2025 is shaping up to be a great year for Samurai games, especially with titles like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Rise of the Ronin for PC, and Ninja Gaiden dominating the gaming space with their varied approaches to the genre.
With Ubisoft starting its marketing push for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, the Samurai genre has again spiked in popularity.
One Samurai game, however, is also set to release this year, and it’s Sucker Punch’s sequel to Ghost of Tsushima — Ghost of Yotei.
Given Ghost of Tsushima’s success, it’s safe to say that Yotei will follow in its footsteps, ushering in a bigger and bolder era of Samurai games in feudal Japan.
Even with heavy hitters like Ubisoft’s Assassin's Creed: Shadows and Koei Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden, the Ghost series has cemented itself into every gamer’s Samurai fantasies, all thanks to its surgical sword-based gameplay and atmospheric exploration.
Here’s why we think Ghost of Yotei will mark a new saga for the Samurai genre in gaming:
A Fresh Perspective
Unlike Sucker Punch’s 2020 Samurai hit, Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei offers a fresh perspective on Japan 329 years after Jin Sakai’s story.
Players are no longer fighting Mongols on the small island of Tsushima. Instead, we head to Northern Japan, a land dominated by the eponymous Mount Yotei.
We still don’t know how “big” Yotei will be compared to Tsushima, but there’s a significant possibility that the entire Hokkaido region will be explorable. With Mount Yotei on the horizon, roaming these lands could rival Tsushima’s ocean-side beauty.
Hokkaido’s lush plains, snow-capped mountains, and blooming cherry blossoms will undoubtedly make Yotei feel distinct from its predecessor, especially when Sucker Punch has refined its use of nature — such as wind and animals — to guide players, rather than relying on a cluttered UI.
New Ghost
Yotei’s biggest surprise isn’t its brand-new open world but its new protagonist. Jin Sakai’s tale has ended — Atsu’s story is just beginning. She has adopted the “Ghost” persona, clearly carrying forward Jin's legacy.
It’s unclear what their connection is, but taking on the mantle of the Ghost involves more than just a name — it’s a heavy burden rooted in vengeance.
According to the developers, players will have greater agency in shaping Atsu’s story through tough choices and impactful decisions. This is a departure from Jin’s life in Tsushima, where only the final choice significantly influenced the ending.
Who knows? We might even see a branching narrative this time around. It would be exciting to see the Ghost series draw inspiration from CD Projekt Red’s Witcher series, where player choices define the story.
Heightened Combat
It wouldn’t be a Ghost game without Sucker Punch’s finely tuned Samurai combat. Its highly stylized approach sets the Ghost series apart from other Samurai titles.
The blend of stealth and swordplay, popularized by Assassin’s Creed titles before the series shifted focus, remains a defining feature.
Tsushima capitalized on this appeal, offering dynamic and cinematic combat as a wandering vagabond or a silent assassin.
It’s safe to assume that Yotei will improve on the original’s gameplay. Snippets from the reveal trailer suggest the inclusion of dual-wielding, hinting that Atsu can experiment with multiple weapons.
While we haven’t yet seen footage of the stealth gameplay, it seems Sucker Punch is saving it for a future reveal. Hopefully, it will surpass the original.
Adorable Companions
A standout feature teased in the trailer is the inclusion of animal companions. Atsu is seen with a pet wolf by her side. While details are scarce, companions will likely play a vital role in the sequel.
Given Tsushima’s knack for incorporating playful animals to guide players, this mechanic’s return is almost certain. It’s possible that companions could assist in combat, similar to D.D. from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, where an animal ally could stealthily neutralize targets or disrupt enemy movements.
This intriguing addition is one we’re eager to see in action.
Internet Drama
With the resurgence of bad actors populating social media, it’s unsurprising that individuals who don’t align with certain political beliefs have become targets.
GamerGate 2.0’s pathetic harassment campaign against Erika Ishii, the voice actor for Atsu, has had no impact on the game’s growing hype.
Screaming “woke” and “DEI” hasn’t diminished players' excitement, as both the game and Erika remain unfazed by online trolls' ramblings.
This isn’t the first time a Samurai game has faced such backlash. Assassin’s Creed: Shadows initially suffered from a similar false crusade but has since bounced back, with glowing previews fueling its marketing momentum.
Ghost of Yotei, meanwhile, still has some time before its release. According to PlayStation and Sucker Punch Productions, the game is slated for a 2025 launch.
Hopefully, by the end of the year, Atsu will grace our PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro consoles, welcoming us to a new chapter of Samurai storytelling.
In the meantime, maybe we'll get our hands on the Ghost of Tsushima TV show before Yotei.