This is quite the achievement for Assassin’s Creed Shadows; it has literally rolled away the sales charts of the US as hot wheels, and now stands tall mightily as the second-best-selling video game in 2025. The only other title that prevents Shadows from becoming number one is Monster Hunter Wilds.
Here’s what’s more interesting-the number one selling game has been Shadows since the week that it launched just 3 weeks ago. That’s not just cool, it’s domination.
The latest from Circana (formerly NPD) shows just how greatly Assassin’s Creed Vallhala stands above most of the other games out this time. Not that surprising anyway. Meiji-era Japan, two characters fighting it out, and oh, that grand parkour combat—clearly, they’ve done something highly appealing to fans.
Not to mention that after having taken RPG features/innovations in the last few main titles, the new Assassin’s Creed feels like home again, with some deeper mechanics and innovations retained.
But crazy, still out there topping that-behemoth monster slaying from Capcom-Monster Hunter Wilds has been doing quite well since it landed and hasn’t shown signs of slowing. Shadows, as is common for a game that tends to front-load a lot, does naturally have staying power. Now that’s pretty big because most games will peak in sales in the first week and just start sliding down afterward, but Shadows? Nah, standing strong.
And here’s why it matters: the biggest one should really be a huge victory for Ubisoft. They’ve had quite a rocky, sad year regarding delays and cancellations, going even as far as a few lukewarm releases. Shadows sounded like the perfect game for them-an escape from all the doom of the last few titles.
It even reminds the audience just how strong the franchise can be, even if there have been over 15 years filled with sequels, spinoffs, and that really weird pirate game everyone loved way too much (looking at you, Black Flag).
The timing is, of course, prime. While Shadows manage to cut right across the huge noise by 2025- a noise from over 100 great titles and their marketing or setting or somehow because the people just really really enjoy sneaking around assassinating into famous historical figures-this game just seems to be doing things right.
What’s probably going to happen next? That’s right, keep it coming, and Shadows will find itself among the highest-sellers of the year, too. There are already more DLCs and expansions planned to come out. Now, Monster Hunter Wilds has little to no idle time as its eyes are now completely set towards a deadly battle in contest for a battle not to fall from its rightful throne atop.
One thing is beyond doubt: 2025 is going to be a killer year in gaming, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows is right in the middle of all kinds of activity. Whether you’ve been playing it forever or you’re new to it, now is definitely the time to get your hidden blade out and get to work.
