Assassin’s Creed Shadows is already out, and many players have fallen in love with its immersive world set in feudal Japan. Let’s see what other video games provide a similar experience!
For the first time in the series’ history, Assassin’s Creed takes us to feudal Japan, a much-anticipated setting among its longtime fans. Players can explore this fascinating reality from the perspectives of two playable protagonists – the shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke.
Since Ubisoft does an excellent job designing history-inspired fiction, many players seek a matching experience in other titles. Some of these are set in Japan, while others feature comparable stealth mechanics, so we’ve compiled this ultimate list of games similar to Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | YT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Baldur's Gate 3 | 2020-10-06 | RPG | Larian Studios | |
 | The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt | 2015-05-18 | RPG | CD PROJEKT RED | |
 | Middle Earth Shadow Of Mordor | 2014-09-30 | Adventure | Feral Interactive (Linux) | |
 | Horizon Zero Dawn | 2020-08-07 | Adventure | Guerrilla Games | |
 | Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Goty Edition | 2019-03-22 | Adventure | FromSoftware, Inc. | |
 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2019-11-05 | Adventure | Rockstar Games | |
 | Ghost Of Tsushima | 2024-05-16 | RPG | Sucker Punch Productions | |
 | Immortals Fenyx Rising | 2020-12-03 | Action | Ubisoft Québec | |
 | Batman Arkham Knight | 2015-06-23 | Adventure | Rocksteady Studios | |
 | Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain | 2015-09-01 | Adventure | Konami Digital Entertainment | |
 | The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim | 2016-10-27 | Adventure | Bethesda Game Studios | |
 | Dishonored 2 | 2016-11-11 | Action | Arkane Studios | |
 | Far Cry 5 | 2018-03-27 | Action & Shooter | Ubisoft Montreal | |
 | Rise Of The Tomb Raider | 2016-01-28 | Adventure | Crystal Dynamics | |
 | Tomb Raider | 2013-03-05 | Adventure | Feral Interactive (Linux) | |
 | Shadow Of The Tomb Raider | 2018-09-14 | Adventure | SQUARE ENIX |
Ghost of Tsushima | Director's Cut
| Release date: | 2024-05-16 |
| Genres: | RPG |
| Game modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Developer: | Sucker Punch Productions |
Ghost of Tsushima is your best bet if you have a thing for stealth games set in feudal Japan. This title also incorporates historical facts and tells the story of a warrior dealing with challenging odds.
The game takes place during the first Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274, and you play as Jin Sakai, the only man capable of stopping the foreign forces. The gameplay’s core is stealth and elimination of enemies by surprise. Like in AC Shadows, you can travel by horse, plan your combat approach for each opponent, and explore the gorgeous world of feudal Japan. Both games seem similar, but many consider Ghost of Tsushima a better alternative!
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
| Release date: | 2015-09-01 |
| Genres: | Adventure |
| Game modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Developer: | Konami Digital Entertainment |
Play as Punished Snake (aka Big Boss), who wakes up from the coma only to discover it’s time to gather his forces and confront the enormous threat of the secretive XOF group.
Since the entire Metal Gear Solid series focuses on stealth, you may find it similar to AC Shadows. Sure, the setting and overall lore are different – but the combat, stealth elimination, and engaging storyline will appeal to even the most loyal fans of the Ubisoft series.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
| Release date: | 2019-03-22 |
| Genres: | Adventure |
| Game modes | Single-player |
| Developer: | FromSoftware, Inc. |
Play as the one-armed wolf – an impaired warrior using his powerful prosthetic to save a young lord and regain his honor in 16th-century Japan.
Regarding similarities, both games take place in feudal Japan, offer a third-person experience, and focus on delivering an exciting storyline. However, Sekiro does a few things differently – combat revolves around swordplay, the overall gameplay is more action-packed, and its world is smaller than that of Aassasin’s Creed Shadows. Nevertheless, fans of the Ubisoft title may find its fast-paced energy and historical narrative highly satisfying!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
| Release date: | 2015-05-18 |
| Genres: | RPG |
| Game modes | Single-player |
| Developer: | CD PROJEKT RED |
Explore the realm of Slavic legends and monsters as Geralt of Rivia – a witcher and the only person capable of uncovering the most sinister secrets of this reality.
Many players notice that AC Shadows shares striking similarities with fan-favorite The Witcher 3. Sure, CD Projekt Red’s game occurs in a completely different reality. Yet, its heavy focus on intense combat, use of enhanced vision, and intrigue-driven plot make both video games surprisingly comparable.
Nioh 1&2
| Release date: | 2017, 2020 |
| Genres: | Action role-playing, hack and slash |
| Game modes | Single-player |
| Developer: | Team Ninja |
Both games take place in a fictional version of Japan during the Sengoku period, where playable characters deal with endless conflicts for dominance and the threat of a mighty yokai invasion.
Since Nioh and Nioh 2 take place in feudal Japan, offer RPG mechanics, and revolve around melee combat, fans of AC Shadows can find both games great alternatives to Ubisoft’s title. But there are also differences, as Nioh offers a more complex combat, linear map exploration, and a souls-like experience. They are not identical, but that makes Nioh all the more worth checking out!
Conclusion
As you can see, none of our recommendations are identical copies of AC Shadows, and that’s a good thing. Most draw inspiration from the same setting to implement similar mechanics. However, their stories, characters, combat systems, and player’s influence on the plot are one of a kind.
You can appreciate the delightful world of feudal Japan, sneak around, and eliminate enemies by surprise – but each title provides an entirely different experience. Such a variety allows for a creative approach to each playthrough and lets us choose games that best suit our preferences. After all, that’s what we gathered here for in the first place!