Assassin’s Creed Shadows Game Review – I Don’t Like Assassin’s Creed—So Why Am I Still Playing Shadows?

So, I’m going to be honest: I’ve never been an Assassin’s Creed superfan. The sci-fi Animus plotlines never really clicked with me. And the endless item collecting? Boring stuff. But Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the first game in a while that tempted me back to the franchise. Feudal Japan + stunning visuals + dual protagonists + ninjas and samurai? Sign me up. And for a while, it delivered. However, after playing through hours of side quests, battles, and completing map objectives, my excitement levels dropped, and it became a bit of a chore. It wasn’t long, and I started avoiding the game. Hence, the reason why my review is so late.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is bad. It isn’t. Ubisoft has created a polished game. Sure, we’ve been just about everywhere in the franchise—Italy, Greece, Baghdad, the West Indies—but nothing quite matches the latest release. The nine regions—Harima, Iga, Kii, Omi, Settsu, Tamha, Yamashiro, Yamato, and Wakasa—aren’t just pretty, themed backdrops. They’re actually living, breathing spaces. Every hill, every lake, and every castle looks cinematic. Summers blaze under the sun. Spring brings sheets of rain. Autumn turns the landscape moody. And Winter goes dead quiet – the crunch of snow underfoot and not a cricket in sight.

It’s not just a visual feast either. The sound design nails every seasonal shift. You feel the damp wood in a storm. You hear the silence of snowfall. It’s easily the most atmospheric Assassin’s Creed game to date.

And two leads are amazing too: Yasuke, the historically-real Black samurai, and Naoe, a broody shinobi with an attitude. Their partnership makes for a nice balance on paper, but let’s be honest—stealthing around as Naoe is just more fun. Yasuke’s brute-force playstyle feels clunky by comparison, especially when you’re trying to sneak into a fortress undetected.

Still, credit where it’s due: the developers did their homework. Yasuke isn’t “woke fiction”—he was real. And while his story in the game didn’t blow me away, it anchors Assassin’s Creed Shadows in something more intriguing than the usual templar-vs-assassin drama. However, Naoe steals the show here. She is smart, deadly, and surprisingly human. Her missions (and her tragic backstory) made me want to keep going, even when the gameplay loop started to drag.

The mission board system, inherited and expanded from Mirage, adds a detective-y twist. You don’t just follow glowing icons across the map. Instead, you’re handed clues and expected to piece things together—assuming you’ve explored well enough. It’s a smart way to reward curiosity. I was learning about tea ceremonies and interesting folklore. It brings back the cultural curiosity that defined the earlier games. That, at least, is a win. Still, by the fifth region (of nine), the formula wears thin. “Help this person. Kill that guy. Move on.” Sound familiar?

Thank goodness, the combat has improved, too. Enemies don’t just wait their turn to die; they swarm, combo, and throw unblockables like they’ve been training. You’ll need to parry like your life depends on it—because it usually does.

Truth be told: This is the most advanced Assassin’s Creed yet. Gorgeous lighting, refined combat, and a smarter mission structure. You’ll still spend hours chasing targets and fetching mysterious boxes, but it all looks incredible while you do it.

Did I enjoy it more than Ghost of Tsushima? Not quite—but it’s trying. The comparisons between the two are a given. Ubisoft was probably prepared for that, too.

The bigger question is: Will this game convert Assassin’s Creed skeptics like me? Honestly? Probably not. It didn’t convert me… yet. But if you’ve already spent years in the Animus, Shadows is a rich, well-made addition to the saga. For those of us who never got into Assassin’s Creed, Shadows isn’t going to do much to convince you. I still can’t pinpoint what’s amiss in the franchise or why it isn’t appealing. Something about it just feels off. But damn, it is pretty though.

RELATED: Hear Me Out, Ghost of Yōtei Could Be Better Than Ghost of Tsushima In Two Ways