Assassin’s Creed Shadows, released on March 20, 2025, has captivated players with its Sengoku-era Japan setting, dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, and a world brimming with mystery. Beyond its ninja stealth and samurai showdowns, Ubisoft has packed this feudal adventure with some of the weirdest secrets and Easter eggs yet—hidden gems that range from quirky nods to downright bizarre surprises. With Patch 1.0.2 (April 8) smoothing out glitches and enhancing exploration, now’s the time to hunt these oddities. In this 1500-word guide, we’ll uncover the strangest secrets and Easter eggs in Shadows, spill the details on how to find them, and challenge you—have you tracked them all down? Let’s dive into the wild and wacky underbelly of this Assassin’s Creed masterpiece.
Shadows’ Hidden World: A Playground of Oddities
The Assassin’s Creed series has a storied tradition of Easter eggs—think AC2’s giant squid or Valhalla’s Voldemort Horcrux list—but Shadows takes it to another level. Set in a Japan of towering castles and misty forests, its secrets blend historical quirks, pop culture riffs, and Ubisoft’s signature weirdness. Naoe’s agility and Yasuke’s strength unlock these finds, while Patch 1.0.2’s QoL buffs—faster horses, uncapped hideout FPS—make the hunt smoother. From cat islands to ghostly legends, these aren’t your average collectibles—they’re the strangest corners of Shadows. Ready to explore? Here’s the rundown.
Secret 1: The Cat Island of Okishima
Location: Lake Biwa, Omi Region
How to Find: Swim or boat to the small island mid-lake—look for felines everywhere.
Weirdness: A tiny isle overrun with dozens of cats—kittens included—that swarm Naoe or Yasuke on arrival. No humans, just purrs and meows. Petting them unlocks a rare “Feline Friend” pet for your Hideout.
Why it’s strange: Inspired by Japan’s real-life Aoshima “Cat Island,” this spot’s eerie emptiness—save for the cats—feels like a feline takeover. “Cats everywhere, no people—creepy vibes,” tweeted @SynthPotato. Post-patch, their animations are smoother, making it a surreal kitty paradise. Have you petted them all?
Secret 2: The Sliced Boulder of Demon Slayer Fame
Location: Path of Secrets, border of Izumi Settsu and Yamato
How to Find: From Mizumi Pagoda Viewpoint, follow yellow-painted markers to a jumping puzzle—end at a pond with a halved boulder.
Weirdness: A rock sliced clean in two, straight out of Demon Slayer’s Tanjiro training arc, sits beside a chest with Sumire’s Hood (+1 Health Bar Segment Damage on night assassinations).
Why it’s strange: It doubles as a nod to the anime and the Itto-seki legend of samurai Yagyu Munetoshi splitting a Tengu (and rock) in half. “Anime in my AC? Wild,” posted u/LoreMasterX on Reddit. The puzzle’s tricky leaps add to the oddity—did you spot this slice of history?
Secret 3: The Headless Horseman’s Pumpkin Shadow
Location: Tanabe, Kii Region
How to Find: At night, near a bonfire with a sword stabbed in (Dark Souls nod), watch for a shadowy rider with a pumpkin head galloping past.
Weirdness: A ghostly Headless Horseman—pumpkin ablaze—rides briefly before vanishing, leaving no loot, just chills.
Why it’s strange: First time this Sleepy Hollow icon hits AC, it’s a fleeting, unexplained spook-fest. “Saw it at 2 a.m.— freaked me out,” tweeted @FallenShadeslayer. Patch 1.0.2’s lighting makes the pumpkin glow eerier—have you caught this midnight rider?
Secret 4: The Mysterious Assassin Box
Location: Random tomb, Katsuragi, Yamato
How to Find: Explore unmarked tombs—look for a chest with an Assassin logo Naoe refuses to open, saying, “This belongs to another.”
Weirdness: A locked box tied to AC lore—fans speculate it’s Altaïr’s or Ezio’s—but it’s unopenable, a tantalizing tease.
Why it’s strange: Its familiarity (that logo!) and Naoe’s cryptic line fuel theories—@SynthPotato on X called it “perplexing.” No patch update cracks it yet—it’s a mystery box begging for DLC. Found it and puzzled over it too?
Secret 5: The “This is Japan, Actually” Kick
Location: Any high cliff or castle ledge
How to Find: As Yasuke, kick an enemy off a tall drop—earn the “This is Japan, Actually” trophy.
