Ghost of Yotei Review: An Exceptional, Intimate Journey of Blood and Steel

Ghost of Yotei on PS5 Pro

Reborn in Flames

As the gigantic gingko tree burns in the yard of protagonist Atsu’s homestead, the flames beckon the origins of a revenge tale that embraces destruction, yet through the trials and tribulations, it also nurtures the shoots of hope.

From its opening moments, Sucker Punch Productions‘ Ghost of Yotei makes it clear that this is a story steeped in violence — but it is also an intimate journey that delivers so much more. With a deft use of colours, motifs, history, environment, and a narrative driven by Atsu and a stellar supporting cast, the adventure that awaits is quite exceptional and unforgettable.

A New Land, A New Ghost

Hokkaido/Ezo replaces Tsushima’s golden fields with snow-swept forests, frozen lakes, and wind-carved cliffs. This shift in geography feels symbolic — harsher, lonelier, and more punishing. The world no longer asks you to save it from invaders; instead, it dares you to survive it, blade in hand, and take your revenge.

At the heart of this land is Atsu, a mercenary whose life is marked by blood and betrayal. With the death of her family, she now takes on the guise of the Onryō, stalking the infamous Yōtei Six, shaping her path through vengeance. Where Jin Sakai carried the burden of legacy, Atsu carries a wound, and Ghost of Yotei thrives in exploring how personal scars can drive monumental tales.

Having experienced the tale of Jin Sakai, I had mixed feelings about coming to Yotei, simply because it was hard to fathom how a sequel could live up to the high stakes of the Mongol invasion. However, it could be argued that there is even more to fight for this time around. Liberating the lands of Ezo from the fires of war between the Saito and the Matsumae clans ensures you always have something to strive for, and with Atsu’s own personal quest, every step is progress towards avenging your loved ones.

Revenge with a Price

Indeed, Ghost of Yotei is a story of vengeance, but it rarely feels simple. Atsu is a protagonist defined by choices, her vendetta pressing against questions of identity and morality. Unlike Jin, she has no issues leaning into the legend of the Onryō, feared by villagers and enemies alike. It makes her an unstoppable killing machine, but as time passes, her vulnerability begins to emerge.

After all, when you’re driven by the loss of those you love, what happens when you find new connections that are worth fighting for as well? Without going into spoilers, Ghost of Yotei competently builds the legend of the Onryō, while also establishing Atsu as a flesh-and-blood character, full of emotions and conflicting thoughts.

It is, above all else, personal. Where Ghost of Tsushima felt like a sweeping legend, Yotei feels like a wound carved into steel. That intimacy makes connecting to the character that much easier, and will likely give players the strength to cross out each member of the Yōtei Six.

Blood and Steel

Speaking of which, combat clearly defines Ghost of Yotei’s pulse, and it has never felt sharper. Weapons range from the familiar katana to brutal new tools: the sweeping ōdachi, dual blades that slice like lightning, yari spears for precision, and the kusarigama for deadly grace. Each weapon feels like a philosophy, rewarding mastery with devastating results, much like the stances that empowered Jin Sakai.

The clash of steel is weighty, with every parry reverberating through the DualSense controller, every strike carving its presence into snow or soil. Battles are brutal, challenging, and most importantly, bloody fun. Against groups of enemies of all shapes and sizes, an encounter becomes a puzzle, forcing you to think on your feet.

While the katana is an all-rounder, picking up the new weapons and associated techniques means you have more effective options: the dual blades against yaris, the yari against kusarigama, and so on. Being able to read the battlefield is a skill, prioritising the most threatening enemies to increase your chances of survival, as is timing your attacks, blocks, and parries to punish your foes.

Picking up new techniques only makes things even more varied and fun, letting you cut loose and be a badass when it’s most appropriate. Disarming is a fresh way to fight, where dropped weapons can be thrown at others, while enemies can remove an option from you. Upgradeable weapons, charms, and armour further cater to distinct and intriguing playstyle, adding flourish to the dance of death. That ebb and flow of combat in Ghost of Yotei means it is always satisfying to come out on top, and encouraging even if you fall.

