Assassin’s Creed Shadows review: Switch things up in 16th century Japan

Finally, Assassin’s Creed is taking us to the shores of Japan, in the most anticipated setting in the storied franchise's history, and Shadowsdoes not disappoint in that regard.

We’re treated to grand sweeping stories of heroes and villains that draw from a core library of epic Japanese dramas. And while the historical accuracy of the story content might have been overdrawn with a heavy amount of artistic license, the execution is excellent.

There are suitably quiet moments, however there are times when Shadows revels in cartoonishly great set pieces which take their notes straight from the Quentin Tarantino style of spaghetti western playbook and land with the panache of a satisfying thud.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows you get the opportunity to experience feudal era Japan with two characters, who bring vastly different gameplay along with their unique backstories.

There is the infamous Yasuke, an African slave brought to Japan by the Portuguese who is adopted into service by a Daimyo and trained in the way of the Samurai. On its own, that would be enough story for an entire game, but Shadowsdoesn’t do things by halves.

You can also play as Naoe, a Shinobi from a famous family, whose skills turn her into a Cirque du Soleil style assassin. Each character brings something special to the game and you can quickly switch between each of them to tackle an obstacle in your preferred style.

Yasuke is one terrifying protagonist, and significantly more menacing and physically intimidating than any other character we’ve played in the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise.

Struggling to sneak around with Naoe and complete silent assassinations? Switch to Yasuke and literally charge down doors as you manhandle opponents and perform some of the single most epic finishing moves seen outside of a Mortal Kombat game. When combined with a semi-destructible environment and the head-loppingly excellent finishing moves, Yasuke becomes a force of nature.

Where mastering the dark arts of Naoe is satisfying, dominating opponents with Yasuke is mouth-gapingly exquisite. The downside is that fighting with the strength of an ox clearly means you have the agility of said animal, and you can hear Yasuke struggle with effort to hurdle over even the smallest of mole hills.

Capturing the full Assassin’s Creed experience will really mean that most of the time you will be playing as Naoe, while using Yasuke as a very specific tool to finish the job.

Where Naoe is a surgeon’s scalpel, precisely cutting away the cancerous tissue of feudal Japan, Yasuke is a forestry chainsaw, carving bloody paths on the way to his objective. Each are equally satisfying in their own way.

In one of the more satisfying updates to the franchise, the shadows in Shadows truly become weaponised, allowing you to manipulate light to gain advantage and truly blending into your environment.

Once you’re standing, crouching, or lying in shadow, you are invisible to anyone that isn’t sitting inside your back pocket. It’s an overpowered game element that rewards the patient approach. It makes you truly feel like a ninja assassin. As a Shinobi, Naoe makes the most of this mechanic, however Yasuke can still blend in if he finds an area large enough to hide in.

There are a wide variety of new weapons, tools, and equipment, too numerous to mention without turning this review into a Wikipedia page. Yasuke and Naoe each have their own unique set of weapons and armour which can be upgraded and customised. There’s never a wrong combination, only the satisfaction of trialling new combinations to crush your enemies, to see them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women.

Of all the side quests and activities on offer, Shadows also brings in a moment of respite, allowing players to engage in a new building minigame where you develop a hideout, nestled in the mountains. It is your base of operations where you can coordinate your forces, upgrade your equipment and quietly build power while you plan your next move.

Your hideout building can be as relaxing and time consuming as you want it to be, or you can build for function and practicality. There are several collectible items strewn about the map which you can bring back use to beautify your hideout. It’s a peaceful moment away from the hustle and bustle of the ancient assassin lifestyle.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is nothing if not a lot. Since the shift to the heavier RPG game designs in Assassin’s Creed Origins, the emphasis has been on including an overwhelming stack of content, meaning players will need to rack up some multiple digit game hours to complete everything there is to see.

The main missions alone click in at about 40 hours of content, and that’s only a fraction of what’s on offer. So, cancel all your social plans between now and Christmas 2026, you’re going to need some time to crack this one.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a complex beast. It nestles somewhere between the simplicity of the Ghost of Tsushima experience, and the overwhelming to-much-to-do-ness of a 100-plus hour RPG.

It shines brightest when focused on single complex objectives, however they too lose their specialness after repeating similar events several times. That being said, there’s definitely much joy here for fans as they experience a long-awaited addition to a storied franchise.