This early into the console’s life cycle, the Switch 2 is in that stage where Nintendo wants to flaunt how powerful its new hardware is. The most popular way of doing that is showcasing which modern games can be played on the console. Today, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is joining that list.

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is coming to the Switch 2 on December 2. The game, in its entirety, will drop on the new console. The only exception to the launch is the recent Claws of Awaji update, which added around ten hours of content to the base game.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the latest major entry to Ubisoft’s time-hopping RPG franchise. The game took players to medieval Japan in a quest for revenge and justice. It had a vast network of conspiracy and characters to interact with.

The Claws of Awaji update added a postscript for the story. It featured a new segment of the map and a new weapon. For now, Ubisoft will not add the expansion to the Switch 2 launch. However, a drop sometime in 2026 is already in the works.

In addition to the base game, the Switch 2 version will include touchscreen support to leverage the console’s capabilities. It will also feature new content, available on all platforms starting October 28, which will improve the parkour system, a new Animus activity called Corrupted Castles, and a new mission which sees Naoe try to learn Yasuke-specific abilities (and vice versa).

SEE ALSO: Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a step in the right direction for the series

Sometimes playing action games allow people to relieve their stress from their day-to-day. Whether it’s the type to shoot weapons or wield swords to slay enemies, it’s always good to just mindlessly press buttons to get through a game. That much is true for the games within the Ninja Gaiden series dating all the way back to 1988.

However, Team Ninja didn’t simply stick with just having gruesome hack-and-slash games and instead gave it some lore fans will adore. Throughout the first three canonical games of the remade series starting in 2004, the ninja protagonists go on missions to deal with world-ending threats to maintain order. Much would be the same for the latest installment in the franchise: Ninja Gaiden 4.

Is this game something both new and older fans of the series will enjoy? Will it just be another generic hack-and-slash title with little plot points to hold it together? Judging by my playthrough, there’s a lot to uncover that will surely make it an interesting play.

Freeing Tokyo from the rain

Ninja Gaiden 4 follows the events of the 2012 release of Ninja Gaiden 3, as Ryu Hayabusa was unable to fully rid Tokyo of the evil that surrounds it. Even with the defeat of the Dark Dragon, the city plunged into a state fit for the undead due to the husk emitting cursed rain. As the years went by, a new protagonist in Yakumo aims to rid the city of the curse while defying authorities in the process.

As Yakumo goes about his mission to rid Tokyo of the Dark Dragon’s curse, he encounters unexpected allies and enemies in bizzare twists till the end. Despite all the setbacks and even a crucial betrayal at the end (you’ll just have to play to find out), he remains steadfast in his mission for redemption of his clan and the release of Tokyo from the darkness.

At first, I felt that the story seemed a lot quicker to get through and finish without focusing on the details. Because you spend a ton of the game fighting through waves of enemies, it felt like that became the priority over revealing every little piece of lore leading up to the big fights. In my opinion, the plot felt a bit rushed in its development even though it made a lot of sense in reference to its predecessor.

Button-mashing combat at its best

For the entirety of the game, hack-and-slash combat served as both your primary offense and defense against all your enemies. Early on, the tutorial for first timers proved to be useful when balancing light and strong attacks with proper blocking, parrying and dodging. Also, you have the choice to simply auto-lock into enemies or precisely take them down on your own through a series of combos.

As you progress deeper into the game, enemies come in bigger hordes and also become a lot tougher, so levelling up your skills and weapons are essential. In between several parts of a main chapter or stage, you have chances to learn or improve on certain skills at the cost of NinjaCoins you earn through combat. These are put in place between crucial points in the level, so best to take advantage of them.

When you put these together, you end up in combat sequences that are oozing with action and blood, of course. Racking up combos and pressing specific buttons also grant access to some of the sickest dismemberment animations that rivals gruesome fighting games. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with incredible combat mechanics like that!

Open world-esque environment

What’s interesting about Ninja Gaiden games is how immensely dense the overwolds can be, that these often encourage exploration. In Ninja Gaiden 4‘s case, each stage feels larger than life with how you interact with certain elements, especially for the movement tools between stages that you can use even in combat. As you progress further, there is a greater purpose in doing so — especially as you prepare for all the challenges ahead.

Exploration feels like an integral part when you do it to retrieve valuable items for all the fighting to be done. There were a ton of item chests within each stage that would give you healing or combat-boosting items that you will need to stock up on. In some cases, you will find these chests in high-up or obscure places that your advanced movement mechanics can reach, so explore as much as you can.

Also, in some stages, you will find these temple-like entrances to a place called Purgatory. In this place, you will basically go through waves of enemies to test your combat mastery and enemy crowd control. However, these gates are often found tucked into branching pathways that, again you will need to explore in a more open-world setting.

Is Ninja Gaiden 4 your GameMatch?

As far as standalone hack-and-slash games go, Ninja Gaiden 4 truly ranks high up on the list. Its battle mechanics blended in with simple exploration keeps the action flowing as smoothly as possible. Not once did I feel the need to take a break mid-fight to look up combos when button-mashing and auto-locking helped immensely.

With regards to it being a proper sequel to Ninja Gaiden 3, it felt more like a shorter epilogue for the former protagonist in Ryu than retribution for Yakumo and his clan. Honestly, you can breeze through the whole game and its story elements quickly given the intense combat. However, your focus doesn’t drift into the plot so much, leading to think that this wasn’t as heavily prioritized.

Even with this in mind, Ninja Gaiden 4 is still a great enough of a title to sit through and enjoy for both new and old fans of the series. Overall mechanics feel satisfying to master and play through when you just need to unwind and slash your way through enemies to let the stress go!

Verdict: It’s a Swipe Right!

CD PROJEKT RED is bringing The Witcher in Concert to Asia after a successful run across Europe and the United States. The live orchestral show will debut in Singapore in November 2025, then expand to South Korea, China, and the Philippines in 2026.

The concert celebrates the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It turns the game’s score into a full symphonic experience. A 14-member ensemble — including members of Percival Schuttenbach, co-composers of the soundtrack — will perform reimagined tracks from The Witcher 3 and its expansions. Each performance combines the music with stunning visuals and gameplay footage.

Tour dates and locations

The Asia tour begins in Singapore at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, on November 29–30, 2025. It then moves to:

• Seoul, South Korea — Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace | January 31, 2026
• Shanghai, China — Newbund 31 | March 21, 2026
• Manila, Philippines — Solaire Theatre | March 28–29, 2026

Ticket sales start soon. Seoul opens on October 28, followed by Shanghai on October 30, and Manila on November 26, with pre-sale access from November 14. Each stop will also feature exclusive commemorative merchandise.

“A tribute to shared memories”

“The Witcher community across Asia expressed incredible excitement when we first announced The Witcher in Concert,” said Marcin Przybyłowicz, co-composer of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. “To finally take the music to them is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”

Carolin Wendt, CD PROJEKT RED’s Community International Lead, added:
“Our community in Asia has always been an important part of The Witcher 3’s journey. Whether through fanart, cosplay, or music, their passion continues to inspire us. With The Witcher in Concert, we wanted to create a fitting tribute — and one more adventure with Geralt.”

The Witcher in Concert is produced in collaboration with GEA Live and RoadCo Entertainment, producers of large-scale live events in over 40 countries.

For updates and new venue announcements, visit the official The Witcher in Concert website or subscribe to its newsletter.