There were a lot of exciting announcements at the recent State of Play, but Ghost of Yotei definitely stole the show. News of a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima has been long-awaited, but Ghost of Yotei took many by surprise. Not only is the game set over 300 years after the events of its predecessor, but it's introducing a brand-new protagonist.
Atsu, a female Ronin, takes the stage as Ghost of Yotei's lead. It was both a shocking and thrilling revelation, but there has also been sadness in regard to Jin Sakai being taken out of the picture. Much of the speculation surrounding a sequel predicted that a follow-up would revolve around the second Mongol invasion of Japan that happened only a few years after the first. Sucker Punch making the bold decision to make the Ghost of Tsushima franchise more of an anthology is ultimately a stronger move, but that doesn't mean Jin Sakai is completely gone as a character.
Best Games To Play If You Love Ghost Of Tsushima
After finishing Ghost of Tsushima, players craving a similar experience can try out a few of these games that share comparable attributes.
Ghost of Yotei Still Leaves Room For Jin Sakai's Presence
Bringing a New Meaning to the Ghost of Tsushima Name
With Ghost of Yotei taking place 300 years after its predecessor, Jin is clearly dead. However, this doesn't mean he can't live on in some capacity. Jin's story and the events of Ghost of Tsushima have likely become legends that are passed down from generation to generation, making Jin a folk hero. He can still live on through stories, and this presents plenty of opportunities for the character to be mentioned and hinted at during various points in Ghost of Yotei's story.
Whether it be through interactions with descendants or writings found throughout the game, Jin can still be an important presence, even if he is not physically there. Showcasing a new region and era of Japan is an intriguing change, and it could be fascinating to see how Jin's story has evolved through word-of-mouth storytelling. Despite many decades passing since Ghost of Tsushima, Jin's efforts to push back the Mongols wouldn't be forgotten. There is even the possibility that Atsu could potentially be a descendant of Jin. Since the announcement of the sequel is fresh, there is barely anything known about the character, but being part of Jin's lineage isn't off the table.
Ghost of Yotei takes place in the Ezo region in 1603. At the time, this was an area outside of Japan's rule.
It would also be a beautiful way to pay homage to the franchise's "ghost" title if Jin were to subtly haunt the story in some small way. A Sucker Punch dev has hinted that Ghost of Yotei may be the first of many spin-off stories. Creating a chain reaction of each preceding protagonist touching the story in an unexpected way may be a smart way to make the games feel connected while also standing on their own.
Ghost of Yotei is a Bold and Promising Choice
Sucker Punch Taking Chances
Ghost of Tshusima and Ghost of Yotei setting the stage for a new ongoing PlayStation franchise shows that Sucker Punch isn't afraid to take risks, and that's exciting. The developer could have easily gone the expected route and featured the second Mongol invasion, but it chose fresh storytelling over the clear path forward. Although Ghost of Yotei's appearance matches its predecessor, it's clear that the game also aims to be its own special stand-alone story.
Despite controversy surrounding Ghost of Yotei's new protagonist, Atsu and her story are promising another beautiful and violent adventure on the horizon. Sucker Punch has shocked many with this change of direction, and it could pay off in spades if the story is on par, or even better, than its predecessor. Jin may be physically long gone, but his spirit will likely still be present.
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
