Ghost of Yōtei Review — A Gorgeous Samurai Epic That Asks: What Happens After Revenge?

Ghost of Yōtei is Sucker Punch’s standalone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima. It is an open-world samurai action game set in Japan’s Ezo region around 1603, and it follows a new protagonist named Atsu as she hunts the masked villains called the Yōtei Six.

1. Overview
2. World design and navigation
3. Combat and mechanics
4. Story and themes
5. Presentation and special modes
6. Release and review details

Overview

Ghost of Yōtei is a PlayStation 5 exclusive from Sucker Punch. It continues the studio’s action-adventure lineage, and it focuses on a revenge-driven tale about Atsu, who takes on the title of *Onryō* as she hunts down the Yōtei Six. The game uses an open-world structure with a mix of main targets, sidequests, collectibles, and bounties.

World design and navigation

The game is set around Mount Yōtei in a sparsely populated region of Ezo. Consequently, the world emphasizes natural vistas, small settlements, and scenic vistas rather than dense towns and castles. Moreover, navigation leans on diegetic cues rather than constant HUD markers: wind gusts can point toward objectives, golden birds mark hot springs (which increase health), and the sound of a crying fox signals nearby dens.

Additionally, there is a redesigned interface that presents active quests as cards, and a traditional map remains available for players who prefer it. Early parts of the game allow some freedom in choosing the order of target hunts, but later sections follow a more traditional open-world rhythm that alternates between main missions, side content, and activities.

Combat and mechanics

Combat builds on Sucker Punch’s prior work with close-quarters swordplay and one-on-one duels. The game keeps standoffs, stealth assassinations, and perk-granting charms, while adding a broader arsenal of weapons. For example, players can use a Kusarigama to break shields and an Odachi for heavy armored foes. There are also pistols, bombs, and kunai for ranged or tactical options.

Enemies display different rhythms in duels, so single encounters can feel distinct. In addition, Atsu has a bond with Ezo’s wildlife: wolves will sometimes join battles to aid her. The title includes quick items, varied loadouts, and the usual open-world systems such as bounties and collectibles.

Story and themes

Atsu’s backstory is straightforward: as a child she witnessed her family’s murder and has lived with a vow to take down the killers. The antagonists are organized as the Yōtei Six, which gives the main story a clear set of targets. The narrative centers on purpose after violence, asking what life might look like once a campaign of revenge ends.

Notably, a quiet in-game moment asks a direct question: “What role do you play in this world?” That line surfaces the game’s theme about life beyond conflict, and it frames Atsu’s journey not only as vengeance but also as a search for meaning.

Presentation and special modes

Visually, the game mixes realistic landscapes with stylized flourishes such as patterned flower fields and dramatic lighting. In addition, Ghost of Yōtei offers a selection of visual and audio modes. For example, there is a black-and-white “Kurosawa mode” and an additional mode inspired by animator Shinichirō Watanabe that swaps the main score for *lo-fi* beats. The DualSense touchpad is used for a sumi-e painting minigame.

Overall, the presentation aims for a cinematic, epic feel, using music and visuals to evoke period-piece atmosphere while retaining modern open-world design choices.

Release and review details

Ghost of Yōtei will be released on October 2 for PlayStation 5. The review that informed this summary was based on a prerelease PS5 build provided by Sony.

Key facts recap: setting: Ezo, year: circa 1603, protagonist: Atsu, antagonists: Yōtei Six, platform: PS5, release date: Oct. 2.