Assassin’s Creed returns to form in feudal Japan

? After nearly 20 years and dozens of entries, Assassin’s Creed has finally embraced feudal Japan, a setting that feels like a natural fit for the stealth-action franchise. Set during the chaotic Sengoku period of the 1570s, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows delivered on its premise with a gorgeous world and two playable characters that offer starkly different experiences.

The game’s greatest strength lies in its protagonists — Naoe, a shinobi of the Iga clan seeking revenge after the destruction of her village, and Yasuke, a former slave who becomes Japan’s first Black samurai. These characters have complementary playstyles that feel significantly different from the other — Naoe excels at stealth, with her ability to hide in the shadows, crawl through tight spaces, and scale buildings with her grappling hook. Yaskue, on the other hand, is a powerhouse in combat who can shrug off powerful blows and overwhelm opponents with sheer strength.

Both of their stories weave themes of revenge, belonging, and purpose. Noae struggles to find a new home after the demise of her village, and Yasuke’s unique position as both a respected samurai and perpetual outsider create compelling narratives. How they interact with the world around them is influenced by this very authentically — NPCs ignore Naoe as she blends into crowds, while they bow respectfully to Yasuke as he passes through. It’s a small touch that makes the world feel more alive.

Visually, the game is stunning. From snow-capped mountains to cherry blossom-filled temples, the changing seasons transform both the landscape and the gameplay. Even the lighting has received an upgrade — the new stealth system makes darkness meaningful. Naoe can extinguish lanterns and hide in shadows, creating more nuanced sneaking mechanics than existed in previous installments.

Combat has received a similar upgrade. The battles now feel weighty and impactful, especially as Yasuke. Swords clash with proper heft, armor gets shredded as the battle progresses, and environmental objects splinter or break satisfyingly when enemies get thrown into them.

But for all its improvements, Shadows still can’t completely escape its bloated open-world DNA. Castles to infiltrate, shrines to discover, and bandits to eliminate — the map is packed with activities that quickly start to feel overly familiar, following predictable patterns. The main story missions fare better, with some genuinely memorable moments like Naoe’s fish-out-of-water participation in a traditional tea ceremony, but they’re surrounded by repetitive filler.

Ubisoft clearly invested significantly in cultural representation, collaborating with historians to create compelling but realistic historical fiction. While not entirely accurate (some artistic license has to be allowed), the game treats Japanese customs and traditions with intentional respect. Concerns from Japanese officials about destructive gameplay in shrines and temples were swiftly addressed by Ubisoft with a day-one patch reducing violence in sacred spaces.

Don’t believe the user score: Despite positive critical reception, Shadows is facing heavy user review-bombing, mostly by people whining about “wokism” or “black-washing” despite Yasuke being a real figure who served under warlord Oda Nobunga. More legitimate criticisms come from pricing concerns — the ultimate edition of the game (currently unavailable) would set players back USD 130, which many consider a concerning precedent for future pricing of video games, which were generally capped at a standard USD 60.

? Rating: 8/10 on IGN, 9/10 on Steam

⌛ Hours of gameplay: 49 hours for the main story, 79 hours for completionists

? Replay value: N/A

? Platforms: Steam and Epic Games for PC, Playstation, and Xbox

? Price: USD 55.99 for the standard edition and USD 71.99 for the deluxe edition on Steam. USD 69.99 for the standard edition and USD 89.99 for the deluxe edition on Epic Games, Playstation, and Xbox.