Small details can make a big difference in open-world games. When a game reacts to what the player does, the world feels more real and immersive. Even little things that don’t change gameplay can make a game more enjoyable, showing that developers put extra care into making the world feel alive.Assassin’s Creed Shadowsincludes one of these small but important details. It won’t change how the game is played, but it makes the experience more realistic and engaging.
Some big games have skipped over details like this, and while it’s not a huge problem, it’s noticeable. When a game focuses on realism but ignores small things, it can break immersion. More games should include realistic touches, even small ones. They may not affect the story or mechanics, but they help create a more natural and believable world.Assassin’s Creed Shadowsproves that even the smallest touches can have a big impact.
Characters Can Get Blood & Dirt On Them In AC Shadows
Getting Dirty Happens After Fighting & Interacting With The Environment
Realism in video games has come a long way, andAssassin’s Creed Shadowstakes it a step further by letting characters get dirty during gameplay. Characters can become dirty when fighting enemies, running through the environment, or just exploring. They can pick up blood, dust, and mud along the way. It’s a small but impressive detail that makes the world feel more alive.
Many action games focus on fast-paced combat and exploration, but they don’t always show the effects of those actions. In some games, a character can fight a dozen enemies and walk away looking as clean as when they started. Or, in the notorious case ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, they can walk through water and not get wet.
The opposite is equally notable, likeBloodborne’s main character getting drenched head-to-toe in blood if enough enemies are fought between resting.
That’s not the case inAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Here, characters don’t just move through the world, they interact with it realistically;if they roll through dirt, they’ll come out covered in it. If they take down an enemy in close combat, they might get stained with blood. These little touches make battles and movements feel more realistic. Added to thereal-world locations you’re able to visitin-game, or the real-lifehistorical figures you can meet inShadows, this makes the game feel truly alive.
Characters Will Need To Get In Water Or Wait For Rain To Get Clean
Getting Clean Is Simple: Just Interact With A Water Source
InAssassin’s Creed Shadows, getting dirty isn’t permanent. Characters won’t stay covered in blood or mud forever. Instead, they can clean up naturally by stepping into water or waiting for rain. It’s a small but smart detail that makes the game feel real and engaging.
Some games let characters get dirty, but not all offer a way to clean up. In many games, characters either stay spotless no matter what, get dirty but never wash it off, or just magically get clean.Assassin’s Creed Shadowstakes a different approach. If a character gets covered in mud,jumping into a river or pond will rinse it away. If they’re stained with blood after a fight, rain will eventually wash them clean.
This simple detail makes the world feel more alive. Seeing dirt build up and then wash away naturally makes the experience more immersive.It helps players feel like they’re really part of the world, rather than just controlling a character on a screen.
This feature also shows how much effort went into making the game realistic. The ability to get dirty and clean over time adds to the immersion without making things complicated. Small details like this makeAssassin’s Creed Shadowsstand out from other open-world games that ignore these touches. It’s another detail that displays the lengths the developers went in making the game feel real, also evidenced by aphotographer’s side-by-side photographsof places you’re able to visit in-game.
This Small Detail Is Great For Immersion & Realism
Small Details Make The World More Alive & Engaging
Small details can make a huge difference in how a game feels. InAssassin’s Creed Shadows, the ability for characters to get dirty and then clean themselves naturally adds to the sense of realism. It may not change the gameplay,butit helps create a more immersive world where actions have visible effects. When games include these small touches, they feel more alive and believable.
Early Assassin’s Creed Shadows Mods Attempt To Make The Game Look Like Ghost Of Tsushima
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is here and players are already modding the shaders to look more like the feudal Japan of Ghost of Tsushima and Shōgun.
Immersion is all about making players feel like they’re part of the world. When a game responds to the player’s actions, it strengthens that connection. Seeing dirt and blood build up on a character during combat or exploration makes the world feel more dynamic. When that grime washes away in water or rain, it reinforces the idea that the environment is living and reactive. It’s a simple but effective way to make the game feel more natural.
Some games focus on high-quality graphics and large open worlds but overlook small details like these. When characters go through intense battles or rough environments yet remain perfectly clean, it can take players out of the experience. It’s a minor issue, but it’s noticeable.Assassin’s Creed Shadowsavoids this problem by making dirt and blood a natural part of the game world.
While this feature doesn’t change the way the game is played, it adds to the overall experience. It helpsAssassin’s Creed Shadowsstand out from other open-world games and sets a new standard for realism. Small details like this might seem minor, butthey can have a big impact on how players connect with the game world.
More Games Should Have Details Like AC Shadows
Other AAA Games Should Learn From AC Shadows' Small Details
Many games focus on big features like graphics, gameplay, or world-building, but they often miss the small, realistic details that can improve the experience. Things like dirt and grime showing on characters after a fight may not change how the game plays, but they make the world feel more real. These small touches help players feel more connected to the game.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Who Are The Kakushiba Ikki, Explained
The Kakushiba ikki are an important link between the Assassin Brotherhood and the story of AC Shadows, but answers take some time to appear.
What’s great about these details is that they add realism without making the game more complicated. Players don’t need to use a menu or press extra buttons to clean up. It happens naturally as characters interact with the world. Whether it’s walking through water or waiting for rain, these simple actions make the game feel more alive. Even though these details don’t affect the main story, they make the game more enjoyable and immersive.
Other games could really benefit from adding these kinds of small details, especially in action games where characters should walk away looking bloodied and beat up after intense fights or treks through rough terrain. These touches wouldn’t change the gameplay, but they would add an extra layer of depth and realism. It’s the little things like these that can make a good game feel more immersive and connected to the player.
Games are always evolving, and features like this help push realism to the next level. It might not seem like a major change, but players notice when developers take the time to include these small touches.Assassin’s Creed Shadowssets a great example, and hopefully, more games will follow its lead in the future.
Source:SynthPotato/Twitter
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world.
