We explain how Canon Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows affects your missions and what impact it has on the overall gameplay experience.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows features a Canon Mode that significantly changes how the game is played. This mode focuses entirely on the story and greatly limits player choice. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Canon Mode and how it affects your playthrough.
What Is Canon Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Canon Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an alternative to the standard gameplay mode, where you normally make choices and influence the story. In Canon Mode, however, you follow the narrative exactly as intended by the developers, without any ability to alter the course of events.
This mode is aimed at players who want to experience Assassin’s Creed Shadows in its officially canon version and prefer not to steer the story themselves.
How Canon Mode Affects Gameplay
- Dialogue options: Canon Mode removes all dialogue choices. You cannot select responses that influence the story or your relationships with other characters.
- Romances: As already mentioned, not all romance options are available in Canon Mode. You may see NPCs flirt with Naoe or Yasuke, but you cannot respond or pursue a relationship.
- Story decisions: Canon Mode removes all narrative choices that would normally affect the course of the story. You must follow the predefined narrative without altering mission outcomes or character fates.
- Recruiting characters: Some side characters cannot be recruited in Canon Mode, as recruitment often depends on player decisions. One example is Gennojo, who can join your group in the standard mode but is unavailable in Canon Mode.
- Moral choices: In the standard mode, you can make moral decisions that influence the fate of certain characters. In Canon Mode, these choices are removed and characters follow their predetermined destinies.
- Endings: Canon Mode limits the number of possible endings, as you cannot influence the story. You will experience the ending intended by the developers, without unlocking alternative outcomes.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Is Canon Mode Right for You?
Whether Canon Mode is right for you depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for. Do you want to simply absorb the story of Naoe and Yasuke, or do you prefer to actively shape it? Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons.
Advantages at a glance
- You can fully focus on the story
- You experience the game exactly as the developers intended
- More time to focus on other missions
Disadvantages at a glance
- You miss out on meaningful dialogue scenes
- You cannot influence the story
- There are no romances for Naoe or Yasuke
- You cannot unlock all allies
- Once selected, Canon Mode cannot be changed for that playthrough
