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Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
80% User Score Based on 12,234 reviews

Platforms

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Assassin's Creed Shadows Game Cover

About

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a single player open world role playing game with a historical theme. It was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and was released on May 9, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a stealth-focused action game where you play as Naoe, a skilled shinobi mastering deep stealth mechanics and visceral combat. Explore new regions and engage in intense missions using an array of weapons and unique skills. The game emphasizes strategic stealth gameplay combined with fluid, dynamic fighting sequences.

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Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot
+5
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80%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,234 reviews
story1.6k positive mentions
stability219 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and intricate detail, showcasing breathtaking environments that bring feudal Japan to life.
  • The dual-protagonist system offers varied gameplay styles, enhancing the overall experience with refined stealth mechanics.
  • The emotional depth and character arcs, particularly of Naoe and Yasuke, are praised for their engagement and historical context.
  • The narrative suffers from pacing issues and a lack of cohesion, leading to a repetitive gameplay experience.
  • The game has significant optimization problems, with many players reporting stuttering, crashes, and poor performance on various hardware.
  • Microtransactions in a single-player game are seen as intrusive and unnecessary, detracting from the overall value.
  • story
    5,753 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet flawed. While the initial setup and character arcs, particularly those of Naoe and Yasuke, are praised for their emotional depth and historical context, the narrative often suffers from pacing issues and a lack of cohesion, leading to a repetitive gameplay experience. Critics note that the open-world structure detracts from the story's impact, making it feel disjointed and less compelling compared to earlier entries in the franchise. Overall, while the game offers beautiful visuals and enjoyable mechanics, its storytelling leaves much to be desired, with many players hoping for improvements in future DLCs.

    • “The game's narrative is expertly crafted, with complex characters and a gripping storyline that explores the assassin brotherhood's struggles in feudal Japan.”
    • “The story is engaging, the gameplay feels fresh, and the world is stunning.”
    • “The captivating storyline, which intertwines the lives of Yasuke and Naoe, kept me engaged throughout.”
    • “I don't typically leave reviews, but I tried to give the game a chance. Honestly, I just got disappointed. I played for 47 hours, and within that time, I was honestly bored; the story was a mess.”
    • “The story feels so fragmented. It’s as if the writers completely let down the incredible work of the visual and design teams, leaving players with a breathtaking setting that deserves a far better story to match its beauty.”
    • “The story was the biggest disappointment; it felt unfinished and rushed. The characters were okay, but the supporting ones felt flat.”
  • gameplay
    2,863 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its refined stealth mechanics and dual-protagonist system that offers varied gameplay styles. Players appreciate the immersive world and dynamic seasonal changes that impact gameplay, but some criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the clunky combat mechanics, particularly with the character Yasuke. Overall, while the game showcases stunning visuals and engaging stealth gameplay, it struggles with pacing and narrative depth, leading to a somewhat polarizing reception among fans of the franchise.

    • “Gameplay is more important than graphics and change of seasons.”
    • “Great story paired with great mechanics = a lot of fun!”
    • “The gameplay loop is polished to a shine, building on the RPG elements of origins and odyssey while streamlining the bloat of valhalla.”
    • “It could be 'better-than-Valhalla'-level of game, but before they fix the crashes and slowly degrading framerates during the gameplay, I don't see any reason to waste time on AC Shadows.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very repetitive, the character development is uninspiring, and the combat combos feel very limited.”
    • “The gameplay is unacceptable levels of outdated; they try to make it feel realistic and grounded, all the while Yasuke can spam anime finishers and mow down armies of enemies like he's playing Dynasty Warriors.”
  • graphics
    1,800 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and intricate detail, showcasing breathtaking environments that bring feudal Japan to life. Many players noted the game's impressive optimization, allowing for smooth performance even on mid-range hardware, while the dynamic weather and seasonal changes further enhance the immersive experience. However, some users reported occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly during cutscenes, which detracted from the overall experience.

    • “It's absolutely beautiful - the graphics are stunning.”
    • “The graphics are breathtaking, and the combat feels smooth, powerful, and super satisfying — probably the best in the whole series.”
    • “The visuals are undeniably stunning, and the dynamic world-building and environmental detail are impressive.”
    • “Sometimes the game freezes and the graphics depreciate; icons sometimes disappear. I often click the map and menu to reboot the current gameplay to make the icons reappear and graphics pixel back to my desired settings.”
    • “The only thing this game has going for it is the atmosphere and graphics; other than that, there are so many mechanics that are wrong with this game that it makes it unplayable.”
    • “Even on the highest settings, the game looks unimpressive—bland environments, stiff animations, and constant graphical glitches that ruin immersion.”
  • optimization
    775 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and visual fidelity on high-end systems, while others report significant stuttering, crashes, and poor performance even on capable hardware. Many users noted that the game requires substantial system resources, and optimization patches are needed to address ongoing issues, particularly for lower-end setups. Overall, while some players have had a positive experience, the consensus indicates that the game is not consistently well-optimized across all platforms.

