Assassin's Creed
Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025) is an adventure game where you play a stealthy ninja and a powerful samurai in 16^th-century Japan. Against the backdrop of a power struggle, you switch between these characters with differing abilities to explore and fight. The fourteenth Assassin's Creed game, this entry stands out not only for its historical Japanese world that changes with the seasons, but also for the two protagonists that offer important narrative and strategic nuance.

---

You play Fujibayashi Naoe, a ninja, and Yasuke, based on the historical samurai of African origin. Initially at odds with each other, they must work together to overcome the odds and atone for their past mistakes. Play involves switching between them to explore the verdant world and complete different missions, usually by infiltrating bases and assassinating key targets.

Naoe is able to sneak through the shadows and silently traverse rooftops to kill without anyone catching on, while Yasuke is much larger and slower but more powerful, relying on his strength to defeat hordes of opponents. Which character you choose to play as at any given time (save for specific story beats) is entirely up to you, giving you the freedom to approach each mission as a silent assassin (like the older games) or a great warrior (like the newer ones). In addition to combat, you explore the seasonal world, completing side missions and finding hidden collectables, and can even create and decorate your own hideout.

The result is a game that enables you to choose how to approach each challenge, be it by sneaking through the darkness and gliding nimbly over roofs or by charging headfirst into battle. Combined with an open world that changes with each season and an engaging story, it's a deeply enjoyable and immersive experience.

---

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Assassin's Creed Shadows 3 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 2 weeks ago.