Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one of the biggest and most ambitious entries in the series. From massive open world exploration to immersive Viking storytelling, this Respawnse breaks down how the game holds up today across story, gameplay, exploration, immersion, and replayability.
When Valhalla released, it felt like an enormous moment for the Assassin’s Creed series. Origins had reinvented the franchise, Odyssey had expanded the RPG formula even further, and Valhalla arrived as the biggest, boldest entry yet. It offered a massive world, a long form narrative, strong characters, deep progression, settlement building, mythological arcs, and more quests than anyone could finish in a single playthrough without committing serious time.
In 2025, Valhalla still stands as one of the most ambitious games Ubisoft has ever created. It is beautiful, fully featured, and confident in its identity as an open world RPG that blends Viking storytelling with the ancient conflict between Assassins and Templars. At the same time, it has pacing issues, a story that runs longer than necessary, and a level of content that can overwhelm both new players and returning fans.
Even with these flaws, Valhalla remains an impressive and memorable experience. Its strengths are worth revisiting, and its weaknesses are worth acknowledging. This Respawnse breaks down the game across five categories to see how Valhalla holds up today.
Valhalla tells a good story. In many places it tells a great one. The characters are strong, the arcs have clear identities, and Eivor is one of the most grounded protagonists in the franchise. The early hours establish motivation well, setting up the transition from Norway to England with clarity and emotional weight. Alliances, relationships, and regional narratives are all rich with detail.
The issue is length. The story goes on longer than it needs to, often stretching arcs past the point of peak interest. Many regions introduce compelling conflicts, only to extend them with extra steps that do not add much narrative value. The structure is interesting at first, since each territory functions like a self-contained story within the larger conquest of England, but after many hours the repetition begins to show.
Still, the writing is solid. Characters like Sigurd, Randvi, and Basim leave strong impressions. The thematic contrast between loyalty, destiny, ambition, and family gives the narrative real weight. The Asgard and Jotunheim arcs, while optional, add another layer of mythological depth that enriches the world even if they sometimes feel disconnected from the main plot.
The story is not weak. It is simply long. It is a B because the core is strong, the cast is memorable, and the themes resonate, but the pacing prevents it from reaching greatness.
Valhalla earns an A for gameplay because it feels confident, deliberate, and impactful. The combat is heavier and slower than Origins and Odyssey, but that weight works perfectly for the Viking setting. Every hit lands with force. Every attack feels measured rather than frantic. Enemy encounters vary between one on one duels, chaotic raids, and larger set piece battles that keep the rhythm shifting.
Stealth is still available, and the tools are there for players who want to approach missions quietly, but Valhalla emphasizes close range combat more than earlier titles. That shift changes the tone of the entire game. You are encouraged to fight head on, use dual wielding, manage stamina, and rely on abilities to shape each encounter.
The ability system is strong as well. Unlocking new powers feels meaningful, and the long skill tree, while enormous, gives steady progression. Even small upgrades feel like genuine improvements rather than filler.
Raids are one of the standout features. They bring energy and identity to the gameplay, creating moments that feel distinct from the rest of the Assassin’s Creed formula. There is something satisfying about bursting into a monastery with your crew, breaking down doors, gathering supplies, and watching your settlement grow as a direct result.
World events replace side quests with short, flavorful stories that fit the setting and keep the world feeling alive. They often last only a few minutes, but they add humor, tension, and charm without pulling players into long detours.
Overall, Valhalla’s gameplay is strong, polished, and varied. It delivers combat and exploration in a way that fits the Viking fantasy perfectly.
Exploration is easily one of Valhalla‘s greatest strengths. The world is huge, beautiful, and filled with striking landmarks. England is brought to life with rolling fields, snowy peaks, dense forests, winding rivers, ancient ruins, and villages that feel authentic to the time period.
Every region has visual identity. You can travel across the map for hours and still stumble upon new points of interest. Ubisoft filled the world with activities, but more importantly, the world feels handcrafted rather than empty. You can wander aimlessly and still discover mysteries, wealth, artifacts, and bits of environmental storytelling that make exploration rewarding even without a quest marker.
