Ghost of Yotei Reviews

Ghost of Yotei is a safe sequel, and in some ways, that’s a great thing and will be precisely what a lot of people wanted. For me, however, I was hoping to see some large improvements from Ghost of Tsushima, rather than a reskin.

Ghost of Yotei builds on the foundation of its predecessor and offers more polished gameplay, but its uninspired tale of vengeance drags instead of soars.

Ghost of Yōtei is a great evolution by the foundation that Sucker Punch built with Ghost of Tsushima. While the story feels like a retread of every other revenge story of the past few years, complete with the same frustrating pitfalls, the characters, new gameplay mechanics, and extra content make for a game that will hook you from beginning to end. I can't wait to see how Sucker Punch continues to expand the game and the franchise in new and exciting ways.

Ghost of Yotei is here and it's one phenomenal game that's jam-packed with rewarding gameplay and gorgeous sights so here we go, chums.

Although Ghost of Yotei lacks a cohesive and well-executed main story, it makes up for that with its vastly improved combat and world design. It obviously doesn't do anything mind-blowing for the open-world genre, but it refines nearly every aspect that made Tsushima special while carving out its own unique identity. Atsu’s journey delivers both emotional depth and visceral action through her mastery of various weapons, supported by a beautifully crafted world that feels alive without overwhelming you with a boatload of recurring side activities. It’s a love letter to revenge tale media rather than the traditional samurai cinema and players who still adore the gameplay-focused prowess of Sucker Punch—moreover, it's also a reminder that sometimes, a safe sequel can still be satisfying to play.

Ghost of Yōtei is an incredible sequel that builds upon its predecessor while still finding ways to stand out on its own.

A storm of blood, wind, and revenge in feudal Japan.

Sucker Punch's eleventh game since its foundation, Ghost of Yōtei, launches in a week on PlayStation 5. It's been well over five years since the launch of Ghost of Tsushima, the longest time span between Sucker Punch games in the studio's history, but that's no big surprise considering that the development of triple-A games continues to get longer and more challenging. Make no mistake: Ghost of Yōtei is absolutely a triple-A game at its core, and it couldn't be any different given the enormous success of its predecessor (which I loved, as you might recall).

Ghost of Yotei delivers stunning landscapes, a vibrant cast, and combat that’s sleeker, bloodier, and more varied than its predecessor. This is Sucker Punch Productions’ samurai saga at its very best.

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Ghost of Yotei is another high-quality and seriously cinematic PS5 exclusive. It offers few new ideas compared to its predecessor, and the segmented nature of its main campaign makes the story feel repetitive. However, what it lacks in originality it makes up for with brilliantly brutal combat, a sizeable open-world stuffed with distractions and stunning visuals, especially on PS5 Pro.

A predictable but well-executed story takes you through Ghost of Yotei's gorgeous landscapes and satisfying, fluid action – it may not be revolutionizing open world games, but it's a great distillation of the samurai fantasy.

On top of its gripping narrative, expanded weapon variety, and redefined approach to open-world game design, Ghost of Yōtei is a must-play and instant classic on PlayStation 5.

Foregoing genre-advancing substance and texture for impeccable style, Ghost of Yotei feels like a cowed shadow of its full potential. Those looking for a departure from checklist-oriented open-world gameplay will be disappointed. The title lands as generic, risk-averse, rigid, and safe.

At its core, Ghost of Yotei is another tale of revenge, but it’s the way it frames that theme—through Atsu’s humanity, the land of Ezo, and the people within it—that makes the experience truly worthwhile.

The landscapes of Ezo (Hokkaidō, in modern parlance) are a constant distraction as you embark on Atsu's quest for revenge against the fiends who killed her family, the Yotei Six. In an attempt to capture Ghost of Yotei's "natural" beauty, I took more than 120 screenshots in photo mode during my playthrough with only the camera position and the focal length altered; 15 of my favorites are compiled in the image galleries below. Becoming enthralled by Ghost of Yotei's atmosphere can be sublime. Still, you have to make an effort to fulfill its wandering samurai fantasy, even with its admirable attempt at avoiding common pitfalls of similar open-world action RPGs.

While fans of the original may initially find it more iterative than evolutionary, Atsu's quest for vengeance is an incredible new tale from Sucker Punch that expands on Tsushima in all the best ways.

A worthy successor, this new legend in the Ghost saga stands on its own, and as tall as Mount Yōtei itself. Ghost of Yōtei takes the foundation of Ghost of Tsushima and builds something even better on it. Atsu’s journey to take on the Yōtei Six is magnificent, and backed by some of the best mechanics, visuals, sound, and immersive elements Sucker Punch has ever crafted.

