Review: Assassins Creed: Shadows

Two Blades, One Beautifully Brutal Journey Through Feudal Japan…

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows delivers the long-awaited leap into feudal Japan with style, power, and purpose. By introducing two protagonists—each with distinct abilities and perspectives—Ubisoft has managed to reinvigorate the stealth-action loop that has defined the series since 2007. It’s a beautiful and brutal open-world adventure, even if some old problems still linger in the shadows.

Since Odyssey, Ubisoft have allowed us our pick of a duel protagonist. Odyssey featured our pick of either Kassandra or Alexios, while Valhalla gave us our pick of a male or female Eivor. With Shadows, Ubisoft mixes this up with the decision to introduce dual protagonists with gameplay periodically switching between the two.

Naoe, the shinobi assassin, is a master of the shadows (pun intended). She’s agile, silent, and terrifyingly efficient. Her missions are classic Assassin’s Creed fare—slip past guards unseen, scale impossibly tall pagodas, and eliminate high-profile targets with a whisper. Her tools, like smoke bombs, kunai, and the hidden blade, bring back memories of Ezio and Altair—but with a slicker, more modern polish. On the flip side, there’s Yasuke, a real historical figure and former African slave turned samurai in Japan. He’s unlike any Assassin’s Creed protagonist before—towering, stoic, and an absolute tank on the battlefield. Yasuke doesn’t hide in the shadows. He brings the storm. His missions feel more like something out of Ghost of Tsushima or even Sekiro—blocking, parrying, and slicing through waves of enemies with heavy, deliberate strikes.

The ability to switch between Naoe and Yasuke (at appropriate moments in the story and certain open-world segments) keeps the gameplay loop feeling fresh. One moment you’re infiltrating a fortress undetected; the next, you’re walking through the gates in full armor, daring anyone to stop you. It’s a far cry from the Assassins Creed of old and definitely brings more depth to the gameplay and the story that ties these two characters together

As mentioned, the narrative is split between the personal journeys of the two protagonists and the larger struggle between the Assassins (now known as the “Shinobi Brotherhood”) and the Templars (rebranded here as the “Order of the Ancients”).

Naoe’s story is intimate—her father was an Assassin, her clan betrayed—and she’s seeking vengeance and purpose. Her arc is classic revenge-to-redemption. Meanwhile, Yasuke is grappling with his place in Japanese society as an outsider-turned-samurai, caught between loyalty to his daimyo and the growing moral ambiguity of the conflict around him. Together, they form an unlikely alliance, and their interactions bring emotional depth to the tale. While the overarching “Assassins vs. Templars” lore remains a bit formulaic, the character work and historical moments (like the siege of key castles and interactions with legendary figures) more than make up for it.

Those of us who want more of the modern-day storyline may feel a little lost as Shadows doesn’t really connect the dots to what’s happening away from the Animus. Aside from some brief moments of the bleeding effect, and glitches within the historical setting, the future remains a distant dream. 

If you’ve not already guessed, Shadows takes place across a condensed and richly detailed map of feudal Japan. From the war-torn countryside dotted with rice fields and shrines to bustling market towns and snow-covered castles, every inch of the map feels lived-in and intentional.

One of the standout features here is how seasons affect the world’s atmosphere. Missions and world states change depending on the time of year. In the winter, guards huddle around fires, and snow muffles your footsteps—making stealth more effective. In summer, bright daylight and lush foliage create different tactical challenges. The seasons aren’t just visual; they’re gameplay mechanics, and they impact everything from visibility to patrol routes. Still, despite all this, there are moments where the world feels more like a set piece than a truly dynamic environment. NPCs often repeat the same lines, and side activities—while thematically appropriate (like haiku writing, fishing, and calligraphy challenges)—don’t always carry the weight or reward to pull you away from the main story.

With combat, Ubisoft has clearly learned from its past few titles—Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla—and distilled the best elements of each while dialing back the RPG bloat. Shadows isn’t as much of a callback to the series roots as seen in Mirage, but it mares the two eras together quite well.

Naoe’s gameplay leans into the series’ stealth legacy. The crouch-and-stalk mechanics are more refined, and guard AI is smarter without being omniscient. New tools like grappling hooks and distraction techniques open up creative playstyles. Think of her missions as puzzles—there’s usually more than one way to get the job done, and the best kills are the quietest ones. Yasuke gameplay, on the other hand, feels weighty and brutal. Every swing of his weapon feels impactful. Enemies don’t just die—they go flying. Combat has a stamina and timing element, which adds a bit of Sekiro flavor, though it never veers into full-on Soulsborne territory.

Also worth noting: parkour is back—and it’s better. While not as central as it was in the Ezio days, climbing temples, swinging from bamboo scaffolding, and leaping between rooftops is smooth and cinematic, especially with Naoe.

Overall Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is a triumph in many ways. It brings players to a long-requested historical setting, offers meaningful gameplay diversity with its dual protagonists, and presents a beautiful open world. However, it’s not without flaws. Repetition mission design, the lack of any a modern-day plotline, and a few underwhelming side quests are all here, but they do make for some small blemishes on an otherwise gorgeous canvas. If you’re already a fan of the series, into Japanese history, or just looking for an immersive action-stealth game, Shadows is one for you. And with the probability of a few more hours coming in the way of DLC, then Assassin’s Creed: Shadows will keep you busy within its feudal era of Japanese history. 

Rating: 8/10

Have you played Assassin’s Creed Shadows yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

A code was kindly provided by the publisher for this review

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