Ghost of Yotei – 14 Details You May Not Know

Sucker Punch is preparing to release a game fans have been eagerly anticipating since finishing Jin Sakai’s story of redemption and loss in 2020. We’re referring to Ghost of Yotei, which appears to be a bold new take on the open-world samurai gameplay the studio created in the first game.

A recent gameplay presentation during a State of Play event, combined with a detailed interview featuring Nate Fox, the game’s Creative Director, has revealed a lot about the exploration and combat we can expect when the game is released. This gives us a good idea of what to expect once we get our hands on it.

We have enough information to say this game is absolutely worth considering. However, if you’re still unsure, here are 14 things you should know before purchasing Ghost of Yotei.

Note: All information in this feature has been revealed officially.

1. A More Organic Open World

Sucker Punch is excited about a fresh take on how the game’s open world works. Although Ezo is similar in size to Tsushima, players will probably be able to explore the whole map soon after the opening story. Fox mentioned there would be “a little bit of gating”, meaning only small areas might be initially inaccessible, unlike the first game where larger portions were blocked off.

This is a smart option because it lets Atsu explore various parts of Ezo without needing to advance the main storyline. This ultimately creates a more captivating and immersive experience. It’s a good way to offer more freedom and engagement to the player, allowing them to experience the world at their own pace. This choice really enhances the gameplay.

2. Better Riding Controls

Fox highlighted that a new jumping ability for your horse is one of his favorite additions. This feature not only speeds up travel – and complements paths that already boost speed – but also promises to make exploring the game world much easier. While the developers haven’t confirmed if it will impact combat, it definitely makes distant locations more appealing and accessible. Visiting those interesting spots on the map just got a lot easier, and a lot more fun.

3. Weapon Masters

Atsu doesn’t just use her katana as she seeks to deliver her own brand of justice to the Yotei Six; she finds many different weapons during her travels (we’ll detail those shortly). Similar to how Jin learned archery from Sensei Ishikawa in the first game, she’ll need to find experts in each weapon type and learn to use them effectively against her foes.

Instead of stances, this game features weapons, and each one is most effective against a specific enemy type. Because of this, finding these weapon masters early in the game is important-similar to how Jin Sakai used to study Mongol leaders to learn new stances in the previous game.

Maybe some characters will look for Atsu when she sets up camp while exploring? We’ll just have to wait and find out.

4. Don’t Neglect The Ones Who Help You

The game features a fresh take on clue cards and a redesigned journal, making it much easier to follow your quests. But you’ll still need to work at building strong relationships with the allies you meet. According to Fox, doing so comes with benefits – a good rapport with key characters could unlock valuable rewards like powerful gear, weapons, or other items that will help you track down the Yotei Six.

5. The Yotei Six

Fox also stated that the Yotei Six play crucial roles in the narrative and won’t be found simply by wandering around Ezo. Key story missions will likely revolve around each of them, and you’ll need to complete side quests to uncover details about their history and find people who might have information about them.

This approach fits well with the studio’s focus on letting players explore naturally, giving them the freedom to wander and see where their journey leads. Given how beautiful the world Sucker Punch has built this time, we think that’s a great thing.

6. Returning Side Activities

Fox has announced that Bamboo Strikes will return in Ghost of Yotei. These are just one of many activities players can enjoy, potentially leading to extensive map exploration and a focus shifting away from the primary storyline.

He also readily noted that the game focuses on offering diverse discoveries during your journeys, which reflects Sucker Punch’s fresh take on exploration within the game.

7. Sumi-e Is A New Addition

Atsu will have a stronger connection to her surroundings, and she even enjoys Sumi-e, a Japanese painting style that focuses on depicting fascinating creatures in beautiful settings. While Assassin’s Creed Shadows included this art form in its version of ancient Japan, Ghost of Yotei is approaching it in a slightly new way.

Fox has confirmed that Sumi-e will effectively utilize the DualSense 5’s touchpad. This will make the gameplay much more engaging than just quietly approaching an animal and then simply watching a pre-recorded scene.

8. There’s Going To Be a Lot of Fighting

Although the Yotei Six will be strong challengers, Atsu will have plenty of other chances to face powerful enemies. The game is adding bounty hunts as another optional activity, providing one way to find them.

We’re hoping Sucker Punch will revisit the memorable Six Blades of Kojiro quest from the last game, perhaps with a fresh approach. However, if you’re primarily interested in the sword fighting, you’ll find plenty of it here.

9. The Platinum Trophy

Fox mentioned that earning the Platinum Trophy in Ghost of Yotei shouldn’t be too difficult. This suggests the game will likely focus more on gameplay and less on finding extremely hidden items – something we didn’t enjoy as much in the original game.

Atsu’s shamisen also works like the Traveller’s Attire from the first game. It lets her learn songs that use the guiding wind to show her where specific collectibles are located while exploring the open world. This will be very helpful when you’re trying to find all the treasures Ezo has to offer.

10. Pick Up Your Weapons

We were really impressed with the game’s combat during the State of Play showcase, but we were a little concerned about the possibility of losing weapons during fights. To be clear, we think being able to disarm opponents-or having *our* weapons taken-is a great addition to what already looks like a strong combat system.

Losing a weapon – which is like losing one of your fighting styles – would have been frustrating, and you’d then have to search everywhere to get it back. Luckily, Fox has confirmed that you can recover weapons you’ve been forced to drop, meaning Atsu will always have the tools she needs to fight enemies of different strengths. This is a smart design choice that guarantees we always have options available when we’re exploring.

11. Firearms Are Now A Thing

The story takes place roughly 300 years after the original game, so adding firearms feels like a natural progression. It also has the potential to significantly improve the combat. Atsu, working as a mercenary, might acquire some unique weapons, which she can then use against anyone who stands between her and her quest for revenge against the Yotei Six.

I just watched the new trailer, and wow, it really showed off this new weapon type with some seriously explosive action! If you’re curious to see how it changes up the gameplay, I’d definitely recommend checking it out. It looks like it’ll really factor into everything you do, and I’m super excited to try it!

12. You Get To Wield an Odachi

Regarding trailers, another one highlighted Odachis – these are two-handed katanas and represent one of the new weapon types that Atsu will need to learn in the game. As you’d imagine, they look fantastic and could easily become our preferred weapon during her journey, though the kusarigama also appears to be a strong contender!

13. The Giants of Yotei

The Legends mode is scheduled to introduce a distinctive and chaotic multiplayer co-op experience in 2026. The Yotei Six will be a key part of the new enemies that Sucker Punch is including in the game.

We really do mean that! The developers shared in a PlayStation blog post that players will likely face “demonic, giant versions” of the game’s enemies. It’s definitely something to anticipate, though perhaps with a little bit of nervousness.

14. Atsu Has No Connection to Jin

It’s now very clear that Atsu and Jin won’t have any connection, as Fox has repeatedly confirmed that Ghost of Yotei tells a standalone story. Though many of us were hoping to see the original Ghost appear in some way, we’re confident that Atsu’s story will be a strong addition to the series, no matter how she decides to become an onryo haunting the Yotei Six.

2025-10-01 20:19