The level design encourages movement. Your raven helps with scouting, your longship makes travel on rivers enjoyable, and the simple act of riding across England feels relaxing and immersive. There is a rhythm to exploration that never feels forced.
Interior locations stand out as well. Whether it is raiding a monastery, discovering underground Roman ruins, or infiltrating a hostile encampment, the variety keeps exploration engaging and fresh.
The Asgard sections deserve special mention. Even though they are optional and sometimes feel separate from the core narrative, they are visually stunning and offer some of the most memorable moments in the game. The art direction in these zones shows a clear contrast between the grounded historical world and the mythological realm.
Exploration earns an A because it is one of the few open worlds in recent years that feels consistently rewarding. Everywhere you go, something interesting is waiting.
Valhalla excels at immersion from the opening hours all the way through to the final act. The atmosphere of the Viking world is rich, textured, and believable. You feel the cold of Norway, the earthy tones of England, the warmth of campfires, and the tension of raiding enemy strongholds.
The soundtrack supports this immersion beautifully. Music shifts between ambient, somber tracks and energetic battle themes that capture the mood of each moment. The sound design is equally impressive, with environmental details like creaking ships, crackling fire, rustling forests, and distant animal calls adding to the sense of place.
The settlement system plays a major role in immersion. Building up Ravensthorpe gives you a personal anchor in the world. It is a home base that grows alongside Eivor’s journey. Returning to it always feels comforting, and investing in buildings and relationships makes the world feel more grounded and personal.
NPC dialogue, regional cultures, and environmental storytelling all contribute to the sense that you are living in a complex, layered world. Even simple moments, like sitting around the fire or engaging in flyting battles, help build authenticity.
The mythological arcs add a surprising amount to the immersion as well. Even though they are fantastical, they feel connected to Eivor’s identity and culture. They enrich the world rather than distracting from it.
Valhalla earns an A for immersion because it creates a cohesive Viking world that pulls you in and keeps you there.
Replayability is a mixed experience for Valhalla. On one hand, the game is filled with content. There are dozens of regions, countless world events, long story arcs, side content, mythical realms, and settlement upgrades. On the other hand, the sheer amount of content can make replaying the game feel daunting.
After you have completed most of what the game offers, especially if you finish nearly everything in a single playthrough, returning to the world can feel overwhelming. The idea of redoing all the regions, alliances, raids, and quests may not appeal to every player.
Still, there is value in replaying Valhalla. The world is beautiful, the gameplay is fun, and the storytelling hits differently depending on how you shape Eivor’s decisions. There are multiple ways to approach combat, exploration, and stealth, and every playthrough allows you to experiment with new weapons, builds, and choices.
It is a B because it offers real replay value, but the scale of the game makes it difficult to jump back in once you have already invested dozens or hundreds of hours.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla remains one of the most ambitious and memorable games in the franchise. It delivers a powerful Viking experience filled with exploration, strong gameplay, and immersive worldbuilding. The story is good, though too long. The combat is satisfying and weighty. The world is one of the most beautiful Ubisoft has ever created. The immersion pulls you in and keeps you there. Replayability exists, but returning after a full playthrough can feel intimidating.
Valhalla is a game that understands the fantasy it wants to deliver. It is confident, large, atmospheric, and rich with detail. While not perfect, it stands as a strong entry in the series and a rewarding journey for players who want a deep, meaningful open world RPG.
Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth caring about? This score reflects how well the story pulls you in, whether through great characters, worldbuilding, or just moments that stick.
How good does Assassin’s Creed Valhalla actually feel to play? Tight controls, fun systems, and that satisfying “one more try” loop all count here.
Does Assassin’s Creed Valhalla make wandering off worth it? This measures how curious you feel to explore, and how rewarding it is when you do.
How easy is it to forget you’re playing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla ? This score looks at the vibe. Visuals, music, and atmosphere working together to pull you in.
When the credits roll, are you done, or already thinking about another run? This one’s all about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla ’s staying power.
