Sucker Punch Productions has already stated that the “Ghost of” series will always feature Japanese settings and focus on katana wielders. So far, the studio has released two games: Ghost of Tsushima, led by the honorable former samurai Jin Sakai, and Ghost of Yotei, centered on the revenge-driven, self-taught female warrior Atsu. While both share the core idea of being wandering katana fighters, Atsu and Jin are very different as characters, which is reflected in how their games play and the themes they explore.
8 Mistakes Ghost Of Yotei Repeats From Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Yotei is a major step up from its strong predecessor, yet after five years, some elements remain surprisingly shallow.
While it might be too early to judge, Atsu is already as loved by players as Jin Sakai, showing that the developers truly nailed her character in Ghost of Yotei. The key strength of both protagonists lies in how relatable, determined, yet flawed they are. This grounded portrayal makes their stories compelling and filled with layered conflicts each must overcome on their journey.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at what makes Jin and Atsu special, what separates them, and who stands out as the stronger protagonist in the end.
How Old Are Jin and Atsu?
Atsu Is Believed to Be a Tad Younger Than Jin
In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin's exact age isn't specified, but it's generally believed that during the game's events, he is around 30 years old, arguably in his prime as both a man and a warrior. In Ghost of Yotei, Atsu is confirmed to be 28, making the two characters nearly the same age. Overall, their ages aren't particularly important to their stories and play little to no role in either game's narrative.
How Jin and Atsu Compare in Combat Skills
Pure-Blood Samurai Versus Self-Taught Talent
When it comes to combat skills and experience, Jin and Atsu stand on opposite sides of the spectrum. Coming from a noble family well known across Tsushima, Jin Sakai was trained to be a samurai from childhood, likely studying under some of the finest swordsmen while also receiving elite physical training and education. Even before the events of Ghost of Tsushima, Jin had already served as a samurai for several years. When it comes to wielding a katana, he easily outclasses Atsu, mastering the sword and its various stances to counter different weapons on the battlefield, often needing little else to face any opponent head-on.
Atsu, on the other hand, was trained to wield a sword by her father during childhood, until her lessons were brutally cut short by the Yotei Six. From that point on, she continued her training as a mostly self-taught warrior driven by revenge. This is reflected in her fighting style — fierce, aggressive, and sometimes reckless — while Jin's techniques are disciplined, calculated, and refined.
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One major aspect worth noting is Atsu's versatility in Ghost of Yotei. She wields a wide range of weapons, including the kusarigama (chain sickle), yari (spear), and odachi (heavy sword), and is portrayed as a quick learner constantly seeking new masters. Jin's strict samurai upbringing seemingly limits him in this regard. While he does embrace unconventional tactics and tools against his enemies, he isn't nearly as adaptable as Atsu.
What Are Jin and Atsu's Special Traits as Playable Characters?
Wolf Bonding and Artistic Side Serving Different Purposes
In Ghost of Yotei, one of the standout features that Jin lacked is Atsu's bond with wolves. It not only enriches gameplay with unique interactions and missions (there's even a dedicated skill tree for wolf techniques!) But also thematically reflects her predatory nature as a tracker and hunter. After the trauma of her past, Atsu seems more likely to trust a wolf than a human, leaving players with the impression that this she-wolf is as fierce as a cornered beast.
What both characters share, however, is their appreciation for art, expressed through music, poetry, and painting, which subtly shapes how each of them plays. Yet, their approaches differ greatly. As a descendant of a noble family, Jin Sakai has a poetic, contemplative nature. He composes haiku to calm his mind and plays the shakuhachi flute, learning new melodies that can alter the weather on Tsushima Island. It's a fitting touch that reinforces Jin's harmony with his homeland, where even nature seems to respond to his presence.
Ways Ghost Of Yotei Is Better Than Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Yotei enhances the open-world experience of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, with new weapons, flexible missions, and rapid fast travel.
Atsu, unlike Jin, wasn't taught to admire beauty through words but through action. She expresses it through sumi-e paintings, much like Naoe in Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Musically, she plays the shamisen — an instrument her mother taught her as a child — composing new melodies during her travels. True to her adaptive nature, Atsu's music doesn't influence the weather but instead grants practical benefits, such as revealing hidden points of interest or summoning a wolf during combat.
How Jin and Atsu Compare as Personalities
Would You Rather Take a Life or Save One?
Ghost of Tsushima's central narrative carries a strong moral core, as Jin Sakai learns that being an honorable warrior isn't always enough to stop the Mongol invasion and protect his people. This realization sparks a deep conflict with his uncle, Lord Shimura, who rejects Jin's willingness to break tradition in desperate times. Over the course of his journey, Jin learns to free himself from the rigid code of the samurai and from being a slave to honor like Shimura. As a true embodiment of a hero, Jin is willing to use any method necessary if it means saving lives and defending his homeland.
Jin's story stands in stark contrast to Atsu's motivation in Ghost of Yotei. For her, honor is just a word — and so is the greater good. She's far less principled, more pragmatic, and often sarcastic. In many ways, Atsu resembles Yuna from Ghost of Tsushima, Jin's rogue companion who teaches him the art of stabbing people in the back and surviving in the mud. Atsu's focus lies solely on her vendetta and personal gain, revealing a softer side only when reminded of her family's tragedy. In most cases, she's driven by contracts, coin, and vengeance, staying laser-focused on her next target.
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Atsu's determination makes her both relentless and dangerous, but also reckless and emotionally blinded. Her thirst for revenge almost strains her relationship with her brother Jubei and shapes every decision she makes. Unlike Jin, who values saving lives above all, Atsu is far more willing to take one, believing that ending her enemies, the Yotei Six, is the only justice that matters.
How Jin and Atsu's Backgrounds Make Them More Interesting
Flashbacks to the Past Revealing How Jin and Atsu Became Who They Are
In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin Sakai holds a unique position as the lord protector of Tsushima. Almost everyone on the island treats him with respect, often addressing him as Lord Sakai or Master Sakai. This dynamic feels refreshing for an open-world game, where players usually take on the role of an outsider or a newcomer exploring unfamiliar lands.
Atsu, on the other hand, returns to her homeland after several years away. While she occasionally encounters people who remember her in Ghost of Yotei, to most others she's just another wandering sword for hire roaming Ezo — a setup much more familiar to the open-world action genre, similar to games like The Witcher 3.
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Both games feature flashback missions that depict the childhood or early years of Jin and Atsu. Naturally, this element plays a larger role in Ghost of Yotei, offering deeper insight into Atsu's motivations and showing how the tragic events of her past shaped the person she ultimately became.
Who Is a Better Protagonist — Jin or Atsu?
Time for the Final Verdict
So, who is the better protagonist after all — Jin Sakai or Atsu? It essentially comes down to personal preference, as the two share similarities yet represent very different ideals. Jin and Atsu embody distinct philosophies and motivations, which define their respective games and the thematic conflicts they explore.
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It can be argued that Jin's archetype as a protagonist feels more unique within gaming narratives, while Atsu's path as a wandering warrior driven by revenge is a more familiar trope. On the other hand, since Jin embodies the classic “hero” archetype, he somewhat lacks a distinct personal edge, which makes Atsu feel more alive by comparison.
Still, regardless of who stands out as your favorite, it's hard to deny that Sucker Punch succeeded in creating two strong and memorable leads for Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei. Both Jin and Atsu carry enough aura and depth to captivate players and make them worth rooting for.
Ghost of Yotei
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- October 2, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
