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Ubisoft’s action-adventure series Assassin’s Creed is one of the longest-running and most successful video game franchises of all time.
Since 2007, the story of a guild of assassins fighting its way through the ages into the future, saving the world along the way, has now spawned 14 main games, several spin-offs for PC and consoles, and even a Hollywood blockbuster.
The successful formula has always been the same: exciting stealth adventures set against a detailed historical backdrop.
In the latest instalment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, fans can even play as two assassins rather than just one.


Part of the series’ appeal lies in its mix of science fiction, mythology and historical events. The backstory tells of a centuries-old community called the Assassins who delve into the consciousness of their ancestors using a machine called the Animus.
The series presents a unique history lesson that has garnered a loyal fan base. After games set in ancient times and the Middle Ages, Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes us to feudal Japan.
At the end of the 16th century, the country is divided and several rulers are fighting for supremacy.
At the centre of it all are African samurai Yasuke and female ninja Naoe. Together, they face a mysterious community pulling the strings in the eponymous shadows.
Ubisoft stages this adventure as a vibrant open-world spectacle. A vast adventure playground awaits players, whether they explore the world on foot, climb fortress walls or survey valleys from mountaintops.
It is visually impressive, but where do you begin without getting lost in the detailed landscape? The question becomes all the more pressing as more quests appear for our two adventurers. The answer, however, is simple and offers many possibilities.
Yasuke and Naoe can either follow their own story or embark on a hunt for the mysterious villains. They often encounter people who need their help against bandits, or they explore dark caves where treasures are hidden. If the two act too conspicuously, they will be pursued by the military or greedy bounty hunters.

Most of the missions take the two into well-guarded fortresses. Thanks to their sixth sense, “Eagle Vision”, they observe enemy movement patterns or scout out important targets. Every bush becomes a hiding place, and with a bit of parkour acrobatics, they can quickly escape their opponents over the rooftops.
Sometimes they have to storm a fortress together with other resistance fighters. At the end, a particularly nasty enemy awaits. It is exciting and nerve-racking, but is also often repetitive.
Players can switch between Yasuke and Naoe at any time. While the samurai is a kind of one-man army who effortlessly cuts through hordes of enemies with his sword, Naoe operates using stealth and agility.
She is the typical assassin, distracting her enemies or luring them into a trap. This makes her playstyle more elegant and tactical, but also trickier to master.
To get from one place to another quickly, vantage points can be found throughout the game world. They are often located on mountain peaks or in well-guarded fortresses. Once reached, they unlock new areas and allow travel at the touch of a button.
Each mission brings experience points and new abilities. Naoe learns to leap gracefully over enemies, Yasuke lunges forward with a sword attack, or his shots with a flintlock rifle become more accurate. New weapons and armour provide more punch and durability.
With the resources they have captured, the two also build a small base where they can improve their equipment or hire helpers such as spies. Often, the two only receive vague clues about their goal during their missions. The difficulty level can be reduced so that the game can guide you if necessary.
To explore every corner, fans should expect to put in around 80 hours of gameplay.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a vibrant, at times sprawling, open-world spectacle. The play styles of the two main characters ensure variety and different challenges.
Ubisoft ticks the boxes that make the series successful: countless exciting missions and a vast game world. It is certainly not meant for casual play, but is rather a visually opulent adventure in which players can lose themselves for hours.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available from March 20 for Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X and costs around €80 (US$80). The age rating is 18 years.


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Assassin’s Creed Shadows review: vibrant open-world spectacle with 2 different playstyles

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available from March 20 for Windows, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X and costs around €80 (US$80). The age rating is 18 years. Photo: AFP

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Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, set in 16th century Japan and focusing on real-life black samurai Yasuke, is the latest entry in the hugely popular historical science fiction video game series. Photo: Ubisoft

Visitors stand at the ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ video game booth at the Gamescom video games trade fair in Cologne, Germany in August 2024. Photo: AFP

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Released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows, the new game in Ubisoft’s long-running series has two main characters that ensure variety


Released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows, the new game in Ubisoft’s long-running series has two main characters that ensure variety.


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Review | Assassin’s Creed Shadows review: vibrant open-world spectacle with 2 different playstyles

Released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows, the new game in Ubisoft’s long-running series has two main characters that ensure variety