Ghost of Yōtei: 15 Things That Have Us Hyped

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Instead of completely restarting with a new design, Ghost of Yōtei builds upon the solid foundation of Jin Sakai’s journey in Tsushima, while also introducing a new main character: Atsu. She’s a serious and reserved character who draws power from Japanese folklore to intimidate those who have harmed her. While her story of revenge isn’t new, Sucker Punch is using it to explore innovative ideas within a world that feels more detailed, expansive, and engaging than the original game. Here are 15 things we’re excited to experience in Ghost of Yōtei.

Just to clarify before we go on, everything you’ll see and hear in this video is taken from official sources. We want to assure you of its authenticity and reliability.

Embody Atsu’s Motivation

Atsu isn’t a samurai. She lacks any real position or standing in 17th-century Japan and isn’t connected to established customs. It’s 1603 – sixteen years after a violent group murdered her family – and when she returns to Ezo, near Mount Yōtei, she’s already living like a phantom. The sword she carries fuels her forward; it’s the very blade her attackers used to leave her for dead, impaled on a burning gingko tree. Transforming this reminder of her suffering into a tool for revenge is a powerful and visually striking way to develop her character, making her journey feel deeply personal, incredibly determined, and something we’re eager to experience firsthand.

Channel the Onryō’s Persona

Perhaps the most well-known ghost in Japanese folklore is the yurei-often depicted as pale women with long, dark hair covering their faces and wearing white kimonos. Within this category is the onryō, a “vengeful spirit” who tirelessly hunts down those who harmed them when they were alive. Atsu intentionally embodies the characteristics of an onryō, and as a solitary mercenary fueled by revenge, she becomes a living onryō, striking fear into the hearts of the men of Ezo who speak of her in hushed tones.

The list of those doomed to die – compiled by her vengeful spirit, or onryō – is presented through shodō, the beautiful Japanese art of calligraphy using a brush and ink. This artistic choice portrays her revenge not just as violent, but as a thoughtful, almost spiritual act, implying Atsu’s murders are performed as a ritual as much as out of pure rage. Becoming the onryō isn’t simply how Atsu carries out her revenge; it also represents the heavy emotional burden it will place on her, leading us to wonder if she can complete this journey without being fundamentally changed.

Relive Atsu’s Childhood

A key goal for Sucker Punch with this new game is to create a strong emotional connection between the player and Atsu’s reasons for acting. When players return to her home country, they can shift between Atsu’s current experiences and flashbacks, actually experiencing her memories. With a single button press, her once-destroyed childhood home is restored to its original, beautiful state – a bright and inviting place where players can share in the happiness of Atsu’s family life before everything changed. This feature isn’t just about seeing what Atsu has lost; it’s about feeling it.

Set up Camp Anywhere

A particularly well-designed aspect of Ghost of Yōtei’s open world is Atsu’s ability to set up camp in almost any location. This allows her to pause, rest, and gather her thoughts as she travels, maintaining the feeling of a continuous journey. Camp isn’t just for eating, sleeping, and getting ready for fights; it’s also a central point where merchants come to trade and instructors offer new weapon techniques. This feature quietly changes how open world games feel, reducing the annoyance of having to return to places and the jarring effect of fast travel, ultimately keeping players more engaged with Atsu’s world.

Explore Yōtei’s Meditative Diversions

Hot springs offered Jin Sakai crucial opportunities for contemplation in Ghost of Tsushima, and honing his bamboo strikes strengthened his determination. However, Atsu’s story introduces even greater possibilities for pausing and appreciating the moment. Activities like first-person Sumi-e painting and playing the Shamisen beside a fire aren’t just new pastimes; they’re invitations for players to briefly leave the battles behind and find a moment of peaceful meditation, allowing us to share in Atsu’s calm reflections.

Chart New Paths with the Spyglass

Honestly, Sucker Punch isn’t kidding when they say Atsu’s spyglass is the best way to experience Ghost of Yōtei. It’s seriously amazing. When you raise it and scan the horizon, you start seeing all these cool places – new locations glinting in the distance, smoke from villages rising up, and even waterfalls tumbling down the mountains. What I really love is being able to mark those spots as destinations, then just letting the wind guide Atsu. It feels so natural and relaxed, like a real journey of exploration. The spyglass isn’t just a map; it feels like a living part of the world, helping you connect with the landscape organically.

