Back in 2020, players were craving an open-world game set in the age of the samurai, and PlayStation filled that void with Ghost of Tsushima, one of the best titles of the previous generation. Now, five years later, its sequel has arrived: Ghost of Yotei. Its mission is clear to replicate the success of the original. However, since then we’ve seen a wave of games exploring Japanese culture, inevitably reducing the impact of this new entry.
For fans of Tsushima, the good news is that Yotei delivers a very similar experience while improving on many of its predecessor’s shortcomings. Visually, it’s breathtaking: environments and landscapes so beautiful you’ll often stop just to admire them, villages and monuments placed with masterful care, and flora and pathways designed with near-artisan precision. The soundtrack is impeccable, instantly transporting you to feudal Japan, while the sound effects from clashing steel to the raw impact of blood deepen the immersion.
Gameplay is another major highlight. It’s fluid, intuitive, and consistently solid. A key difference from the first game is the removal of the stance system: now everything revolves around weapon swapping, with each weapon offering combos effective against certain enemy types. Stealth exists, but it’s not the main focus; it’s more tied to the narrative. Once again, the game makes it clear you’re not a ninja, you’re a samurai.
While the game features a central storyline, character progression is deeply tied to side quests and exploration. Some players may find this tedious, but the skills you unlock along the way make the investment worthwhile.
The biggest stumble lies in the main narrative. It’s not a technical or creative failure, but rather an issue of repetition. The premise of a protagonist seeking revenge for the death of loved ones feels predictable and overused. To make matters worse, this very year we got Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which shares almost the exact same narrative structure: taking down six villains before facing the final boss. While Yotei does deliver a strong arc for Atsu, with spectacular sequences and a powerful resolution, the similarities with Naoe’s story are impossible to overlook.
In conclusion, Ghost of Yotei is an excellent game that fulfills the fantasy of being a deadly, highly skilled samurai. It improves upon its predecessor in both visuals and gameplay, but it can’t escape the feeling that this era has already been overexplored.
Final Score: 4/5
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