The video game industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Experts project it to reach a global revenue of over $700 billion annually by 2030. While gaming innovation can come from everywhere, AAA studios Sucker Punch and Ubisoft are at the forefront of game development. That is how we got the Ghost of Yotei vs AC: Shadows battle of 2025.

Ubisoft is better established as a video game developer globally, thanks to the Assassin’s Creed and Tom Clancy series. But, Sucker Punch is catching up. Sucker Punch announced itself as a top-rate AAA gaming studio in 2020, with the player favorite, Ghost of Tsushima.

Both Sucker Punch and Ubisoft released samurai and ninja-inspired video games in 2025. Ubisoft dropped Assassin’s Creed: Shadows in early 2025, while Sucker Punch followed with Ghost of Yotei in the fall. This review can help you compare Ghost of Yotei vs AC: Shadows and choose the best game for you.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows

Assassin’s Creed has been one of the most well-known game franchises in the world for nearly two decades. So, it was only logical that AC: Shadows was among the most anticipated releases of 2025. Despite the troves of criticism and scandals that Ubisoft has faced in recent years, much of it deserved, AC: Shadows was in the top 5 drops of the year.

This game, set in 16-th century Japan features two main characters— Naoe, the ninja, and Yasuke, the samurai. The game developers faced criticism over the choice to feature Yasuke, a character inspired by a real-life African samurai. Even so, the story of revenge and redemption is compelling, regardless of whether you’re playing as a ninja or a samurai.

Gameplay

The gameplay is the most essential part of any video game, though some online debates would have you believe otherwise. We found the AC: Shadows gameplay to be immersive, thanks to the different weapons and fighting styles available for Naoe and Yasuke.

As Naoe, the ninja, you get the more authentic Assassin’s Creed experience. You get to scale buildings, jump into hays, and lurk in the shadows unnoticed. You can use the grappling hook to pull yourself out of sight. You can also manipulate the sources of light to stay hidden. Naoe’s strikes deal less damage than Yasuke’s. However, if you perform them correctly on targets with appropriate power levels, you can kill in one strike.

On the other hand, Yasuke has a samurai build with heavy armor that makes it difficult to run and climb. Yasuke’s strength is in his face-to-face combat, which allows you to slash through enemies and deflect heavy hits. You don’t get the full Assassin experience with Yasuke, since he isn’t as mobile. That being said, the quality of the combat makes up for it.

Weapons

Naoe, as the ninja, has to move quickly, which is why she carries fewer weapons than Yasuke. The main weapons you can use as Naoe are the katana, the kasurigama, the tanto dagger, and the hidden blade. While we loyal fans of the hidden blade, the Death Whisperer kasurigama is a favorite of ours.

Comparatively, Yasuke has one more weapon, all of them designed with direct combat in mind. As Yasuke, you can play with the long katana, the naginata, the kanabo, the yumi bow, and the teppo rifle. Our favorite was the Monk’s Amendment long katana, an epic-grade weapon.

Pros

• Two protagonists: The story feels more engaging and well-developed because you enjoy it from two POVs.
• Ninja and samurai experience: Set in Feudal Japan, AC: Shadows gives you both the ninja and the samurai fighting experience.
• Top-rate graphics: From the rustling leaves to the freezing water, the graphics do not have a single miss.
• Stealth mechanics: It’s quite a feat for AC: Shadows to top its predecessors with the stealth mechanics, but the ninja movements manage it
• Massive open world: AC: Shadows is among the top 5 largest AC maps, with 9 regions divided by suggested player levels

Cons

• Protagonists are meant for specific missions: Trying to complete a mission meant for Yasuke with Naoe is nearly impossible and vice versa
• Lack of parkour opportunities: Although the parkour mechanics are fantastic, because of the setting, you don’t get to run and jump over many buildings

Numbers

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has sold a little over 4.3 million copies across all gaming platforms in seven months. The number for PS5 players specifically is around 2.4 million. That said, the number of copies sold doesn’t account for the total number of players, due to subscription services. Per Ubisoft’s numbers, AC: Shadows amassed over 5 million players during that time.

Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Yotei is the successor to the legendary Ghost of Tsushima, the game that truly put Sucker Punch Studios on the map. Ghost of Tsushima lost out on the prestigious GOTY award only because it was competing against TLOU2. Many players actually consider it to be moral winner of 2020’s awards. So, with that said, the pressure and expectations for the standalone sequel were sky-high.