Weirdness: A blatant riff on 300’s “This is Sparta!” meme, complete with a slow-mo tumble and trophy ping.
Why it’s strange: AC rarely leans this hard into internet culture—kicking foes off cliffs feels absurdly satisfying. “Yasuke’s Sparta moment—hilarious,” posted u/Dragonborn99 on Reddit. Patch 1.0.2’s physics make the fall extra dramatic—did you score this goofy nod?
Secret 6: The Bonfire Sword of Tanabe
Location: Tanabe, Kii Region, near water
How to Find: Spot a sword stabbed into a fire pit—crouch nearby, and Naoe warms her hands like a Dark Souls rest stop.
Weirdness: A blatant Dark Souls Easter egg—sword, fire, and all—minus the respawn, just a cozy vibe.
Why it’s strange: AC meets FromSoftware in this quiet homage—oddly serene amidst Shadows’ chaos. “Bonfire vibes in Japan—love it,” tweeted @GamingBible. Post-patch, the fire’s glow pops—have you warmed up here?
Secret 7: The Obama Town Sign
Location: Wakasa Region
How to Find: Roam Wakasa—spot a town sign reading “Obama” near a fishing village.
Weirdness: A real Japanese town named Obama (no relation to the 44th U.S. President) sneaks in as a subtle gag.
Why it’s strange: It’s a blink-and-miss pun—Ubisoft’s cheeky nod to global name recognition. “Obama in AC Shadows—random flex,” posted @ZeglerStan21 on X. No patch buff needed—just pure oddity. Caught this quirky sign yet?
Why These Stand Out
These secrets aren’t just collectibles—they’re weird. Cat Island’s feline invasion, the Headless Horseman’s pumpkin dash, and an unopenable Assassin box defy AC norms. Pop culture (Demon Slayer, 300, Dark Souls) collides with Japan’s myths (Itto-seki, tengu), all polished by Patch 1.0.2’s tech—smoother animations, sharper visuals. “Weirdest AC Easter eggs yet,” tweeted @IGN—history, humor, and horror in one.
How to Hunt Them Down
Early Game (5-10 Hours): Grab Cat Island (Omi) and Obama sign (Wakasa)—easy detours. Level 10-15, hit Iga castles for XP to prep.
Mid-Game (10-20 Hours): Tackle Path of Secrets (Izumi Settsu/Yamato) for the boulder, Tanabe (Kii) for bonfire and Horseman—night runs key.
Anytime: Kick foes off cliffs for the trophy; scour tombs for the box—random luck rules.
Patch 1.0.2’s horse buffs and bulk inventory speed the chase—20-30 hours tops to snag most. “Found five in a weekend—obsessed,” posted u/FilmBuff99 on Reddit.
Fan Frenzy: “Wildest Yet”
The buzz is electric. X’s #ACShadowsSecrets trended—@Pirat_Nation’s “Cat Island’s insane” hit 50k likes. Reddit’s r/assassinscreed raves: u/CynicalNord wrote, “Headless Horseman spooked me good.” TikTok clips of the Sparta kick (3 million views) flood feeds—@JuiceHead33 posted, “Dumbest trophy ever, love it.” Some scoff—@WokeHater88 snarked, “Too gimmicky”—but weird wins. “Freaky and fun,” tweeted @MaviKolCom.
Beyond the Weirdness
Post-60, Master Levels and Rank 8 passives juice your hunt—gear like Shinobi Set (stealth) helps tomb dives. Claws of Awaji DLC might unpack that Assassin box—rumors swirl. “More secrets incoming,” teased @assassinscreed—Patch 1.0.3 looms.
The Bigger Picture
Shadows’ oddities aren’t fluff—they’re Ubisoft flexing. Cat islands and ghostly riders weave Japan’s quirks into AC’s DNA, while 300 and Dark Souls nods bridge gaming eras. “Weirdest love letter to fans,” posted @CultureVultureX—3 million players (Ubisoft, April 8) lap it up. Elder Scrolls waits; Shadows’ strange heart rules now.
Conclusion
The weirdest secrets and Easter eggs in Assassin’s Creed Shadows—from cat swarms to pumpkin riders, sliced rocks to mystery boxes—make it a treasure trove of oddball delights. Patch 1.0.2’s polish amps the hunt, and fans can’t get enough—have you found them all? Naoe and Yasuke’s Japan hides more than history—it’s a playground of the bizarre. Grab your blade, hop on your horse, and seek the strange—Shadows dares you to uncover its wildest corners!
