Fans have dreamed of an Assassin’s Creed set in feudal Japan for years. With Shadows, Ubisoft finally delivers, plunging players into the tumultuous late Sengoku period with a tale of revenge, identity, and honour told through two compelling protagonists: Naoe, a nimble shinobi of the Iga clan, and Yasuke, a powerful African samurai inspired by real history.
The result is a visually stunning, sometimes exhilarating experience that nails the aesthetic and atmosphere of the era. But it’s also one that can’t quite shake the bloated formula that’s come to define the series’ modern entries.
Booting up Shadows feels like opening a long-awaited chapter in the franchise’s legacy. Seeing a samurai and shinobi grace the title screen is a surreal delight, and that excitement carries into the first 10 hours of gameplay.
The opening act primarily focuses on Naoe, whose stealth-centric missions pay homage to the series’ roots while immersing players in Japanese cultural practices like the tea ceremony.
When Yasuke finally becomes playable, the dynamic shifts: brute strength replaces subtlety, and the world reacts differently to each character’s presence. Yasuke, both revered and feared, draws crowds and bows. Naoe, more shadow than figure, slips through cities almost unnoticed.
This duality is where Shadows shine brightest. Swapping between characters brings meaningful variety to the gameplay. As Naoe, you’ll scale castle walls under moonlight, using shadows and silent takedowns to navigate enemy strongholds.
As Yasuke, you can walk right through the front gate, shattering doors with a massive club and engaging in gloriously brutal combat that feels earned rather than overpowered.
The game’s combat mechanics—based on well-timed parries, stamina management, and devastating finishers—are among the most satisfying the series has ever delivered.
Both characters benefit from a solid progression system that rewards players with new abilities, gear, and perks. Mastery Points allow for tailored builds depending on your weapon of choice, and the world is dotted with activities—kofun tombs, shrines, kata trainers—that help deepen your skill set.
However, it doesn’t take long before the cracks start to show. Missions begin to blur together. Investigate, assassinate, repeat. Even the side quests—though occasionally rich with folklore or character insight—follow the same predictable structure.
The problem isn’t the content itself, but how formulaic it all feels.
Exploration, too, is a mixed bag. On one hand, Japan has never looked better in a game. Each season changes the landscape dramatically—snow slows Naoe in winter, and cherry blossoms dance through the air in spring.
Lighting effects, weather changes, and natural soundscapes create a deeply immersive world. But exploration is surprisingly linear. The rugged terrain and guided paths limit the sense of discovery, and while the map is full of markers and collectables, they rarely lead to anything unexpected.
Then there’s the matter of the Assassin/Templar lore and the modern-day sci-fi elements—once the beating heart of the series. In Shadows, they’re little more than an afterthought.
The new Animus system is a glorified rewards track, offering free cosmetics and gear with little narrative weight. The conflict between Assassins and Templars barely surfaces until the final hours, and even then, it feels perfunctory. For longtime fans who grew up on Ezio’s conspiracies or Layla’s Animus deep-dives, this absence may sting.
Ubisoft’s commitment to authenticity is commendable. From language use (characters switch between Japanese and Portuguese depending on context) to cultural practices and clothing, Shadows shows a deep respect for its setting.
The Hideout, a customisable base where players can build facilities and decorate with personal touches, adds to the worldbuilding. Yet even this feature leans more decorative than essential, offering limited gameplay impact beyond cosmetic flair.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is a beautiful, often thrilling adventure that gets the style and spirit of feudal Japan just right. Its dual protagonists add real variety, and its combat feels sharper than ever.
But the game remains tethered to a familiar, overly padded open-world formula, making its missions feel repetitive and its progression shallow. While it’s a worthwhile journey—especially for fans of the setting—it still leaves you wondering what the franchise could be if it took more risks.