Dress to Impress

During the Ghost of Yōtei’s State of Play presentation, it was revealed that Atsu will find new armour and clothes while exploring Ezo. Players can then mix and match these items to create outfits suited to how they like to play. To address a drawback in Ghost of Tsushima, each outfit seems to have three preset save slots, allowing Atsu to quickly switch between them. You can also customize how each outfit looks, choosing from a wide range of colors and materials. This ensures that every outfit – and its special benefits – can be selected, even if you don’t like its initial design.

Equip Charms 

Atsu expresses herself through her clothing, and with the return of the charm system in Ghost of Yōtei, players can customize her look and abilities to fit how they play. By choosing the right charms, players who prefer stealth can become even more hidden, those who like close combat can make their attacks more powerful, and those who prefer ranged attacks can improve their accuracy. Just like in the original game, charms are found by exploring the world – by paying respects at Alters of Reflection, finishing side quests, and building Atsu’s reputation throughout Ezo, which directly links exploration to her increasing strength.

Befriend the Wolf

The wolf in Ghost of Yōtei is still somewhat of an enigma, as we don’t have many specifics about what it does. It won’t be with Atsu all the time, but will show up based on what’s happening in the game. It will help Atsu with both sneaking around and fighting, and it even has its own set of skills to upgrade.

Hunt Down Bounties

A common feature in open world games, Ghost of Yōtei’s bounty system lets players hunt down wanted criminals in the game world and earn money for doing so. However, the game uses bounties as a way to let players experience the harsh criminal side of Ezo. Taking on these bounties leads to interesting situations, and each criminal requires different skills and tactics to defeat. As shown in the gameplay reveal, Black Powder Ippei defends his camp with makeshift cannons, while Crow Genzo – an assassin who feeds his victims to crows – challenges players to a deadly fight in a peaceful, lilac-blue meadow.

Master the Blade

Atsu has five different weapons at her disposal – the katana, spear, kusarigama (a weapon with a chain and weighted end), ōdachi (a long blade), and dual swords – and each one works best against certain enemies. Battles aren’t repetitive either, as enemies will change weapons during combat, requiring Atsu to quickly adjust her strategy. What really makes the game special is the ability to observe enemies and learn how they fight. As Atsu progresses, she’ll search for locations where enemies skilled in specific weapons are found – like strong samurai or cunning ninja – to both defeat them and learn their techniques.

Interrogate Atsu’s Enemies

In Ghost of Yōtei, information is incredibly important – as valuable as steel. Atsu often questions enemies after defeating them, and this connects directly to the game’s “Clue Card” system. When enemies are defeated and at Atsu’s mercy, they’ll reveal details about hidden places, important people, or key parts of the story. Each piece of information is recorded as a physical card in Atsu’s journal, allowing players to choose which clues to gather and when, and essentially create their own experience with Atsu’s story.

Kill the Yōtei Six

Atsu’s desire for revenge is embodied by the Yōtei Six. This group, led by the outlaw samurai Lord Saitō, is responsible for the murder of her family, the destruction of her home, and leaving her to die. The members – known as the Snake, Oni, Kitsune, Spider, and Dragon – each represent a unique personality, a difficult battle, and a key element in understanding Atsu’s past trauma. Tracking them down across Ezo prepares Atsu for six final confrontations, and with each name crossed off her list of vengeful spirits, she moves closer to inner peace.

Play the Special Director Modes

What truly makes Ghost of Yōtei visually captivating are the special director modes. These modes let you change Atsu’s story to feel like classic mid-century Japanese films, action-packed adventures with a dark, funny edge, or a unique blend of relaxing chillhop music and traditional Edo-period art. Kurosawa Mode mimics the style of the famous director, using grainy, high-contrast black and white visuals. Miike Mode makes fights close and intense, like those in Takashi Miike’s films. Shinichirō Watanabe’s Watanabe Mode combines the anime director’s love of mixing cultures with the game’s open world, using lofi music to enhance exploration. These aren’t just simple filters; they fundamentally change how you play and experience the game.

Team Up in Legends

Even after the main story and Atsu’s adventure conclude, the world of Ghost of Yōtei will continue. Sucker Punch has announced that Legends – the popular cooperative multiplayer mode from Ghost of Tsushima – is coming back, featuring completely new challenges. Players can join forces in two-player story missions and four-player survival matches, using all they’ve learned as Atsu to battle mythical foes, including enormous, demonic versions of the Yōtei Six. It’s a fantastic way to continue the fight for revenge when it arrives as a free update in 2026.

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2025-10-02 20:43