At the time of writing, Ghost of Yotei has been out for three weeks, and it has already lived up to expectations. It is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Ghost franchise— a samurai fantasy that is equally touching and bloody. Although there were some complaints among gamers about the protagonist being a woman, the game’s success is undeniable.

Gameplay

Ghost of Yotei once against delivers on that quintessential samurai-style gameplay that we came to love with its predecessor. The movements, whether you draw the katana or challenge and enemy to a duel, are fluid and realistic. However, this realism doesn’t come at the cost of the immersive animation. In fact, the game devs have managed to create an amalgamation of real-world combat and artistic details.

First and foremost, the Sucker Punch devs opted to change the setting of this story, making it much fresher. Ezo, or as you may know it today, Hokkaido, is home to Mount Yotei, one of the most picturesque and striking vistas in the world. Not only are the in-game views breathtaking, but they also make the world feel more lived-in and familiar.

The simplest way to describe Atsu as a protagonist, is fascinating. Although a samurai-inspired story, Ghost of Yotei doesn’t concern itself with honor and duty as much as it does revenge and justice. Atsu is hell-bent on avenging the deaths of her family, making her much more brutal than her predecessor. The combat reflects that, with Atsu mastering weaponry quickly and striking fear in the hearts of enemies.

Weapons

Atsu has her choice of melee, throwable, quickfire, and ranged weapons that you unlock as you progress in the story. While we all have preferences, the dual katana being our favorite, Ghost of Yotei requires you to use all weapons. Certain enemies and missions need a finer touch, with ranged and throwable weapons, while others require melee mastery.

Here are the weapons categories:

Melee weapons

• Wolf blade
• Dual katana
• Yari
• Kasurigama
• Odachi

Throwable weapons

• Scorch bomb
• Blind bomb

Ranged weapons

• Hankyu
• Yumi
• Tanegashima

Quickfire weapons

• Kunai
• Metsubushi
• Oni’s Flame
• Smoke bomb
• Tanzutsu

Pros

• Immersive animation: The animation makes you feel like you’re the one seeking revenge in Edo-era Japan
• Realistic combat: Every single movement, from the stiff face-off stance to the death blows looks realistic
• Compelling storyline: A story of revenge, justice, and personal growth is as compelling as it gets, when you combine it with the setting
• Multiple replay options: You can go back and finish unfinished quests, search for shrines, and try to get that Platinum trophy
• Upcoming free multiplayer mode: 2026 will bring two-player stories and four-player survival mode as a free DLC

Cons

• Only available on PS5: Like its predecessor, Ghost of Yotei is available solely on PS5 so far
• Lack of New Game+: NG+ is a fantastic way for you to experience the game again, and GoY lacks it

Numbers

In the first three days following its release, Ghost of Yotei sold 1.6 million copies. This is a bit lower than Ghost of Tsushima, which sold 2 million copies, but still fantastic. In three weeks, Ghost of Yotei has amassed over 2.5 million copies sold, which is impressive by any measure.

Summary

Ghost of Yotei vs AC: Shadows is the battle that has intrigued video game lovers in 2025. While Assassin’s Creed: Shadows received a lot of preemptive criticism, it still impressed with an 81 score on Metacritic. Its 2.4 million copies sold on PS5 and 5+ million players are fantastic numbers for any game. Ubisoft has had its rightful criticism, but it did deliver with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

On the other hand, for Ghost of Yotei failure was not an option, given how beloved its predecessor is. And fail it did not. It sold 2.4 million copies on PS5 in just three weeks, receiving an impressive 86 score on Metacritic. Sucker Punch was under a lot of pressure to deliver a worthy successor to Ghost of Tsushima, and it succeeded.

Ultimately, which samurai-inspired game set in Japan you choose is up to your preferences. There are pros and cons to both, and we found them equally enjoyable, though in different ways.

FAQ

What are the Ghost of Yotei vs AC: Shadows ratings?

Ghost of Yotei has an 86/100 critics rating and an 8.2/10 player rating on Metacritic. Comparatively, AC: Shadows has an 81/100 crticis rating and a 6.2/10 player rating on the same platform.

Can you fight with katana blades in Ghost of Yotei and AC: Shadows?

Absolutely! Both Ghost of Yotei and AC: Shadows include katana weaponry, as these blades are a staple of Japanese combat during that era.

What are the Ghost of Yotei and AC: Shadows prices?

The Ghost of Yotei standard game costs $69.99, with $89.99 for the Deluxe version, and $219.99 for the Collector’s edition. On the other hand, the AC: Shadows standard game costs $69.99, while the Digital Deluxe version costs $89.99. Fianlly, the Premium edition costs $109.99.