Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.0.35 — macOS

Assassin's Creed Shadows for macOS runs on Apple silicon Macs with macOS Sequoia 15.0 or later. It needs 16 GB of RAM and about 130 GB of free storage. The Mac version targets 720p at 30 fps on the low graphics preset, which is fine for an office machine that doubles as a gaming rig.

Scout targets across feudal Japan

Most of your time goes into exploring an open-world feudal Japan, picking targets, and deciding how to reach them. The game gives you a network of scouts — send them out to track your next target so you know where to go and what you're walking into.

You'll switch between stealth and direct combat depending on the situation. When you need a breather, you can return to your hideout, which you customize for your shinobi alliance. Train the allies you recruit there, each with unique abilities that change how you approach missions.

Seasons change as you play, altering the landscape and sometimes your options. Snow might hide footprints, while rain affects visibility. It's a small detail that keeps the world feeling alive.

Don't ignore the scout network

The first thing most people get wrong is ignoring the scout network. It's easy to think you can just wander toward a mission marker and handle things when you get there, but the game's open world has a lot of dead ends and patrol routes that change with the seasons. Sending scouts ahead saves time and keeps you from walking into a situation you aren't prepared for.

Another frequent slip is treating Naoe and Yasuke the same way. Naoe is built for stealth — running headfirst into a courtyard with her is a fast way to get surrounded. Yasuke handles direct fights better but doesn't climb or sneak as well. Switching between them at the hideout instead of on the fly means you need to plan which approach suits the next mission.

New players also tend to ignore the hideout's training function early on. Allies you recruit sit around doing nothing unless you assign them to training or crafting. It takes a few minutes to set up, and it pays off when those allies show up during a mission with abilities you actually cultivated.

A minor but real mistake: not checking storage before you start. Make sure you have the space before you begin the install.

Craft new gear at your hideout's bench

The hideout customization goes beyond looks. You can rearrange the layout, place furnishings, and decorate it how you like, but the real value is in the crafting bench. That's where new equipment gets made, and it's easy to forget it's there when you're focused on missions.

Season changes aren't just visual. The environment reacts to what you do — if you cut through a village in winter, the snow records your path. Enemy patrols adjust their routes based on weather, and some hiding spots become unusable in rain or heavy snow. Paying attention to the season before you set out changes how you approach the same area.

The game's interface supports thirteen languages for text and seven for voice. If you prefer playing with original Japanese voice and English subtitles, that combination is available. Switch it in the settings before you get too far in — restarting mid-campaign is a hassle.

Demanding open-world for Mac users

If you're a Mac user who only plays lighter indie titles, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a big step up. It's a full open-world action-adventure game running on Apple silicon, and it demands the hardware and storage to match. That makes it best for someone with a recent M-series Mac who wants to see what the platform can handle.

Players who enjoy historical settings will get more from it too. Feudal Japan is depicted with enough detail — castle towns, ports, shrines, war-torn provinces — that exploring just to see the landscape is a valid way to spend an evening. The changing weather and seasons reinforce that sense of place.

For someone who likes managing a base between missions, the hideout system adds a layer of planning that isn't just about combat. Training allies, crafting equipment, and talking to key characters there breaks up the action and gives you something to tinker with. It's the kind of loop that suits a methodical player more than someone who wants to run from fight to fight.

You'll need a Ubisoft account to launch the game, so have that ready before you start.

• macOS 15 Sequoia or later
• Apple silicon (M1 or newer)
• 16 GB RAM
• 130 GB available storage
• Ubisoft account required to launch