Assassin’s Creed Shadows is all about exploration, boasting a massive open world and countless hours of side activities to discover. It’s up to you what you do and at what pace you uncover the many points of interest, but the speed at which you play will be dictated by the ‘mode’ that you pick. With that being said, should you use Guided Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Players have the option to pick between Guided Mode (exploration) and Non-Guided Mode when they start playing the game, but what’s the difference and which is best?
Read on to learn the advantages and disadvantages of using Guided Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Is Guided Mode Better in AC Shadows?
If you opt for Guided Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ll be presented with a much easier, more streamlined adventure. After choosing this mode, your objectives will be marked on the map, you’ll have less use for Scouts, and you’ll find it easier to get to where you’re going much faster.
The Non-Guided Mode removes that and makes it so that you need to actively navigate and thoroughly search to uncover your objectives. Alternatively, you can use Scouts, which are designed to find your objectives for you – at a cost, of course.
If you have less time to play, then you’ll want to use Guided Mode.
It’s important to stress that you can switch between the modes at the press of a button, not that you’d need to. If you’re comfortable with one, it’s unlikely you’ll change the setting as you play.
I’d say that Guided Mode is better overall, but if you want the most immersive experience possible, you’ll want Non-Guided Mode – it’s up to you.
What About Canon Mode?
Players can also opt to have all their cinematic decisions made for them, with Ubisoft forcing the game to take the canonical route as the story unfolds. If you choose this style of play, you’ll see the story as it was intended to pan out, and you won’t have any bearing on Naoe or Yasuke’s ultimate destiny.
If you switch that off, you’re free to make your decisions as you see fit at the most critical points of the story.
Again, if you’re not fussed about how things unfold, you can pick Canon Mode, which makes choices for you. If you’d rather be a little more ‘in the driving seat’, then switch off Canon Mode and play as you want.
For more Assassin’s Creed Shadows guides, check out my guide to which character is best in the game
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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