Assassin's Creed Shadows gives players two very different protagonists, and it also gives them seven different romance options to pursue across Japan. Naoe and Yasuke each have their own set of romantic interests, and none of these relationships happen by accident. Players have to choose specific dialogue lines during specific quests, and if they miss one, the romance can slip away. There is also a big warning: if players turn on Canon Mode, romance is disabled entirely. That means the choice-driven storytelling has to stay on for anyone hoping to see these bonds play out.
Naoe's Romance Options
Naoe's first romance option is Gennoji, a warrior she meets during The Missing Missive. This one is hard to miss because the quest forces a confrontation, but the romance itself still depends on dialogue. The relationship develops across Sake and Swords, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts. In Sake and Swords, players should pick 'Depends what you're offering' and 'Show me, Thief.' In Honor Among Thieves, they need to end the conversation with 'I'm Keeping It Then.' In Stolen Hearts, the important lines are 'I'm here for you' at the start and 'I'd like to embrace you' before the quest ends. If players do that, Naoe and Gennoji share an embrace.
Katsuhime is Naoe's only female romance option, and she has one of the longest romance quest lines in the game. She can also be recruited, which makes her a valuable ally beyond the romance. The two first cross paths in Showdown in Sakamoto, and the first important line is 'I like your Teppo.' From there, players need to follow Letter From Katsuhime, The Tales of Genin, Diary of Lady Rokkaku, and The Jounin Pillow Book. The key choices are 'It offers time with me' in Letter From Katsuhime, 'I do enjoy your company' in The Tales of Genin, and 'Yes. Join us' in Diary of Lady Rokkaku to recruit her. In The Jounin Pillow Book, players should choose 'Let's find out' and then 'Yes. Forever.' That leads to another embrace and a full romance.
Naoe's third option is Koshire, and this is the quickest romance of the three. Koshire is injured during a quest, and the two develop a connection fast. The entire romance happens in The Lead Turns. Players need to watch for the romantic dialogue options and choose 'You're more than a blade to me,' 'I'd like to spend more time with you,' 'You must follow your heart,' and 'Like me.' The reference notes five lines, but those four are the critical choices that complete the romance. Because it only takes one quest, Koshire is a good target for players who want to see a Naoe romance without committing to a long chain.
Yasuke's Romance Options
Yasuke has four romance options, starting with Hori Hidimesa. Hori appears at the beginning of The Betrayer, and this is the shortest romance in the game. Players only need to select one line: 'Meeting you was my reward.' That leads to a romantic scene between the two. It is simple, but also easy to miss if players do not know the line is coming.
Lady Oichi is a very different kind of romance. She and Yasuke are opposites in many ways, and the relationship requires both dialogue choices and a key story decision. In the flashback quest An Education, players should choose 'Some company might be nice.' In The Wheel Unmasked, they must spare the targets at the end of the mission. If they do not, the romance is locked out. In the two-part finale The Wheel Turns 1 + 2, the required lines are 'I miss your smile' and 'I am drawn to you.' The final choice is 'Let's enjoy the moment,' which gives the pair a brief happy ending. This romance is more about emotional connection than a long courtship.
Ibuki is another multi-quest romance for Yasuke, and Ibuki is non-binary. Ibuki can also be recruited into the League by completing the same quest line. The three quests are Homecoming, Homecoming 2, and Homecoming 3. In each one, players need to choose 'Your mind works in beautiful ways,' 'You don't have to be alone,' and 'Let's be together in another way.' Then, in Putting Down Roots, Yasuke is very forward. The option with a heart next to it is 'I want more than friendship,' and choosing it leads to a romantic scene. This is one of the more developed romances for Yasuke.
Rin is Yasuke's final romance option. She is drawn to his strength, and he teaches her some of his fighting techniques. The relationship begins in Arrow Strike, where players should select 'It wasn't my archery you were testing.' The quest line continues through War Horse and Ride into Town. In War Horse, the line is 'You excel at everything you try.' In Ride into Town, the line is 'I would like to kiss.' That leads to the two embracing. Rin's romance is straightforward compared to Lady Oichi or Ibuki, but it still requires attention to dialogue.
Quick Reference Table
Here is a quick reference table for all seven romance options:
| Protagonist | Character | Key Quest(s) | Must-Pick Lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naoe | Gennoji | The Missing Missive, Sake and Swords, Honor Among Thieves, Stolen Hearts | 'Depends what you're offering,' 'Show me, Thief,' 'I'm Keeping It Then,' 'I'm here for you,' 'I'd like to embrace you' |
| Naoe | Katsuhime | Showdown in Sakamoto, Letter From Katsuhime, The Tales of Genin, Diary of Lady Rokkaku, The Jounin Pillow Book | 'I like your Teppo,' 'It offers time with me,' 'I do enjoy your company,' 'Yes. Join us,' 'Let's find out,' 'Yes. Forever' |
| Naoe | Koshire | The Lead Turns | 'You're more than a blade to me,' 'I'd like to spend more time with you,' 'You must follow your heart,' 'Like me' |
| Yasuke | Hori Hidimesa | The Betrayer | 'Meeting you was my reward' |
| Yasuke | Lady Oichi | An Education, The Wheel Unmasked, The Wheel Turns 1 + 2 | 'Some company might be nice,' spare targets, 'I miss your smile,' 'I am drawn to you,' 'Let's enjoy the moment' |
| Yasuke | Ibuki | Homecoming, Homecoming 2, Homecoming 3, Putting Down Roots | 'Your mind works in beautiful ways,' 'You don't have to be alone,' 'Let's be together in another way,' 'I want more than friendship' |
| Yasuke | Rin | Arrow Strike, War Horse, Ride into Town | 'It wasn't my archery you were testing,' 'You excel at everything you try,' 'I would like to kiss' |
Romance in Assassin's Creed Shadows is not a main path, but it adds texture to the journey. In 2026, players are still finding new details in the game, and these romance options remain some of the most missable. The key is to save before major conversations, watch for heart icons, and avoid Canon Mode if romance is the goal. With seven possible partners split between Naoe and Yasuke, there is plenty of reason to replay quests or start a second playthrough. The choices are small, but they change how the story feels.