Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Assassin's Creed Shadows

Well, after multiple delays and plenty of chatter about Ubisoft's future along the way, Assassin's Creed Shadows finally hits Xbox later this week - which means reviews are now starting to circulate online ahead of release.

Here at Pure Xbox, we only got time to put together a hands-on for this one - and if you want to check that out, we'll link to it down below. Underneath our initial thoughts are some quick summaries of the biggest AC Shadows reviews from across the web.

GamingTrend (10/10)

"Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents an excellent amalgamation of not only the new generation of Creed titles that started with Origins, but also plucking some of the best elements of those that came before. It’s a graphical powerhouse, combined with compelling characters, a meaningful and impactful story that takes risks, and refined gameplay mechanics. This is the new benchmark for the series, and it’s a high bar indeed."

GameSpew (9/10)

"Is Assassin's Creed Shadows the best Assassin's Creed game yet? Some might feel that way, for sure. It's certainly up there with the best the series has to offer, alongside the likes of Assassin's Creed 2 and Origins. In any case, most will be happy to hear that it successfully marries the extended freedom and scope of newer titles in the series with the stealth-focused gameplay of old, especially when playing as Naoe. And so, whether you're a fan of the series or simply like the idea of exploring feudal Japan, eradicating wrongdoers as either a samurai or a ninja, consider Assassin's Creed Shadows a must-play."

TechRadar Gaming (9/10)

"Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a massive success and a winning combination of stealth and steel. It’s a fantastic entry in the open-world RPG line of games in the stealth series and the most refined version of that style yet, with satisfying and rewarding exploration, brilliant combat, and a dual protagonist system that really works. Even a few minor quibbles can’t hold it back."

Push Square (8/10)

"While Assassin's Creed Shadows is unlikely to win over those who struggled to push through Odyssey or Valhalla, this is still one of the strongest overall entries in the series — and arguably the best of the open world RPG bunch. The storytelling is largely fantastic, the main characters are deeply likeable, and the open world itself is a thing of beauty."

IGN (8/10)

"Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a flashing blade to the series’ established norms, trimming them to a more precise form in lieu of chopping them down outright. This isn’t the Assassin’s Creed that will change the minds of folks that never connected with the series before, but for those of us with lots of hours logged in the Animus, the sum of Shadows’ parts provide a refreshing realignment of the series that you should not skip."

VGC (4/5)

"Assassin's Creed Shadows finally takes the main series to Japan, and does so in some style. With excellent gameplay, a compelling narrative and a massive, beautiful world to explore, it is so much better than many expected it to be. Even if it's not the game that saves Ubisoft, it did exactly what it needed to, bringing confidence back to one of modern gaming's biggest and most troubled franchises."

Press Start (7.5/10)

"With its mammoth Japan heaving with to-do lists to check off, Assassin’s Creed Shadows opts for the safety of familiarity rather than taking any real swings for the franchise’s belated sojourn in the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. What remains is a fine Assassin’s Creed title that, save for a few clever tweaks, fits snuggly in its template."

PlayStation Lifestyle (7/10)

"There’s certainly room for improvement when it comes to its presentation and performance, but it’s hard to deny that Assassin’s Creed Shadows does so much so well. From its wonderfully realized world to its wealth of engaging quests and distractions, there’s plenty to enjoy here, regardless of whether you’ve fallen off the franchise in recent years."

At the time of posting this out, Assassin's Creed Shadows has a very respectable Metacritic score of 82, although that could change slightly as more reviews continue to come in. If you're eager to go hands on for yourself, Ubisoft's latest AC title hits Xbox Series X|S on March 20.

Are these reviews convincing you to try out AC Shadows? Talk to us about this one down below.