While Shadows goes for a vast open-world experience, Ishin focuses more on a tighter narrative with deeper characters.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Tsushima have a lot of similarities, but which game is better?

The Anvil engine takes full advantage of current-gen technologies, with incredibly detailed environments and realistic lighting.

Split image of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Tsushima.

It focuses more on cinematic presentation and character detail rather than open-world realism.

Meanwhile, Shadows is more focused on exploration and gameplay rather than storytelling.

While the game has an interesting premise, it doesnt match the depth and character-driven storytelling of Ishin.

Naoe on top of a tree, Naoe performing a double assassination, and a bell, from Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Shadows takes place in 1579 and has a massive, detailed world with dozens of cities.

The world is big, but like recent Assassins Creed games, the activities can feel a bit repetitive.

Theres plenty to do, but a lot of it follows the same formula.

Bloodborne, Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Its not about exploration as much as it is about immersing players in its historical drama.

4Game Design

Shadows follows the same action RPG and exploration formula as recent entries in the series.

While this system certainly has its fans, it can sometimes take away from the core gameplay experience.

Circle image of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Like a Dragon: Ishin.

Ishin is much more focused.

Thankfully, it never feels bloated.

Because of this, Ishin narrowly wins when it comes to overall game design.

Naoe climbs the Nochiseyama Castle Scaffolding in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

3Exploration

Winner: Assassins Creed Shadows

Shadows has much better exploration.

The games world is much, much bigger, giving players a lot to see and do.

There are dozens of towns, cities, temples, and castles to explore.

Image of Okita Soji in Yakuza Ishin.

Ishin, while still detailed, is far more linear and focused.

Hence, Shadows wins in this category.

2Combat

Both games have interesting combat systems, but they still feel very different.

Naoe stands in front of the entrance to a shrine in the snow in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

These games offer plenty to enjoy after Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The variety is great, but the combat leans more into an arcadey feel.

Enemy variety isnt as strong, and a lot of combat encounters can feel very similar.

Like A Dragon Ishin, Ryoma clashing swords with Takechi.

Shadows has much more depth and variety, making it the winner here.

Its visually stunning and packed with things to do.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Naoe looking out to the forests of Japan.

Naoe Assassinating The River Yamabushi in AC Shadows.

Like A Dragon Ishin, Ryoma clashing swords with Izo.

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