Summary
- Assassin's Creed Shadows received positive reviews from some Japanese critics.
- The game's dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, were mostly well-received by reviewers.
- Assassin's Creed Shadows has a OpenCritic score of 81.
Many Japanese critics are reportedly enjoying the recently released Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Ubisoft Quebec’s stunning reconstruction of Feudal Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows has impressed reviewers, despite the game’s highly controversial launch.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows was finally released on March 20 after several delays and one of the most controversial developments in the franchise’s 18-year history. Many fans eagerly awaited an opportunity to explore feudal Japan, but the developer’s choice of dual protagonists sparked heated debate. While stealthy Japanese shinobi Naoe was widely anticipated as a welcome return to the series’ roots after the action-adventure combat of Odyssey and Valhalla, the hack-n-slash fighter Yasuke proved far more contentious. Even though supporters pointed out that the black sword-wielding warrior was a historical figure documented to be in Japan during the Sengoku period, critics were quick to question his actual status and in-game depiction as a samurai, with the debate even drawing the attention of Elon Musk.
How Assassin's Creed Shadows Explores the Honor of a Samurai
Through its contrasting dual protagonists and emotionally charged narrative, Assassin's Creed Shadows does a thorough examination of samurai honor.
Polygon has compounded reviews from top Japanese outlets including Dengeki, Game Watch, Gamer, and 4Gamer, and found that the finely crafted, immersive rendition of Feudal Japan has struck a chord with gamers on both sides of the Pacific. Critics have now had their hands on Assassin’s Creed Shadows for a week, and reviews are mostly positive. Assassin’s Creed Shadows currently enjoys a healthy OpenCritic score of 81, placing it just two points below Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and three behind Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Contrary to the skeptic’s argument that players would prefer a purely Japanese player character and story, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems to be enjoying similarly positive praise from Japan.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Praised by Japanese Critics
Accentuated by the game’s impressive seasonal weather effects, the verdant mountainous scenery and bustling cities proved a remarkably accurate highlight, with one 4Gamer reviewer even calling the scenery “nostalgic” of his childhood. Equally praised were the game’s protagonists, with one review claiming “Naoe embodies the spirit of an Assassin’s Creed protagonist” with a deeper, more relatable connection to the game’s story. Slightly more criticism was aimed at Yasuke’s exaggerated characterization as a “perfect samurai” without any real faults. However, all outlets acknowledged his presence as a historical figure and even referred to him as a samurai. This acknowledgment echoes the earlier sentiment of Bayonetta and Okami creator Hideki Kamiya that the controversy surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows was overblown by a loud but vocal minority of players and not an opinion shared by the majority of gamers.
While Ubisoft Quebec may have gained the critics’ favor, the developer has also worked hard behind the scenes to appease the concerns of the Japanese Government. After a recent gameplay clip surfaced showing a player defacing an in-game replica of the Itatehyozu Shinto Shrine, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a statement to deter any potential real-world vandals inspired by the game. Ubisoft Quebec has since issued a patch to make certain unique objects found in shrines and temples indestructible.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- March 20, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.
• Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
• Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
• Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
• Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
- Engine
- AnvilNext
- Franchise
- Assassin's Creed
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- March 20, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
