Summary
- Ghost of Yotei's sequel will launch in 2025, introducing a new protagonist and setting in the early Edo period.
- The gameplay of Ghost of Yotei will focus on player agency, offering a more dynamic open world with new mechanics.
- More updates on Ghost of Yotei can be expected before its release, with trailers showcasing story and gameplay.
After a wait that felt like forever, Ghost of Tsushima's sequel, Ghost of Yotei, has finally been revealed and is closer now than it has ever been before. 2025 is already a massive year for gaming, with big titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Avowed, and Monster Hunter Wilds launching, but now that Ghost of Yotei has been confirmed to be released sometime this year, it's an even greater time to be alive.
With Ghost of Yotei launching this year, that means fans of the franchise have a lot to look forward to in 2025. Quite a bit about the game has already been revealed by Sucker Punch, and as the developer plans to release even more information about the upcoming adventure ahead of its release, it's going to be a big year for the Ghost franchise, especially Ghost of Yotei.
Ghost of Yotei's Time Skip Shouldn't Rule Out One Future Period
While the time jump between Ghost of Tsushima and Yotei makes sense for what Sucker Punch is doing, it missed a period that might have been perfect.
Ghost of Yotei's Confirmed and Potential Features
Ghost of Yotei's Setting and Storyline
Rather than continuing the story of Jin Sakai and Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei's story is led by a brand-new protagonist, Atsu, and is set during the early Edo period, 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. In Ghost of Yotei, Atsu travels to the regions surrounding Mount Yotei in Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido), an area beyond the control of central Japan at the time — a place where, according to Ghost of Yotei's announcement trailer, "people come to disappear." For Atsu, specifically, Ghost of Yotei is a story of "underdog vengeance," as Sucker Punch puts it, but there has been no further indication of what that ultimately means for the new protagonist's backstory or her path.
Ghost of Yotei's Gameplay
Sucker Punch hasn't revealed many specifics about Ghost of Yotei's gameplay, apart from the few things it has divulged and anything that can be accounted for in the announcement trailer. It's very clear, however, that Ghost of Yotei is not simply trying to copy its predecessor and is instead aiming to build upon it and expand its formula, with new mechanics and features that weren't present in Ghost of Tsushima.
Regarding Ghost of Yotei's narrative, Sucker Punch has confirmed that it will emphasize player agency more than Ghost of Tsushima did. According to the developer, players will have more control over Atsu's narrative and choices, allowing for a more personalized gameplay experience. As far as Ghost of Yotei's open world goes, it plans to improve Ghost of Tsushima's approach extensively. Ghost of Tsushima's open world, while breathtaking to behold, begins feeling repetitive once players progress into the second act. Ghost of Yotei wants to alleviate those issues by offering a more dynamic open world that leans more heavily into storytelling than a checklist of activities to complete.
Ghost of Yotei is not simply trying to copy its predecessor and is instead aiming to build upon it and expand its formula, with new mechanics and features that weren't present in Ghost of Tsushima.
Based on the announcement trailer for Ghost of Yotei, it seems as though Atsu may have a wolf companion at her side, though that is only an assumption and has yet to be confirmed by Sucker Punch. One thing the trailer made quite clear, however, is that Atsu will have access to matchlock guns in Ghost of Yotei, which makes sense given their prevalence during the Edo period. It's unclear whether the new protagonist will still use a bow, just as Jin Sakai did in Ghost of Tsushima, but since bows were still in use during the Edo period, it's likely she will acquire one at some point.
It has been confirmed that Atsu will be able to dual-wield katanas in Ghost of Yotei, a practice that was steadily increasing in prominence during the Edo period. Ghost of Yotei may also introduce the kusarigama, a traditional Japanese weapon featuring a sickle attached to a chain. This would, theoretically, allow players to disarm or pull enemies to add another layer of strategy to encounters.
The kusarigama is only speculated to make its debut, as it has been shown in an official image for Ghost of Yotei but has not yet been outright confirmed by Sucker Punch.
Something else to note is that Ghost of Yotei has been developed for the PS5, unlike Ghost of Tsushima, which was developed for the PS4. As such, it will offer enhanced visuals over its predecessor — a feat that is hard to believe. Players can also expect more of Ghost of Tsushima's famed environmental effects in Ghost of Yotei, like expansive sightlines, dynamic weather effects, and realistic environmental interactions, such as wind affecting the grass and other vegetation.
Ghost of Yotei's Map Could Have a Hard Time Avoiding One Issue Tsushima Side-Stepped
Due to its setting, Ghost of Yotei might find it difficult to avoid one major issue with its map that its predecessor's setting allowed it to avoid.
Ghost of Yotei Will Receive More Updates Before Its 2025 Launch
Since Ghost of Yotei has been confirmed to launch in 2025, fans can expect more updates on the game in the coming months. This is likely to include another trailer or two, possibly one tied to the story and another tied to gameplay. Should a PlayStation State of Play happen before Ghost of Yotei's release, more of the game could be featured there, and given the now-franchise's massive popularity, it could receive a larger time slot than other games during the event, potentially leading to a more extensive breakdown of Ghost of Yotei's story and gameplay. However, hopefully Sucker Punch doesn't spoil everything too soon and only gives fans enough information to whet their appetites for what is to come.
Sony will also be holding a PlayStation presentation during the Consumer Electronics Show on January 6, 2025, so Ghost of Yotei could make an appearance there as well.
With its brand-new protagonist, refined gameplay mechanics, and a setting that is both historical and captivating to behold, Ghost of Yotei is aiming to build upon the legacy of Ghost of Tsushima while simultaneously laying its own path. The anticipation surrounding its 2025 release is unquestionable, and as Sucker Punch reveals more details about the game very soon, that excitement may intensify even more. If Ghost of Yotei can deliver on its promises of a more dynamic, less repetitive open world, deeper and more meaningful narrative choices, and groundbreaking visuals, it might set a new benchmark for what open-world games can achieve, and set a precedent for the future of the Ghost franchise in the process.
Ghost of Yotei
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- October 2, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