    • “The game feels optimized and runs smoothly on my old PC.”
    • “A very well optimized game with good graphics and incredible scenery.”
    • “Performance-wise, I had a smooth experience—no major stutters or glitches, just a few minor issues here and there, nothing game-breaking.”
    • “The game feels badly optimized and needs serious tuning from the developers.”
    • “Unoptimized piece of garbage, really wanted to play this game as I don't care about the hate.”
    • “The optimization of this game is atrocious, can't even maintain 30 fps.”
  • music
    468 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance immersion and complement the atmosphere, particularly through a blend of traditional Japanese instruments and modern styles. However, many players found certain music choices, especially the incorporation of hip-hop and rock elements, to be jarring and inappropriate for the historical setting, often breaking immersion during key moments. Overall, while the soundtrack has its standout moments, its inconsistency and occasional misalignment with the game's tone have left some players disappointed.

    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the atmosphere — calm and haunting one moment, intense and powerful the next.”
    • “The music is incredible, combat animations are awesome and the landscape is stunning!”
    • “The music deserves praise too—it perfectly complements the narrative, drawing you deeper into the experience.”
    • “The music is a significant downgrade from Valhalla or Odyssey.”
    • “The music... I don't know who Ubisoft hires for music for their games, but it's always so bad. They get some feudal Japanese music that plays most of the time, and when you get into a fight, it gets remixed into some actual garbage trap remix that literally makes me giggle every time it happens because of how bad it is.”
    • “During the most emotional parts in the game, it plays western cowboy movie style music which feels out of place almost immediately.”
  • stability
    280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of bugs and glitches that impact gameplay, including freezing, graphical issues, and UI problems. While some users experienced smooth performance with minimal issues, others found the game to be a "buggy mess," often requiring extensive troubleshooting to achieve a playable state. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary significantly across different systems, with many recommending waiting for further patches before fully engaging with the game.

    • “It just runs so well - no glitches, no lags, stable framerate, good flow of gameplay, nothing will stop you from playing it on the technical side.”
    • “Performance is smooth and bug free, combat is satisfying, and the world feels alive.”
    • “It's rare to see such an ambitious game launch in such a polished state—no bugs, no glitches, just seamless gameplay.”
    • “That said, I played for 8 hours, yet 4 of that was troubleshooting and trying to get it to actually finish a benchmark run instead of crashing halfway through.”
    • “The game is a complete buggy mess that is pretty much unplayable in its current state.”
    • “Game is buggy and unfinished.”
  • grinding
    215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, often described as tedious and repetitive. Players express frustration with the necessity to complete numerous side quests and resource collection tasks to progress, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and narrative engagement. While some appreciate the visual appeal and immersive world, many feel that the grinding mechanics overshadow the gameplay experience, making it feel like a chore rather than a rewarding adventure.

    • “Progression feels fair and not grindy in the least (so far).”
    • “Great! Also, it is not grindy at all. I've barely gotten done with the beginning and I am almost level 30. I am glad it's not like the Odyssey leveling system.”
    • “One character is more stealth-focused while the other is combat-focused. I think it's a perfect combination and love the change of pace; it makes the game not tedious.”
    • “Progress feels pointless, and after 20 hours, the loop of grinding, gearing, and moving to the next region completely loses meaning, especially since a lot of the side quests and missions feel the same.”
    • “The world is vast but empty, the side content consists of very tedious fetch quests, there are a million characters with no depth or development whose names you'll forget in 5 seconds.”
    • “It's just tedious to deal with.”
  • monetization
    201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy in the game has drawn significant criticism, particularly for its inclusion of microtransactions in a single-player experience, which many players find unnecessary and intrusive. While some microtransactions are cosmetic and can be ignored, the overall sentiment is that they detract from the game's value, with players expressing frustration over the aggressive monetization practices typical of Ubisoft. Despite the option to avoid spending money, the presence of microtransactions in a full-price game has left a sour impression on many reviewers.

    • “Microtransactions exist, but they’re largely cosmetic.”
    • “There are plenty of cool, unlockable armor sets and gear available through gameplay, so just ignore the microtransactions and enjoy what’s already there.”
    • “Yes, it does have monetization, but you can totally play and enjoy this game without spending money at all.”
    • “Overall, I recommend this game, but only on sale, and by God do not give them any money through microtransactions!”
    • “The presence of microtransactions in a single-player game is intrusive, unnecessary, and greedy.”
    • “It's a miracle they haven't started implementing ads every time you need to revive; it would be a very Ubisoft thing to do after all.”
  • atmosphere
    189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive depiction of feudal Japan, with detailed environments, seasonal changes, and a rich cultural backdrop that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric sound design and music, which complement the game's serene yet tense moments, creating a captivating world that encourages exploration. However, some critiques mention that certain gameplay elements disrupt the immersion, yet the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is one of its standout features, rivaling other titles in the genre.

