The gaming community is talking with excitement as Assassin’s Creed Shadows makes its debut. With a respectable score of 81 on Metacritic, critics have given it a warm reception, comparable to previous titles like Valhalla. But the real story lies in the genuine feedback from players, who seem to love their experience so far.
According to early reports, user scores across various platforms reflect a much brighter outlook than those from critics:
- PS5 – 4.79/5 stars
- Xbox Series X/S – ~4.5/5 stars
- Steam – 81%, “Very Positive” tier
An interesting point is that Metacritic hasn’t published any user scores since they require ownership of the game before allowing reviews. This step helps eliminate potential review bombing, a challenge many games face today, especially those labeled “woke.” It wouldn’t be surprising if we see lower numbers there eventually.
Looking at how Shadows compares to its predecessor, Valhalla, which settled at 4.11 on PS5 after receiving 67,000 ratings, it’s important to note that we’re only at about 2,000 for Shadows. Early enthusiasm often skews scores higher; players eager enough to purchase at launch typically have a more favorable view of the game initially.
The big question now is how well this title will perform in sales. Ubisoft hopes for another blockbuster akin to Valhalla, but sources suggest they’d also be satisfied with results similar to Odyssey. Given these promising critic and player reactions and the safe return of familiar gameplay elements, it’s likely that shadows are being cast in favor of success here.
This situation feels reminiscent of another recent title, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. While it started strongly with initial reviews, it soon became evident that mixing up formulas can lead to disappointments if not executed well. Thankfully, though, Shadows has none of these hurdles, it brings players back into settings they’ve longed for almost two decades.
