Summary
- Atsu's personal tragedy spurs a revenge tale in Ghost of Yotei, set 300 years after Ghost of Tsushima, during Japan's Edo period.
- The game should expand beyond Atsu's revenge and explore political shifts of the era for a more complex narrative.
- Ghost of Yotei could intertwine Atsu's journey with a larger conflict during Japan's transition to the Tokugawa era for more depth.
It has now been nearly five years since the release of Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima — a surprise action-adventure hit set in feudal Japan that went on to become a benchmark in many ways. Now, Ghost of Yotei looks to both capitalize and build on its predecessor's success by introducing a brand-new protagonist, Atsu, alongside an original story set 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima, in the heart of Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido) during Japan's Edo period.
It has been known for some time that Atsu's journey in Ghost of Yotei would center around revenge, after Sucker Punch initially revealed that her story would be one of "underdog vengeance." While revenge tales can certainly make for interesting stories, however, Ghost of Yotei may be better off ensuring Atsu's pursuit of revenge extends beyond her and emphasizes the political shifts that were taking place during the Edo period, Japan's Tokugawa era. This would not only raise the stakes of the narrative, but also open the door for Atsu's journey to be multi-faceted, complex, and not just a one-way road to revenge.
Ghost of Yotei's Secret Ingredient Could Be its Verticality
Ghost of Yotei's apparent emphasis on verticality could be its secret to topping the open world and environmental standard set by its predecessor.
Ghost of Yotei's Story Could Be More Than Just Revenge
Atsu's Personal Tragedy Sets the Stage for a Compelling Vengeance Tale
While little more than the words "underdog vengeance" had been initially disclosed about Atsu's quest in Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch recently updated the game's official website with a few more intricate details about what will start her on the path to vengeance. As stated on the website, "Filled with fury and determination, Atsu will hunt down those responsible for the death of her family and exact her revenge." "From the ashes of her homestead," it says, she will pursue those who wronged her and eliminate them.
While revenge tales can certainly make for interesting stories, Ghost of Yotei may be better off ensuring Atsu's pursuit of revenge extends beyond her and emphasizes the political shifts that were taking place during the Edo period, Japan's Tokugawa era.
Presumably, Atsu's homestead was razed to the ground, potentially after her family was killed during a raid. It's possible this happens when she's younger and Ghost of Yotei will then feature a time jump, but that seems unlikely, as the game will likely want players to experience her evolution into the Ghost firsthand. Nevertheless, there is a compelling setup for a revenge tale in Ghost of Yotei, though it could be even more compelling if it extended beyond Atsu's personal craving for vengeance.
Tying Her Journey to Japan's Political Shift Could Raise the Stakes
While tales of revenge can make for fascinating and empowering stories, Japan is transitioning into the Tokugawa era during Ghost of Yotei, and Ezo, while it might be largely autonomous, is still affected by the shifting power dynamics in the mainland. As such, rather than Ghost of Yotei making its story just about Atsu hunting down a list of enemies (as games like Assassin's Creed tend to do), it could make things far more complex by tying her personal journey into the overarching conflict and giving her a greater purpose.
The biggest change happening as Japan shifted into its Tokugawa era was the unification of the country under a centralized shogunate, following the Sengoku (Warring States) period.
Perhaps Atsu meets others along the way who have been wronged by the same group that attacked her homestead, and from there, a story unfolds that reveals corruption in the shogunate. At that point, Ghost of Yotei's story would be less about a personal pursuit of revenge and more about righting an overarching wrong and delivering a people — possibly by freeing or protecting the Ainu, who were indigenous to Ezo at the time. Since Ghost of Yotei has been confirmed to emphasize player choice more, however, it could also give players a chance to choose between a personal revenge story and a corporate liberation path.
Ghost of Yotei clearly has the foundation for a compelling narrative, but it can't allow a singular revenge arc to overshadow the larger upheaval of the Edo period. By linking Atsu's personal loss to an overarching struggle, Ghost of Yotei's story could be far more layered and thought-provoking than it would being a one-way road to revenge.
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
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
