Assassin's Creed Shadows Reviews
After years of anticipation, the series finally ventures into feudal Japan. Combining stunning visuals with engaging gameplay, Assassin's Creed Shadows is hindered by an overly invasive live service model and an underwhelming plot. Nonetheless, its dense open world and rewarding combat system ensure that the experience remains enjoyable.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Assassin's Creed Shadows is one of the finest entries in the series, successfully bringing back stealth-oriented gameplay while retaining the RPG mechanics and refined combat mechanics seen in previous entries in the series, seamlessly integrating them with the dual protagonist setup and a well-paced story that doesn't overstay its welcome. While the game still features way more content and gameplay systems than necessary, its rendition of Feudal Japan is among the best ever seen in a video game, and it is well worth experiencing for the vast majority of players.
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows is easy on the eyes, but a generally basic simulation, scant upgrades, and bland side activities weaken the effect.
In the end, then, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is still an open-world RPG with an Assassin’s Creed skin placed over the top of it, and likely won’t change the minds of naysayers who aren't on board with what the series has become.
Shadows’ world and attention to Japanese history and culture are genuinely impressive. Naoe is not the ultimate assassin and Yesuke is not the most refined ARPG hero. However, their different strengths add creativity to combat and narrative complexity. I don’t think Assassin’s Creed Shadows will disappoint many fans, nor pull in the uninitiated in great numbers. It’s a solid AC game with just enough new ideas to make it stand apart from the recent titles.
While Assassin's Creed Shadows is unlikely to win over those who struggled to push through Odyssey or Valhalla, this is still one of the strongest overall entries in the series - and arguably the best of the open world RPG bunch. The storytelling is largely fantastic, the main characters are deeply likeable, and the open world itself is a thing of beauty.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows marks the best this series has ever been. With its destructible environments, fantastic story and excellent characters, Shadows has managed to dethrone Odyssey as my favorite Assassin’s Creed game. If I can give you any advice, it would be to ignore all the haters on the internet and play this game; as of now its definitely a contender for my 2025 GOTY.
Assassin's Creed has been fighting to find its identity for over a decade, and thanks to Shadows it's finally rediscovered it. Sure, its combat can be clunky and some story beats felt oddly placed (particularly Yasuke's backstory), but Shadows is exactly what Assassin's Creed needed to prove it still has a beating heart. Whether you’re looking to explore the stunning world of feudal Japan, storm the gates of an enemy castle, or fall in love with the many NPCs that populate its world, Assassin's Creed Shadows is an immersive treat that cements itself as the best Assassin's Creed game since Black Flag.
While Assassin's Creed: Shadows won't be the salvation Ubisoft is hoping for, it's still a fun experience and one of the greatest games in the series in recent years, and that's what should matter at the end of the day. With nearly 60 hours of gameplay under my belt, I'm going to keep playing because this is an entertaining title that doesn't deserve to be the flop many expect, but it's not going to revolutionize the genre either.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It's an excellent episode but clearly not without flaws. The new features are numerous and well thought out enough to crown it the best episode in terms of infiltration.
Review in French | Read full review
Fans of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla can have a lot of fun in feudal Japan, and stealth enthusiasts will also get their money's worth thanks to Naoe. Either way, Shadows is a coherent overall package and thus a very worthy Japanese spin-off.
Review in German | Read full review
All of this takes place in a rich world, full of detail and life, resulting in an outstanding game. A very successful step forward for the series that dispels any doubts that might have arisen about it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Whether Yasuke’s assassinations are your cup of tea or not (there’s a reason the game calls them “brutal”), it’s nice to see how this game breathes new life into a familiar formula.
Assassin's Creed Shadows starts off strong with an interesting story and great core gameplay and combat. Unfortunately, Shadows ends up getting in its own way by delivering a compelling story, but not knowing when to trim the fat, a gorgeous overworld that overstays its welcome, and an equipment system that isn't exciting.
Assassin's Creed rises to the occasion once more with Assassin's Creed Shadows, an expertly crafted entry that blends the strengths of the old and new styles of Assassin's Creed title alike to deliver one of the best outings this long and storied franchise has ever had.
With its mammoth Japan heaving with to-do lists to check off, Assassin's Creed Shadows opts for the safety of familiarity rather than taking any real swings for the franchise's belated sojourn in the 'Land of the Rising Sun'. What remains is a fine Assassin's Creed title that, save for a few clever tweaks, fits snuggly in its template.
With Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has finally delivered on the feudal Japan setting fans have always wanted.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is another notch in the belt of this illustrious series. Sneaking and stabbing as Naoe or duelling foes in honourable combat as Yasuke, the duel protagonists are a genius addition to all the things we love about Assassin's Creed. Even though I haven't gelled with the more recent huge open-world AC titles, I leave my time with Assassin's Creed Shadows with renewed excitement for the series thanks to a more manageable map size and a great story. Add in the beautiful backdrop of medieval Japan throughout the seasons, and you've got a hit.
Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s ability to seemingly strike a perfect balance between the older titles in the series and its RPG brethren. This is exactly what I want RPG Assassin’s Creed games to be going forward.