Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Sep 22, 2025
    80
    An excellent extension to an already large and polished game, with welcome new gameplay additions and a whole new island to explore.
  2. Sep 30, 2025
    75
    Assassin's Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji serves primarily as a simple incentive for those who preordered the base game to step back into the roles of Yasuke and Naoe. While it provides closure to the main story, it delivers limited content, making it less advisable for players who are required to pay $25 for access.
  3. Sep 26, 2025
    70
    Does Claws of Awaji finally provide a more fitting ending to Assassin’s Creed: Shadows? Kind of. In an irritating and distinctively Ubisoft way, enough is left open to require at least another dose of DLC. Still, if you really haven’t had too much of a good thing, that’s certainly no bad thing.
  4. Sep 25, 2025
    70
    Claws of Awaji is a compelling DLC that introduces fresh gameplay mechanics and new weapons absent from the base game. However, the dual-protagonist narrative once again falls short, and the fact that it feels essential to buy for story completion may divide players.
  5. Sep 22, 2025
    70
    Beautiful scenery and solid combat, but a ‘meh’ story - Claws of Awaji is a decent expansion that feels more like a gap-filler than a lasting impression.
  6. Sep 21, 2025
    60
    As it is, I appreciate Claws of Awaji for the eerily beautiful atmosphere, the Bou staff, and the boss fight against Nowaki. Without the technical issues, this DLC could have been the highlight of the entire game for me.
  7. Sep 17, 2025
    60
    Claws of Awaji is a decent expansion, but outside of some cool story moments, it never really elevates itself beyond the base game. There was room for improvement here, in Shadows' stunted combat and stealth mechanics, and its open world structure, but ultimately, the DLC plays it very safe — for better or worse.
  8. Sep 29, 2025
    55
    The supposedly open ending of Assassin's Creed Shadows' main campaign actually made some sense, as it was a way for Ubisoft to make it clear that the game has a long life ahead of it, both narratively and regarding the ongoing support updates. In Claws of Awaji, however, this vagueness felt a bit mocking. Even so, while the island of Awaji itself doesn't offer inviting elements, the DLC isn't entirely bad, as the inclusion of the staff, the straightforward mission progression, and the boss fights manage to add value to the overall experience.