Between tradition and reinvention, Assassin's Creed Shadows takes us to Feudal Japan — and manages to do so in a thoroughly convincing way.
One of the things that surprised me most was the presence of Portuguese characters. They don't show up as a passing reference or a simple historical footnote. They carry real weight in the narrative and help create an interesting connection to the context of the era, adding an extra layer of authenticity I wasn't expecting to find.
Yasuke and Naoe make a duo that works brilliantly. Yasuke is ideal for anyone who prefers a more aggressive approach, focused on direct combat and brute force. Naoe, meanwhile, embodies what many associate with the classic essence of Assassin's Creed: stealth, precision, and planning. The most interesting part is that the game gives you the freedom to switch between both styles without major restrictions, letting you shape the experience around the way you like to play.
The combat is very well executed. Whether in open confrontations or infiltration sequences, everything responds nicely and delivers a sense of control that makes the gameplay more satisfying. There's a clear evolution compared to previous entries.
Visually, the game impresses. Feudal Japan is rendered with great attention to detail and creates a remarkably immersive atmosphere. I played both on the Lenovo Legion Go S in handheld mode and hooked up to a projector and, in both cases, performance was very consistent. I didn't run into any meaningful fluidity problems or frame drops affecting the experience.
Another aspect I appreciated is how the game sparks curiosity about the historical period it portrays. I never had a particular interest in this chapter of Japanese history, yet I caught myself wanting to learn more about the events and figures that inspired the game's universe.
The narrative keeps many of the series' trademark elements, with some memorable moments and well-constructed twists. That said, there are stretches where the way missions are organized makes the pacing less consistent than it could be. It's not a serious problem, but it's a detail you notice over the course of the campaign.
The soundtrack accompanies the experience beautifully and adds to the immersion. As for the voice acting, I played with Brazilian Portuguese voices and was pleasantly surprised. The performances feel natural and manage to convey emotion without ever sounding forced.
Regarding the criticism about historical accuracy, it strikes me as somewhat overblown. Assassin's Creed has never aimed to be a rigorous reproduction of history, but rather a free interpretation inspired by real events and figures. In that context, having Yasuke as a protagonist makes sense and ends up bringing a different perspective to a setting that has already been explored many times in other games.
Overall, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a game that's confident about what it wants to be. It has its flaws, but it shines where it matters most and delivers an engaging experience from start to finish.
out of 10
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Game Assassin's Creed Shadows Released 2025 Available on PC · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X|S · macOS Reviewed on PC |  Cover: IGDB |
| PL | Pedro Lopes Writer · Portugal |
A games writer from Portugal running on a highly irresponsible amount of coffee — his blood type is officially "espresso". He has been a content creator at Lisbon Games Week, a jury member at Over & Out ’25 and an attendee of DevGAMM Lisbon 2025 (mostly for the free coffee). He has a Pac-Man tattoo on his finger, which contractually obliges him to chase ghosts forever.