Ghost Of Yōtei Honest Review: Revenge Hits Different In Snow-Capped Japan, Blending Nostalgia With Renewed Fire

Ghost of Yōtei: It has been two weeks since Sucker Punch's latest title, Ghost Of Yōtei, was introduced, and the game has already sold over 1.5 million copies since its release, which took place on October 2, 2025. Although it is less than what its predecessor had scored in just 3 days, the hype was real, and the game looks even more mesmerising than its predecessor. Not to say that Ghost Of Tsushima lacked anything when it comes to the visual fidelity of the game, and Tsushima fans will agree on this one: it was and is a beautiful game, but Ghost Of Yōtei takes this scenic expedition to another level.

Image Credits: PlayStation

From those scenic uphill valley strolls to gaining that viewpoint from the top of the hill to weapon customisation and gameplay mechanics, here we are to talk about it all and help you decide if you want to take this new expedition which traverses through a new terrain set in the Edo period in Japan 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima took place.

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Game Setting, Region, Characters And Story.

This story, taking place 300 years after the events of Tsushima, takes you to the northern tip of Japan this time; you can expect foothills, snowy terrain and the snow-capped Mount Yōtei. This is where we start with our protagonist, Atsu, who had witnessed the murder of her parents as a child by the Yōtei 6, a group of renegade samurai. The story runs through a typical hero vs villain format where our protagonist is out for revenge. Even though the basic structure of the game might seem a lot like Tsushima, it is a completely new game altogether, although the core idea still remains that it is a continuation of its predecessor.

Image Credits: PlayStation

This new title comes with a much bigger open world, something we all love, a lot more side missions, and overall a lot more to do in snow-capped Japan. Although it must be noted that it would not feel like a complete overhaul from Ghost Of Tsushima, but it improves upon it and has a lot more of it. It might not be a smack in the face for some people, something that Tsushima was, but don't get me wrong, it is all what the fans have wanted.

Here there is one main difference: when it comes to the protagonist, Atsu is not a samurai like Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima. Was; she is a brute, not concerned with the concepts of honour and pride, a mercenary life, something Assassin's Creed fans will relate to. This very fact translates into the core gameplay mechanics: the use of weapons, fighting style, and interaction with the environment and other characters in the world are different.

Image Credits: PlayStation

Another major difference this time is the amount of freedom players will have. This title is extremely non-linear, which is personally my favourite thing to have in a game. In this, players will have the choice of dealing with any six of the members of Yōtei 6 in any manner or order you want, and all this is very organically portrayed in the game, so you don't feel like you are being led by an algorithm but by something you are unearthing yourself.

Although there is a lot that is still the same, like following the foxes and the birds, it feels a lot like revisiting Ghost of Tsushima, but I think it gives it a nice nostalgic touch from its predecessor.

The Combat

This is one of the main characteristics of any action RPG game, and just like its predecessor, Ghost Of Yōtei is everything you want from a combat-centric melee-style game. Combat is extremely satisfying, from those slashes to those perfect parry clangs that feel surreal to pull off; the face-offs and duels and that subtle gore where you chop off an arm still feel very real and organic. The combat builds upon its predecessor, not much different from it but very satisfying.

Image Credits: PlayStation

The Katana stances have been replaced. I was a bit sceptical at first, but the game effortlessly translates this style of gameplay to many other weapons. That means more weapons and more moves and more situational combat awareness; all this adds to the authenticity and originality of the game. Some of the weapons you will get to see here are the katana, dual katana, odachi and spear, all having their unique set of moves, their own skill trees and spirit abilities and having different use cases against different kinds of enemies.

Another interesting thing here is that even enemies might switch weapons mid-fight, and that would prompt you to do the same to counter them; it brings a fresh breeze of originality and authenticity. Each weapon and fighting style can be mastered deeply and is very satisfying.

Image Credits: PlayStation

Ranged weapons are still here, like arrows having little tweaks in them. You will also find some very useful throwables like firebombs, etc., like last time, but it still feels new and real, and your classic burst of dirt in enemies' eyes mid-fight makes it all the more natural.

Stealth combat starts off with simple stuff and might not sweep you off in the first go, but it builds its potency as you progress through the game.

Cosmetics

This part is a lot like its predecessor, but this time you have a lot more options when it comes to how you want to look, so you can go from a rogue Ronnan to a stealth ninja in no time, and yes, there is a photo mode, so you are free to experiment with those skins.

Gameplay

This time you can just camp anywhere you feel like and accordingly craft throwables and arrows and cook food. What's interesting is that you might occasionally encounter various ammo sellers, armour dealers, etc., who might come to you where you are camping, and you can sort out your business there. It's not a game-changing element, but it does add a subtle nice touch to the overall feel.

Image Credits: PlayStation

The world is significantly bigger. The grasslands are vast, and the mountains are gigantic, and the sense of scale is baffling; this is a massive upgrade from its predecessor.

Now we don't pay much heed to this specific component in games, but I feel this is the final touch that makes your experience evermore memorable, and it's the music and background score, and it seems to be a notch better than the predecessor, and in my opinion it sounds fantastic, from those combat standoffs to those times where you are just exploring and that ambient sound takes over.

Verdict

Now this definitely is a sequel to the legendary Ghost of Tsushima, but there is a lot more packed in it. There are several components you might love or despise, like the fact that the predecessor had a sole focus on katana-based combat. For some that was enough, but here you get a lot more experimenting to do, which might be appealing to others. As you progress, the game becomes more rewarding and engaging while keeping the natural milieu and its core alive.

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Visually, in my opinion, after Ghost Of Tsushima and the two latest God Of War games, this definitely stands at the top, even beating its predecessor; it's mesmerising and gorgeous. It might feel like a slow burn, but it will get you hooked for hours. In my opinion this is, if not the best, one of the best titles to play if you are a person who enjoys vast open worlds and some good adventure/RPG action. Ghost Of Yōtei has it all.