Ghost of Yotei launches today for PlayStation 5, bringing players a visually striking samurai revenge tale that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima. The game, developed by Sucker Punch Productions, has earned strong critical praise with a Metacritic score around 87.
Set in 1603 in Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido), the story follows Atsu, a vengeful warrior hunting the Yotei Six who murdered her family sixteen years ago. Unlike the more honor-bound protagonist of Tsushima, Atsu embraces her role as an onryō (vengeful ghost), delivering bloody justice across northern Japan. While sharing themes with Ghost of Tsushima, this is a standalone experience with no direct story connection.
The combat system has evolved significantly, allowing players to wield multiple weapon types including katana, dual katana, odachi, kusarigama, and yari (spear). Each weapon offers unique combat advantages against different enemy types. The fighting is described by reviewers as visceral and brutal, requiring strategic weapon choices and well-timed parries to overcome challenging opponents.
Visually, the game sets a new standard for PlayStation 5 exclusives. The landscapes feature ginkgo trees, distant mountains, rivers filled with fish, and weather effects including snow and rain. The world design focuses on organic exploration, with features like bounty boards, cartographer maps, hot springs, and altars encouraging players to discover the map naturally rather than following quest markers.
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New players should focus on completing the Old Inn quest early to unlock core vendors and the bounty board. Finding watchtowers reveals points of interest, while rescuing characters like Taro provides access to valuable merchants. Early-game charms worth seeking include Kanayago (which increases metal collection) and Bountiful Harvest (boosting wood and plant gathering).
A mandatory day-one update (Version 1.006) addresses ray-tracing lighting consistency, mission performance with high NPC counts, camera refinements, and economy balance. Players purchasing physical discs must install this update before playing.
In India, the Standard Edition costs Rs 4,999 while the Digital Deluxe is priced at Rs 5,599, with midnight retail launches held in Delhi. The game goes live October 2 at midnight local time worldwide, with no early access or preloading available.
For collectors, an official merchandise lineup includes items from Youtooz (Atsu figure), Mondo (art print by Yuko Shimizu), Insert Coin (apparel), Fangamer (pins and sake set), and Prime 1 Studio (quarter-scale statue).
With its compelling revenge narrative, stunning visuals, and refined combat system, Ghost of Yotei stands as one of 2025’s most impressive PlayStation exclusives so far, though players will need to wait until 2026 for the return of the Legends multiplayer mode.