Ghost of Yotei vs Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Which Game Is Better?
Since the Assassin’s Creed series premiered in 2007, fans have been dying to see an entry set in Japan. It would have made sense, since the franchise is all about stealth. What better stealthy warriors could a game focus on than the ninjas of Japan? At long last, Assassin’s Creed Shadows arrived in the early months of 2025, featuring a giant open world to explore and both ninja and samurai characters to play as.
Ghost of Yotei, the recent sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, is very similar, right down to a female protagonist chasing after masked samurai who wronged them. Coincidence? Surely, as the story has been told before, but it is interesting. Let’s see which game does what better.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: A Bigger Open World
Yours To Explore At Your Own Risk
The size of both maps is comparable to other recent open-world games, with each offering plenty to do. However, there are gates in Ghost of Yotei that players cannot enter based on quest progression. There’s very little of that in Assassin’s Creed Shadows — with a small caveat. There are level gates that will prevent players from doing too many combat-related quests as avenues will be too strong, but if players are up for the challenge, they can do them or just ride around and explore in a more freeing way.
Ghost of Yotei: The Fast Loads
And Quick Fast Travel
The PS5 still manages to impress with its load times, five years in, with Ghost of Yotei having virtually no load times whatsoever. Players can save in a snap and fast-travel like the wind. It’s an impressive feat.
On top of that, Ghost of Yotei has more fast travel locations to visit than Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which is more limiting. Between the fast loads and better fast travel options, Ghost of Yotei encourages players to explore more easily, and it is one of the best fast travel systems in an open-world game so far.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: The Stealth Gameplay
Move In The Shadows
Naoe is the stealthy playable character in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Yasuke can sneak around, but his hulking body prevents him from being too agile. In Ghost of Yotei, Atsu does a decent job at sneaking around tall grass and killing opponents in, but between the two, Naoe is the more gifted assassin.
After all, it would be weird if a character weren’t a skilled assassin in an Assassin’s Creed game. With her ability to move bodies, distract enemies, and all-around agility, Naoe is one tough ninja to beat.
Ghost of Yotei: The Story
Go Back In Time
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is split between Naoe, a ninja who lost everything to an evil clan, and Yasuke, a noble samurai from a distant land. Both are seeking revenge in a way. Naoe’s tale and Atsu’s story in Ghost of Yotei are eerily similar, right down to their evil clans having masked killers.
Similarities aside, while Naoe and Yasuke will grow on players, Atsu’s narrative has more heart. Players can experience her backstory through flashbacks, thus deepening their bond with Atsu. Overall, Ghost of Yotei also has better acting.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: The Progression
A Classic Leveling Up System
The progression system is much better in Ghost of Yotei compared to Ghost of Tsushima, as players can upgrade Atsu’s skills and stats in several ways. However, it’s not a true RPG like Assassin’s Creed Shadows is, since Naoe and Yasuke will earn EXP and level up. For those looking for a full samurai RPG, this is the one to get. That sense of progression is so much more rewarding, albeit a bit grind-heavy toward the latter half.
Ghost of Yotei: The Graphics
A Truly Remarkable PS5 Game
Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks great, and the environments are nicely varied, but Ghost of Yotei is without a doubt the better-looking game. Even though Ghost of Tsushima is a 2020 PS4 game, the PS5 version of that even looks better than Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
This is not a knock against the latter, as Ubisoft’s team did a good job. But Sucker Punch, as a developer, is playing on a whole other playing field. From their water tech to their wind tech to their facial expressions, Ghost of Yotei is a blockbuster title for the PS5 through and through.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: The Weapon System
Two Heroes With Diverse Weapon Sets
Atsu in Ghost of Yotei can wield more weapons than Jin from Ghost of Tsushima, but she cannot use more than Naoe and Yasuke combined in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. There are comparable weapons; for example, Atsu and Naoe can both use a sickle and chain combo. Shadows has more unique weapons though, like Naoe’s daggers for faster combat and a big club that Yasuke can use to decimate his opponents. Both games have great weapon systems, but the added loot aspect and attached skills make the weapons more unique in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
The Verdict
Assassin's Creed Shadows Sneaks Into The Lead
Ghost of Yotei is the better-looking game for players who care about showing what the PS5 is capable of. The story is also more moving and diverse. That said, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has more to offer players in several fields. The world may look less polished, but it’s more open, there are more weapons, there are two characters with unique gameplay tricks, and it’s a proper RPG.
Overall, what Assassin’s Creed Shadows truly has over Ghost of Yotei is ambition. Not everything hit its mark, but Ubisoft shot for more compared to Sucker Punch, who merely improved on what came before.
