Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the latest entry in Ubisoft’s long-running historical action series, seems poised to deliver an experience with broad appeal when it launches on March 20, 2025. By combining the open-world scale of recent entries like Odyssey and Valhalla with the dense urban environments and verticality of the classic games, along with new interface options and gameplay tweaks, Shadows aims to offer something for franchise veterans and newcomers alike.
Setting the Stage in 16th Century Japan
Shadows transports players to 16th century Japan amid the political and military crises of Oda Nobunaga’s campaigns to unify the nation. Against this tumultuous backdrop, the game follows two protagonists on intersecting paths:
- Yasuke, an African slave-turned-samurai in Nobunaga’s army
- Naoe, a common shinobi seeking to defend her village
While their stories start separately, a mysterious artifact sought by shadowy forces will inevitably draw Yasuke and Naoe together. The demo sampled Shadows’ more grounded take on Assassin’s Creed’s historical fantasy, balancing personal struggles and political intrigue while keeping the series’ signature melodrama to enhance rather than dominate the narrative.
Player-Driven Gameplay
Where Shadows really shines is in empowering players to approach objectives as they see fit. A new suite of UI customization options lets users decide exactly how much guidance and visual clutter they want, from a minimal HUD for immersive exploration to a full array of quest markers and waypoints.
This flexibility extends to mission design as well. Shadows’ investigation quests can be completed by careful sleuthing or delegated to scout recruits, with no gameplay advantages for either method. It’s all about enabling individual playstyles and discovery.
Stylish Stealth or Brutal Combat
The same philosophy applies to Shadows’ core stealth and combat. Missions can be tackled as either protagonist, with Naoe’s agile infiltration a stark contrast to Yasuke’s armor-clad fury. Thoughtful level layouts and enemy placement facilitate both approaches, from shadowy rooftop routes for Naoe’s grappling hook parkour to open fields for Yasuke’s katana and musket.
Tempting as it may sound to avoid stealth and opt for a straightforward brawl, certain areas make it easy for enemies to overwhelm [Yasuke] and reward a sneakier approach.
Rather than funnel players into a single playstyle, Shadows again accommodates different tactics and encourages experimentation to find optimal strategies for each scenario. Naoe’s stealth feels smooth and natural compared to older titles, while Yasuke’s weighty combat captures the heft of his armor and heavy weaponry.
An Open World Full of Wonder
Tying it all together is Shadows’ evocative open world. Freed from the usual fog of map icons (unless players choose to enable them), the environments take center stage. From quiet marshlands to war-torn castles, there’s a palpable sense of place and discovery around every corner.
Small details like sketching wildlife and admiring scenery are still gamified with knowledge points and the like, but crucially, stumbling upon them organically makes each find feel earned and special, not merely items on a checklist. It’s a delicate balance of functionality and immersion.
Of course, it remains to be seen if Assassin’s Creed Shadows can maintain this alluring mix of freedom and focus across an entire game. But if this promising first look is any indication, Shadows could well be a landmark entry that brings together the best of Assassin’s Creed past and present. Aspiring shinobi and samurai won’t have long to wait, as Shadows sneaks onto PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 20, 2025.
