Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review | Double the Trouble

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fantastic experience—if you’re already fully bought into the Assassin’s Creed formula. Ever since the franchise transitioned into the RPG genre with Origins, the series has been at odds with itself, struggling to balance the stealth-action identity of its roots with the sprawling open-world design of its modern iterations. Shadows attempts to strike a middle ground, and for the most part, it succeeds. However, it still can’t escape the constraints of an overused formula that has been stretched thin over multiple titles. Here is our Assassin’s Creed Shadows review.

The setting of Feudal Japan is something fans have been requesting for years, and while Ubisoft has finally delivered, it’s hard to ignore the looming presence of Ghost of Tsushima, which set the bar high for of what Sucker Punch Studios already achieved—providing an immersive, cinematic samurai experience that Assassin’s Creed seemed destined for but took far too long to realize. So, is Shadows a case of franchise fatigue, or did it simply arrive too late to make an impact?

A story that takes its sweet time

The narrative of Shadows takes a while to find its footing, and even when it does, it doesn’t hit as hard as it thinks it does. While there are some great cutscenes, much of the dialogue feels like background noise—important in the moment but forgettable soon after. The pacing is a major issue, as the game starts off strong but quickly slows down with menial tasks, uninspired character work, and another massive open world that feels far too big for the amount of meaningful content it offers. Many plot points are wrapped up too neatly and too quickly, failing to leave a lasting impact.

If there’s one thing that truly elevates Shadows, it’s the setting. Feudal Japan is nothing short of stunning. Every location is brimming with intricate detail, from lush countryside vistas to the dense, vibrant streets of historical cities. Playing on PC with max settings, I was blown away by the draw distance and the sheer beauty of iconic landmarks. There were barely any visual glitches throughout my playthrough, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the world. This is all the more helped by the highly impressive dynamic weather system that does provide a bit more subtle gameplay implications depending on the conditions.

It’s a game that frequently makes you want to stop and take in the scenery, and in that regard, Shadows really does hit the mark.

It takes two

The biggest shake-up in Shadows is the introduction of two distinct playable characters: Yasuke and Naoe.

Yasuke is a brute-force warrior, built for high-impact combat. Charging through doors like they’re made of paper and smashing enemies into the ground never gets old. His gameplay is perfect for those who want to embrace a full-on power fantasy, but he’s also hilariously unreliable when it comes to stealth. He can’t perform silent kills, and his clunky maneuverability makes parkour a frustrating experience.

Naoe, on the other hand, delivers a more traditional Assassin’s Creed experience. She is fast, stealthy, and lethal, equipped with a grappling hook that makes traversal more engaging—though, disappointingly, its functionality is limited to specific points. While she is more fragile in direct combat, she’s more than capable of holding her own. Her abilities allow for more creativity in approach, offering a refreshing contrast to Yasuke’s brute strength.

The dynamic between these two playstyles is what keeps Shadows from feeling entirely stale. The developers had to ensure the level design catered to both characters, and they largely succeeded in making each mission feel adaptable and intentional. The ability to choose (in most cases) which character to use adds an extra layer of player freedom, making the game feel fresher than it has any right to be.

This is a very long game. Make no mistake about it. The the second dozen or so hours, you may find yourself questioning if all this sightly higher stat loot or leveling up is still a worthy enough incentive to chug through multiple okay or so story missions to reach one or two good ones. There are inklings of brilliance in Shadows and when it’s good, it’s really good. But when it’s not, I’m reminded why Ubisoft had to temporarily retire the annual releases at some point.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review Final Verdict – 7.5/10

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a great game, but it’s also a game that feels trapped in the expectations of its own franchise. While incredibly fantastic to look at, the storytelling and open-world structure suffer from the same pitfalls that have plagued the series for years. The dual protagonist system breathes some new life into the formula, but it’s not enough to completely shake the sense of franchise fatigue.

If you love Assassin’s Creed’s modern RPG direction, Shadows will likely be a fantastic experience for you. I’d go as far as to say it may be one of the more refined out of all of them. But if you’ve grown tired of the series’ bloated design, it might feel like too little, too late. While Shadows successfully brings the long-awaited Feudal Japan setting to life, it also serves as a reminder that the Assassin’s Creed formula may need more than just a fresh coat of paint to truly evolve.