Ghost of Yōtei is that rare sequel that not only maintains the essence of its highly successful predecessor, but also qualitatively leapfrogs it in just about every meaningful way and metric. Underscored by a grippingly furious tale of revenge inspired by a layer cake of classic Japanese samurai cinema, the best combat ever seen in a samurai title and the most compelling open world since Red Dead Redemption 2, Ghost Of Yōtei is a jaw-dropping demonstration of Sucker Punch Productions operating at the peak of its considerable powers. Ghost of Yōtei redefines the term ‘must-have’ and wholly validates PlayStation Studios broader approach to embracing single-player epics such as this.

I have spent 60 hours exploring Ezo in Ghost of Yōtei, experiencing Atsu’s story, hunting bounties, tackling side missions, searching out the side activities, and of hunting the forces of the Yōtei Six. After all of that time, I can say Ghost of Yōtei is a game that is engaging with a world that feels so natural to explore and it is a near perfect experience.

Ghost of Yotei separates itself from the original game in all the right ways, improving and iterating on everything from combat to quest design. This is what a sequel should be. This is why we play video games.

Ghost of Yotei is shaped by Atsu, its new protagonist, as you're propelled on a gripping tale of revenge amidst the backdrop of Feudal Japan's contrasting beauty and violence

Ghost of Yotei is a genuine masterpiece that takes up the mantle dropped by Tsushima and runs with it.

Sucker Punch had the difficult task of improving on a game some might consider perfect. Not only did they complete the task, but made it look effortless with Ghost of Yotei. The game has all the same great elements that made the original so enjoyable, yet improved on practically every aspect with hardly any flaws.

Sucker Punch's sequel offers more great swordplay and heartfelt storytelling, but would be better served as a linear action game, freed of its poor sidequests and dated open world.

A true love letter to classic samurai films, Ghost of Yotei is wonderfully presented and an absolute joy to play. Its stunningly-realised world will have you immersed from the outset, spurring you to explore and discover its secrets in order to develop Atsu into a fearsome ghost. And its combat remains thrilling throughout.

In Ezo, Japan, beneath the shadow of Mount Yotei, order is crumbling. A band of warriors known as the Yotei Six acts with impunity, taking what they want and consolidating their power. The Snake, the Oni, the Kitsune, the Spider, and the Dragon, led by the evil Lord Saito, have left countless victims in their wake. Towns and villages burn, and corpses sink slowly into the churned mud of the battlefields that spread across the land. Families are fragmented as innocents are slain, and survivors must decide to run or accept the whims of their lords. Few people dream of better days, and those who do tend to suffer the consequences as the Yotei Six turn their attentions toward them.

Ghost of Yotei feels a little like the PS5 exclusive we’ve been waiting for, and a truly great sequel - though not quite a perfect one. Its visceral, bloody combat, wonderful world and map, sense of exploration, and gripping epic tale are true highlights. And while there are a few imperfections, and it really does wear the influence of its predecessor boldly on its sleeve, it's an adventure and landscape to sink hours and hours of enjoyment into.

Working your way through lists in a video game can be incredibly satisfying. Whether it’s collecting items or completing missions, there is just something enticing about listing out your plans and marking them as complete one by one. Ghost of Yōtei understands this intimately and capitalizes on it by starting with protagonist Atsu literally writing out her hit list of the six men who took everything from her. You even use the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller’s touchpad to write out the...

Ghost of Yotei is one of the best games I’ve ever played. From top to bottom, beginning to end, it is the epitome of what Triple-A game developers should strive for. It completely delivers on all fronts – combat, narrative, visuals, world-building, and audio. But, most importantly, it’s simply a ton of fun. Sucker Punch Productions has raised the bar to a seemingly insurmountable height. When it’s all said and done, people will look back at this generation and regard Ghost of Yotei as a true magnum opus. It’s games like these that remind me just how special the medium can be.

Ghost of Yōtei is an incredible sequel, filled with moments that will stay with me for a long time. It feels like the first party exclusive we've been waiting for, with Sucker Punch continuing to hit its stride.

Ghost of Yōtei is an improvement on Tsushima when measured by almost any metric. The beautiful open world is dense and invites exploration, the combat is tighter and more varied, but it’s Atsu’s personal, honest story of revenge and self-reflection that makes this an unforgettable masterpiece.

Ghost of Yotei pulls out all the classic video game stops to give you the best version of an experience you've played before.