Assassin’s Creed: Shadows on Switch 2 — Full Review & Verdict

The latest installment in the series, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, has finally landed on Nintendo Switch 2. The port represents both an impressive technical feat and a pragmatic compromise: it brings a vast, modern open-world stealth/action experience to a handheld console, but with inevitable reductions compared to the PS5/Xbox Series X|S versions.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows arrives on the Nintendo Switch 2 as one of the most ambitious third-party ports the system has seen so far. While the console can’t match the graphical power of high-end platforms, the game still manages to deliver a surprisingly complete open-world Assassin’s Creed experience that feels both immersive and well-optimized within the hardware’s limits. The developers clearly focused on stability and responsiveness, aiming for a consistent 30 frames per second, which the game achieves most of the time. Despite the visual downgrades, the world flows smoothly during stealth infiltration, combat encounters, and traversal—making it a solid experience for portable play.

Visually, the Switch 2 version strips away many of the advanced effects found in the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions. Features like ray-traced global illumination, high-end volumetric lighting, and dense environmental detail are scaled back significantly. This results in flatter lighting, simpler shadows, and softer textures—especially noticeable in docked mode on larger screens. Even so, the developers compensate with decent upscaling tech, careful use of anti-aliasing, and efficient rasterized lighting that helps the world maintain a coherent look in motion. In handheld mode, these compromises are far less distracting, as the smaller screen naturally softens the visual differences.

Gameplay remains the biggest strength of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows on Switch 2. The dual-protagonist structure—stealth-focused Naoe and heavy-hitting Yasuke—works as well here as on more powerful systems. Stealth feels engaging and fluid, combat retains its impact, and exploration across villages, castles, and forests is fully preserved. Load times are reasonable, controls are responsive, and accessibility features such as touch-screen map interactions enhance the handheld experience. As a whole, the Switch 2 port successfully delivers the full narrative, mission content, and open-world structure without cutting major gameplay elements.

That said, the compromises are noticeable. Texture resolution is reduced, crowd density is lower, and distant objects can appear blurry or less detailed. In visually busy areas, such as markets or large settlements, the frame rate can dip slightly below the target of 30 fps. Docked mode amplifies these shortcomings—making the game appear considerably softer and more unstable than the handheld presentation. Players accustomed to next-gen fidelity may find these sacrifices distracting, but those playing primarily on the Switch 2 screen will find the presentation much more forgiving.

Ultimately, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 succeeds because it prioritizes playability and completeness over visual spectacle. It isn’t the definitive version of the game, but it is a remarkable feat of optimization that brings a fully modern Assassin’s Creed adventure to a portable system without losing the heart of the experience. For players who value mobility and convenience, it offers an engaging way to experience Shadows on the go. For those prioritizing graphics and performance, a more powerful console remains the better option. The Switch 2 version stands as an impressive and enjoyable hybrid compromise—one that proves large-scale AAA open-world gaming can thrive on Nintendo’s latest hardware.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 is not a “definitive version,” but it might be the most important kind of port: one that brings a modern, ambitious open-world game to a portable console, making it accessible to a wider audience. If you view it as “Assassin’s Creed for on-the-go” rather than a visual showcase, it absolutely delivers.

If you like, I can also compare the Switch 2 version with the PS5/Xbox Series version side-by-side (graphics, performance, features) to help you decide whether to buy