    • “From the bustling streets of Kyoto to the serene landscapes of the countryside, every location is rich in detail and atmosphere.”
    • “Pure magic, the cherry blossoms, misty mountains, and cultural depth create an atmosphere I can't get enough of, from rooftop parkour across tiled roofs to seamless blending into crowds.”
    • “The world feels alive, rich with detail, and filled with atmospheric effects that immerse you in feudal Japan.”
    • “You just barge in, stab, and escape — with zero tension or atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is flat, the world-building weak, and the usual attention to historical detail that Assassin’s Creed is known for is nowhere to be found.”
    • “During one of the intro cut scenes, the game stopped and loaded 4 times, for 30 seconds completely breaking the atmosphere of the game.”
  • emotional
    187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its touching narrative and character development, particularly in the stories of Naoe and Yasuke, which evoke genuine emotional responses. However, many critics point out issues such as stiff cutscenes, poor voice acting, and a lack of emotional depth in certain moments, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to consistently engage players on an emotional level. Overall, while there are standout emotional moments, the execution often falls short, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the characters and story.

    • “Without spoiling anything, there's real narrative weight in her intro and emotional development that caught me off guard.”
    • “The story is incredibly gripping, telling a complex and emotional tale.”
    • “Their deep, emotional journey is beautifully told, making their choices feel truly significant.”
    • “This game has a very boring storyline with a lot of characters that are uninteresting except Oda.”
    • “Boring story... game was great but after 17 hours felt like I had seen and done everything... the story made me feel no emotion to the characters at all.”
    • “Extremely boring story and characters.”
  • humor
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny due to quirky bugs, absurd character interactions, and unexpected moments, such as clumsy animations and ridiculous AI behavior. While some appreciate the comedic elements, others feel that the humor detracts from the game's intended seriousness, leading to a perception of it being "hilariously bad." Overall, the humor adds a unique charm, though it may not reach the heights of previous titles like Odyssey.

    • “The funny part for me was when the VRAM budget screen said 7 GB, but in-game I checked my performance metrics and it was almost 14 GB maxed out. I was just thinking, what is this? XD”
    • “The villains are dumb and hilariously inept and static despite supposedly being genius saboteurs and expert politicians.”
    • “Yasuke is hilariously a friggin monster; he is the Hulk.”
  • character development
    61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the depth and growth of main characters, particularly Naoe, while others criticize the lack of meaningful development and shallow interactions among supporting characters. The stunning character design and graphics are often highlighted, but many reviewers feel that the narrative and character arcs do not live up to the potential set by previous titles in the franchise. Overall, while there are moments of strong character development, many players find it inconsistent and lacking in depth.

    • “The character development is genuinely impressive; you watch them grow, struggle, and form a compelling dynamic that drives the entire story forward.”
    • “The narrative is both emotionally impactful and action-packed, with some of the best character development I’ve seen in a long time.”
    • “I am having a lot of fun thus far playing as both Naoe and Yasuke, with each having an engaging story, character development, and different ways of toying with the enemies, keeping things fresh and interesting each time I play.”
    • “No meaningful character development, nothing.”
    • “All of the characters have literally zero character development.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very repetitive, the character development is uninspiring, and the combat combos feel very limited.”
  • replayability
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the dual protagonist system and varied playstyles that enhance strategic depth, while others feel limited by a lack of character model mods and secondary gameplay segments. Many appreciate the extensive main story and side content, which offer significant replay value, though some express a desire for more playable characters and varied storylines. Overall, opinions range from "infinitely replayable" to "limited replay value," highlighting a divide in player experiences.

    • “I like having 2 different builds to play as, and the new mechanics make this very replayable.”
    • “Dual protagonist system: switching between stealthy and brute-force gameplay adds variety and replayability.”
    • “With 40-60 hours for the main story and countless more for side content, Shadows respects your time while offering endless replayability.”
    • “The lack of support for character model mods severely limits replayability and player expression.”
    • “Unfortunately, replayability is very low, and there is not much to do after completing the game and making your perfect hideout.”
    • “Limited replay value.”
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24h Median play time
48h Average play time
7-50h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 148 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a open world role playing game with historical theme.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 48 hours playing Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Assassin's Creed Shadows was released on May 9, 2024.

Assassin's Creed Shadows was developed by Ubisoft Montreal.

Assassin's Creed Shadows has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a single player game.

Similar games include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Horizon Forbidden West and others.