Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Playable Without Prior AC Games

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows* is a monumental addition to an expansive franchise, rich with history. Whether you're diving into your first *Assassin’s Creed* game or returning after a hiatus, understanding its place within the series is crucial.

Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows Overlap With Other AC Games? Answered

Image via Xbox Wire. The Assassin’s Creed timeline spans continents and centuries, with each game generally offering a standalone experience, particularly post-Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes you to 16th-century Japan, a setting that's quite distant from the earliest 1500s settings of Brotherhood and Revelations in Italy and Constantinople. Given the significant gap in both geography and time, Shadows does not overlap with these or any other games in the series.

Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows Have a Modern-Day Story? Answered

The Assassin’s Creed series originally included a continuous modern-day storyline throughout the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era, with characters like Desmond Miles, voiced by Nolan North, at the forefront. However, subsequent games have struggled to maintain a compelling modern-day narrative.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a fresh modern-day storyline, aiming to re-engage fans. You won't need prior knowledge of the franchise's modern-day plots to enjoy Shadows. The modern-day elements in Shadows are sparse and shrouded in mystery, adding to the intrigue.

Related: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Trophy List (All 55 Trophies)

Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows Connected to the Series and Does it Matter If You’ve Played It Before?

Naoe receives her Hidden Blade in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Image via Ubisoft. While Shadows isn't a direct sequel, it still nods to the franchise's history with Easter eggs, familiar imagery, and iconography that will thrill seasoned fans without overwhelming newcomers.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows can be fully enjoyed as a standalone experience, yet it includes core elements like the Animus, the Brotherhood, and the Templars. These connections unfold gradually, allowing both new and returning players ample time to immerse themselves in the Feudal Japan setting without needing to delve into the franchise's past.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.