makes use of the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers during combat and stealth, which adds another layer of immersion. Players looking up Assassin’s Creed Shadows PC system requirements will be pleased to find that the game runs fairly well across a range of modern hardware.
As we push forward in this Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review, it becomes clear that the presentation is polished but the world-building lacks soul.
The Brotherhood’s Absence in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Storyline
As discussed, Assassin’s Creed Shadows story feels like a rehash of the classic revenge trope we’ve seen in Ezio, Connor, Arno, Bayek, and even the early hours of Eivor. And the most frustrating part? There’s barely any mention of the Assassins or Templars.
Yes, we get it—Hidden Ones and Order of the Ancients were used in AC Origins, Valhalla and Mirage, because they were set before late 11th century when the Assassin Brotherhood was founded under the leadership of Hassan-i Sabbāh. But all that is absent here. After 18 hours, you don’t hear the word Assassin or Templar once. Only Ubisoft knows why they’re still calling this franchise Assassin’s Creed. This lack of identity weakens what could have been a defining chapter in the series, and it’s something that can’t be overlooked in any honest Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review.
Is It Worth the Price? Assassin’s Creed Shadows Best Price & Deluxe Edition
Let’s be blunt. No, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fun game but not worth the full price, especially for those who already played Ghost of Tsushima. Well, unless you are diehard Assassin’s Creed fan who doesn’t mind spending hours on meaningless side quests. Read more about this here.
And to be honest, Sucker Punch’s samurai epic set the bar high, both narratively and visually. Though graphics and environment mechanics might be slightly better, Assassin’s Creed Shadows fails to come close in terms of story and immersion, despite coming five years later.
However, you can play the game via Ubisoft Game Pass, which offers a much better deal. This way, you can play the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition without paying a full price. If you’re a die-hard fan of the franchise, it might be worth a go. Otherwise, wait for a sale. Majority of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Reviews strongly suggests subscribing over purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let us address some commonly asked questions regarding the game.
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows a good game?
Yes—if you haven’t played Assassin’s Creed in a while. But if you just finished Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Odyssey, this one might wear you out quickly.
How many hours is Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Around 30–40 hours for the main story. Up to 70+ hours if you’re doing everything.
Will AC Shadows be as long as Valhalla?
No, thankfully. It’s long but not as bloated as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows based on a true story?
Partially. Like Oda Nobunaga, one of the main antagonists of the game, Yasuke is a historical character, though many debate that he was not actually a samurai. Most of the plot is fictional.
Why are people complaining about AC Shadows?
Because of Yasuke being a playable character. Many fans expected a native Japanese lead, and Ubisoft didn’t explain his role well.
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows an RPG game?
Yes. Very much like Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, with full-blown RPG mechanics.
Can you play only as Yasuke?
No. You can choose him for missions, but the game revolves around Naoe.
Are Assassins and Templars in the game?
Barely. Neither term is used much—not even Hidden Ones or Order of Ancients.
Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Game Pass?
It’s not on Xbox Game Pass, but it is available on Ubisoft+, which is cheaper than buying it outright.
Well, this wraps up this Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review. If you’re a long-time fan, it might be worth a try. Just don’t expect Assassin’s Creed Shadows to feel like the games that built the franchise.
Rating – 6 out of 10 stars
