Assassin’s Creed Shadows NS2 Review … Feudal brutal portable
Summary: Assassin's Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 delivers the same strong core experience seen on other platforms enhanced with portable features and touchscreen support!
4.25
Feudal brutal portable
Assassin’s Creed Shadows was originally released on March 20 2025 for PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X|S and PC and now Ubisoft brings the adventure of Naoe and Yasuke to Nintendo’s newest hardware with the Switch 2 launch on December 2 2025. This release has been carefully optimised to preserve the richness of the original experience while embracing the freedom of playing anywhere so if you are wondering whether it succeeds read on.
For the uninitiated Assassin’s Creed Shadows features dual protagonists. Naoe the Shinobi embodies the series’ stealth roots with nimble parkour and hidden blade assassinations while Yasuke the Samurai delivers powerful combat and cinematic brutality which creates a clever blend. A cinematic prologue introduces both styles before players gain the freedom to switch between them depending on mission requirements so whether you prefer careful infiltration or direct confrontation the game accommodates both approaches seamlessly.
Stealth gameplay has been expanded with new mechanics such as going prone hiding in tall grass and manipulating light sources. Choosing to infiltrate areas by day or night changes the challenge and the scaled down but detailed world map encourages exploration. Touchscreen navigation on Switch 2 makes managing maps and menus intuitive while offline play after download ensures portability, so exploration feels organic rather than waypoint driven and the inclusion of scouts to mark objectives adds a layer of strategy to discovery. The map has been scaled down compared to Valhalla which makes exploration feel more focused and less overwhelming.
Yasuke’s combat is heavy and impactful though less refined when facing multiple enemies while Naoe’s stealth and parkour provide fluid traversal across rooftops and towns. Most of the game can be experienced with either protagonist and both are well written and performed with strong voice acting that helps bring feudal Japan to life.
The Switch 2 version includes all free post release content including the Attack on Titan collaboration mission available until December 22. Ubisoft has confirmed that the major story expansion Claws of Awaji released on other platforms on September 16 2025 with more than 10 hours of content is scheduled for Switch 2 in early 2026. Cross progression via Ubisoft Connect allows progress to carry across platforms and in game purchases are unified so items purchased on Switch 2 are shared with linked accounts.
Performance targets 30fps in handheld and docked modes and dynamic resolution scaling is used to maintain that target across both play styles. The physical game key card option ensures accessibility for players who prefer a boxed edition and the visual presentation scales impressively for the hardware so when matched with the soundtrack and voice acting it creates a blockbuster experience on the go.
Final thoughts?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 delivers the same strong core experience seen on other platforms enhanced with portable features and touchscreen support. The dual protagonists provide variety the stealth systems feel more refined than in recent entries and the realization of feudal Japan is detailed and atmospheric so this port earns its place in the Switch 2 library. For players who have waited to experience the game on Nintendo hardware this version offers a faithful adaptation that makes the most of the console’s strengths while keeping the heart of Assassin’s Creed intact. Ubisoft have succeeded in bringing Shadows to the Switch and in doing so they have shown that even a sprawling open world adventure can feel at home on a portable system which makes this release not just a solid port but a promising sign for the future of the franchise on Nintendo platforms.
About the Author
Adrian Gunning Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.
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