Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the 14th main installment in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series and will be released on March 20, 2025, on various platforms, and it is Steamdeck Verified. It features an open world with stunning landscapes as well as bustling cities and ports, and was kindly provided to us by Ubisoft for review.

Players can choose between two main characters: Yasuke, an African samurai who was a protégé of Oda Nobunaga, and Naoe, a kunoichi (female ninja) whose village fell victim to Oda Nobunaga’s campaign against Iga Province (1579-1581).

About Assassin’s Creed

The Assassin’s Creed series was launched by Ubisoft in 2007 and has since become one of the most successful and long-running game franchises in the industry. Originally conceived as a spiritual successor to Prince of Persia, the series combines action-adventure gameplay with open worlds and a deep historical narrative. The first installment transported players to the Holy Land during the time of the Crusades and introduced the assassin Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad. Many of the core elements were already established here: parkour, stealth gameplay, and the eternal conflict between the Assassins and the Templars.

With Assassin’s Creed II (2009), the series evolved significantly, introducing the charismatic Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The game’s Renaissance Italian setting, improved combat system, and deeper character development made it a landmark. Ubisoft built on this success, releasing numerous sequels with changing historical settings, including the Ottoman Empire, colonial America, the French Revolution, and Ancient Egypt.

More freedom of action

Since Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017), the series has evolved more toward an open-world RPG, with a more complex combat system, more extensive role-playing elements, and larger, immersive worlds. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020) followed this trend, expanding the franchise with new mechanics such as free choice in dialogue and large-scale battles.

With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft continues the trend, setting the story for the first time in Japan during the time of the samurai and ninja. The series thus remains true to its core concept: captivating historical adventures with a blend of reality and fiction, while constantly evolving gameplay mechanics.

Gameplay

In the game, you follow the story of the samurai Yasuke and the kunoichi Naoe, whose characters you can control alternately. Both differ in their gameplay.

Fujibayashi Naoe is a Japanese shinobi characterized by her agility and silent attacks. Players can have Naoe sneak through shadows, hide in tall grass, and take down enemies with traditional ninja weapons.

Yasuke is an African samurai who demonstrates his strength and skill in open combat. Players who prefer direct confrontation can use powerful sword techniques with Yasuke.

The game is a dynamic world that changes with the changing seasons. These changes affect not only the aesthetics but also the gameplay. In winter, rivers can freeze over, opening up new paths. In spring, dense foliage offers additional hiding places.

A new feature is the base-building system, which allows players to build their own shinobi community. By training allies, players can expand their base of operations and craft custom gear.

Missions in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are non-linear, allowing players to achieve their objectives in a variety of ways. Whether through skillful stealth or open combat, the freedom is up to the player. The popular overhead perspective returns, allowing players to explore enemies and objectives from a bird’s-eye view.

Fact and Fiction

Although Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fictional game, it is based on historical events and figures. Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) is considered the first of the three unifiers of Japan and was a brilliant strategist and politician.

There are many stories about Yasuke, the Black Samurai, in which fact and fiction are mixed. What is certain is that he existed and that he came to Japan with Jesuits. It should also be undisputed that he served Nobunaga. Whether he was actually a samurai, however, is hotly debated. In the story chosen by Ubisoft, Yasuke is a powerful samurai.

Fujibayashi Naoe is a fictional character, but her province of Iga was actually attacked and conquered by Nobunaga’s troops in 1581. Iga is also the traditional birthplace of the Iga ninja, who were known for their guerrilla warfare techniques, espionage, and assassinations.

The main characters

Fujibayashi Naoe: Born in Iga Province, the historic home of the ninja, Naoe grew up under the loving and watchful eye of her father, Nagato, who taught her all the secrets of martial arts. Those living in the mountainous region must learn from early childhood how to handle weapons to defend themselves against potential enemies. Although raised to uphold dignity and tradition, Naoe feels a deep resentment toward the daimyo Oda Nobunaga, whom she considers a tyrant invading her homeland.

Yasuke: To prove himself a capable warrior, he practiced martial arts and traveled throughout much of the known world before arriving in the Japanese archipelago accompanied by Jesuit missionaries. When he first met Oda Nobunaga, he was impressed by his physique, the color of his skin, and his knowledge of the Japanese language. He saw in the man, later called Yasuke, a potential ally with great insight into the outside world, took him into his service, and made him one of his samurai. However, certain events would change Yasuke’s fate and reveal his secrets.

Oda Nobunaga: He revolutionized the Japanese approach to war with the strategic use of firearms and his innovative techniques, which brought him numerous victories. He initiated comprehensive economic reforms, strengthened free markets, and reoriented the economy toward manufacturing and trade. A great patron of the arts, Nobunaga declared the tea ceremony an important cultural asset. His personality was characterized by ambition, innovation, and strategic thinking. He was known for ruthlessly eliminating his rivals. His groundbreaking style in both government and warfare left its mark on Japanese history and paved the way for future unification efforts.

What’s it all about?

This section contains possible spoilers!

You start the game with Yasuke’s arrival in Japan with the Jesuits.
At a meeting with Oda Nobunaga, it quickly becomes clear that you don’t like the Jesuits and that they are lucky to have survived the meeting. Yasuke enters Nobunaga’s service, and the next scene takes place about six months in the future, when Nobunaga’s troops attack Iga. Not long after, you can finally shout to attack with Yasuke and break through the enemy lines.

After a cut, the story continues with Naoe. She, too, fights that night, but of course on the side of Iga’s troops. You quickly see the differences between the two fighting styles: rough and direct or nimble and evasive. The battle is victorious for Nobunaga’s troops, while Naoe is sent by her father on a special mission that she cannot complete and almost dies in the process.

After a long period of recovery, the shinobi seeks revenge and travels the land to complete her mission, harming Nobunaga’s hated troops along the way. Of course, she also helps cleanse the land of bandits and dispense all kinds of justice. Until one day, she meets the samurai Yasuke… (Have fun playing and experience it for yourself 😉 ).

Environment

A notable new feature in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fully customizable hideout that deepens the gameplay experience. During your travels, you gather resources needed to construct various buildings, create beautiful gardens, or build walls around the area.

The first major expansion, “The Claws of Awaji,” will be released in 2025. This will take players to the island of Awaji, offering new enemies, weapons, and over ten hours of additional content. Currently, the only confirmed way to obtain this expansion is by pre-ordering one of the game’s editions.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be verified for Steam Deck at launch.

My thoughts

It seems to be fashionable these days to discredit games well in advance.
And Ubisoft’s latest game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, also received a lot of bad reviews in advance.
In short, it doesn’t deserve all this hate in the slightest; on the contrary, it’s a true addition to the franchise and, thanks to its new mechanics, a great game for a variety of approaches.

As with Tenchu ​​Z, one of my favorite games about stealthy ninjas, it’s great fun to simply explore the area, sneak around enemies, take them out from behind, and travel to the next destination with the loot in your pocket. In summary, Assassin’s Creed Shadows combines historical depth with innovative gameplay, making it one of the most exciting titles of spring 2025.

System requirements

Minimum requirements:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 8700k/AMD Ryzen™ 5 3600
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia® GeForce GTX™ 1070 8GB/AMD Radeon™ RX 5700 8GB/Intel® Arc™ A580 8GB (REBAR ON)
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 115 GB available space

Recommended:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 11600k/AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600x
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 3060Ti 8GB/AMD Radeon™ RX 6700 XT 12GB/Intel® Arc™ B580 12GB (REBAR ON)
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 115 GB available space