Having standoffs is still a clear highlight of the series, enabling you to kick things off with flair through stylish instant kills and terrifying those who dare stand in your path. On occasion, you might even have an ally along for the ride, doubling that cool factor that is hard to replicate.

On the other end of the spectrum, titanic duels against key opponents add another layer to the majesty of combat. As steel clashes with steel, these encounters add narrative weight to fights, as well as a whole different level of challenge to the proceedings, making your victory well-earned and sweeter.

Stealth in Ghost of Yotei, too, gains nuance: shadows and light affect visibility, and weather shifts can change encounters in an instant. Atsu has more fun tools to play with, such as arrows that poison, disarm, or even explode, or the ability to use the kusarigama for a ranged assassination. The way certain areas are constructed means that, with a good eye, you can tear through encampments like a spirit that was never there. And when things go sideways, throw a Scorch Bomb and revel in the dancing flames.

Nature’s Majesty

Within the quiet moments and the chaos of combat, Ghost of Yotei takes place against the backdrop of a gorgeous, intricate world. The differing landscapes are sublime — plains of vibrant flowers, snow-covered hills, lands of fire, and everything in between.

This beauty isn’t just surface-level: snow crunches underfoot, storms play with your senses, and animals move naturally through the wild. The console horsepower brings it all together — sharp visuals, seamless transitions, and 3D audio that ensures every gust of wind and clash of swords feels alive. The score leans darker, almost mournful, reinforcing Atsu’s solitary path, and this is a game I truly recommend playing on headphones to appreciate the excellent work put into the audio.

Cinematic filters, including Kurosawa Mode, return to give players lenses through which to frame their legend. And if you have the PS5 Pro, the Ray Tracing Pro mode (60FPS with higher quality lighting) adds a visual freshness that complements the smoothness of movement that makes it hard to play the game any other way.

All of that means you will always want to be exploring in Ghost of Yotei, and thankfully, exploration is enriched with activities that feel more deliberate than before — fewer checklists, more meaningful discoveries of hidden sights and valuable treasures. You can easily head down the golden path, but there are so many other interesting things to be part of, especially with side content that are not just merely time fillers.

The tales of the people of Ezo are often well-crafted, helping players gain a deeper understanding of the conflict and the role that Atsu can play in it. Furthermore, there are legends that are cinematic spectacles that you can be a part of, combining the brilliant combat with other aspects like puzzles and platforming to deliver showstoppers after showstoppers. In short, you will be missing out if you are rushing things in Ghost of Yotei, with the pacing just about perfect to let you see all the sights.

The Shadows of the Yōtei Six

No review of Ghost of Yotei can ignore its legacy. Mechanically, it refines and expands in nearly every way. Jin Sakai’s journey was about honour, legacy, and the survival of a people. Atsu’s is about blood, scars, and vengeance. One speaks to nations, the other to the individual heart.

That contrast is the essence of Yōtei, and it is the Yōtei Six that muddies the waters just so in comparison. Compelling villains can make all the difference, and for the most part, these monsters do their part pretty well. That said, they do pale in comparison to Atsu, either by design or circumstance, and are not given equal time to shine, save for the Oni and the Kitsune.

They still deserve what’s coming to them, of course, but that journey of consequences could have been much more exciting and emotionally charged in Ghost of Yotei if they truly stood as equals, something our colleagues at KoKang Gaming feel the same way about.

A Legacy Established

Ghost of Yotei is an undoubtedly exceptional experience — a masterclass in combat design, a feast for the eyes, and a story carved in crimson vengeance that twists and turns over 40-50 hours. It is personal, brutal, and unforgettable in its own right, yet it harnesses the quiet moments to draw you in even closer with every step.

For those who loved Ghost of Tsushima, this is essential. For newcomers, it is one of the finest samurai adventures gaming has ever seen. And for everyone, it proves that Sucker Punch remains a studio at the height of its powers. If not for the slight misstep with the targets of our ire, Atsu’s quest would have been a perfect slice of brilliance.

Ghost of Yotei will be available on the PlayStation 5 on October 2.