"Explore Assassin’s Creed Shadows Open World: When?"

Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers an expansive open world set in Feudal Japan, but players must first navigate through a prologue before they can freely explore this vast environment. Here's when you can start exploring the open world in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

How Long is the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Prologue? Answered

Ubisoft has a history of introducing players to their expansive open worlds, but often with lengthy prologues. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, however, the wait isn't as long as in some previous titles.

The game begins with a prologue that sets the stage and introduces the dual-protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, as a Samurai and Shinobi, respectively. This section also acquaints players with Iga, Naoe’s homeland, and initiates her journey beyond this region. Filled with both epic set pieces and expository dialogue, the prologue takes approximately an hour and a half to complete.

Once you complete the "From Spark to Flame" quest and establish your Kakurega (Hideout) at Tomiko’s Homestead, you'll gain the freedom to explore the open world.

Can You Go Anywhere in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Right Away? Answered

While the game's narrative might lock Naoe and Yasuke into specific locations for certain story beats and quests, you can venture into other provinces. However, there are two key considerations that might deter you from doing so immediately.

The first is the availability of quests and activities; these unlock progressively through the story, potentially limiting the value of early exploration. Additionally, Assassin’s Creed Shadows incorporates RPG elements, meaning players must reach a certain level to effectively engage in combat in different regions. You can check these level requirements on the map, where regions marked with a number in a red diamond indicate that you're significantly underleveled for that area. Attempting to explore these regions too early can result in a challenging, if not frustrating, experience due to the high difficulty and potential for instant kills by enemies.

In summary, while you can technically visit higher-level regions prematurely, it's generally not recommended as it may lead to a less enjoyable gameplay experience.