Assassin’s Creed Shadows vs Assassin’s Creed Origin: Which Is Better?

After playing both Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Assassin’s Creed Origins. Here is the verdict on which one is better.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes slightly more than seven years after the release of AC Origins. The latter was released in October 2017, while Shadows came out recently in March 2025. Comparing the two games seems like a far stretch, considering the distance between their release dates. However, it is only inevitable that a new addition to the franchise gets compared to its previous games.

Since the release dates of both games are pretty far apart, we will use the following criteria to make the comparison fair: Graphics and Environment, Stealth and Combat, and Story and Narration.

NOTE: This article contains the writer’s opinions and does not reflect the objective truth.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows vs Assassin’s Creed Origins

Graphics and Environment

When you look at the calendar, AC Origins was released slightly more than seven years ago. However, the graphical advancement back then was not bad. Hence, players who played through Assassin’s Creed Origins will know that the game looked beautiful back then and still holds up visually. The sand dunes and seldom lush green lands of Ancient Egypt make for a unique setting in the franchise.

In fact, it was the first Assassin’s Creed after Black Flag to have a lot of settlements spread across the map. The only thing Origins lacked was that it didn’t have much going on in the desert areas.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t have this problem. The wildlife is always bustling about and reacts to the ever-changing environment, something that doesn’t exist in Assassin’s Creed Origins. On top of it all, the franchise has graphically come a long way since Origins, and the latest installment in the series looks stunning. Undoubtedly, things have only improved in this regard.

So, I think Assassin’s Creed Shadows wins this vote.

Stealth and Combat

After Assassin’s Creed Syndicate in 2015, the next big AC project was Origins. As one would expect, the developers changed a lot about the game. One of the newer aspects they introduced was an RPG feel to the game. However, they also introduced a new stealth and combat system. Now, the primary focus seemed to have shifted from stealth to combat. Despite the effort, the combat didn’t feel as impactful because of its inspiration from other RPG games.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows, on the other hand, has a more detailed stealth. The AI picks up on lighting, and the environment affects the enemy’s sight. Moreover, players can also go “prone” to avoid detection in lower levels of grass. To make things a bit more challenging, buildings have anti-shinobi traps.

Lastly, the combat system in the new game has evolved significantly since Origins. The game has a parry system combined with certain abilities at hand that can help you get rid of enemies faster. Additionally, varied enemies help keep things fresh.

I think Assassin’s Creed Shadows wins yet again.

Story and Narration

Assassin’s Creed Origins had one of the best plots in the entire series, in my opinion. The story was deeply personal and pretty mature compared to other installments in the franchise. Bayek of Siwa, the last Medjay, takes his duty of serving the people into his own hands when he realizes the regime he used to serve is deeply corrupt.

He avenges the death of his son by hunting the Order of the Ancients and crumbling their structure. The narration was pretty open-ended. Players were mostly free to choose which path to take first. However, it all unfolded dramatically to everyone’s liking.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows also brings a story of struggle to the table. However, it doesn’t feel as personal this time around. While Naoe and Yasuke both have their combined and individual troubles, I found it harder to connect with them. Overall, the plot wasn’t bad, and the narration was also fine. But it just couldn’t live up to the same suspense that Origins had built.

In this regard, Assassin’s Creed Origins takes the win.

In conclusion, Assassin’s Creed Shadows wins this battle. However, we still wouldn’t call it a “better” game because both games were released many years apart. If you are somebody who liked the stealth aspect of the series more or at least the same as combat, you will enjoy Shadows more. Since the game is new, it is also graphically and visually more pleasing than its older predecessor.

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We provide the latest news and create guides for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Meanwhile, you can check out the following AC Shadows articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows: PS5 and Xbox Performance and Quality Modes Explained
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• How To Get Assassin’s Creed Shadows Slash of Sprecher for Free
• Who Are the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Protagonists? Everything We Know About Yasuke and Naoe
• Can You Play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Steam Deck
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Release Time Countdown for All Regions