Ghost of Yotei is separated from Ghost of Tsushima by hundreds of years. That said, the two games have a lot in common thematically beyond the open-world samurai setting.
Atsu, the protagonist of the sequel, is traumatized after losing her family during a brutal murder when she was a child. After years of training, Atsu returns to Ezo, the island in Ghost of Yotei, to seek revenge against her oppressors. While she leads a dark life, Atsu is also aided by many great characters throughout the journey. Even some of the villains are memorable. These are the characters that stick out most in the game.
Ghost of Yotei: Things Atsu Can Do That Jin Can’t
Jin was a force to be reckoned with in Ghost of Tsushima, but Ghost of Yotei's Atsu possesses a few unique skills that the older samurai does not.
There will be spoilers.
Atsu
A Just Cause
Atsu is a slightly more evolved protagonist compared to Jin from Ghost of Tsushima. They both share tales of revenge, but Atsu has more at stake, as she watched her whole family get brutalized by the Yotei 6. This doesn’t mean everything she does is justified, as she can be quite stubborn in her ways. Such is the path that many walk when they are seekers of revenge. The more players dive into her story, the more attached they will get to Atsu.
Lord Saito
A Charismatic Villain
What Ghost of Yotei and Ghost of Tsushima both get right are the well-spoken and charismatic villains. Lord Saito is the head of the Yotei 6, and while he is a downright evil man, it’s easy to see where he’s coming from. There’s a flashback showing Jubei and Atsu meeting him for the first time to gather mushrooms, and he comes across as a likable straggler before his true motives are shown. That’s the thing about villains that makes them compelling in games: the duality between nobility and brutality.
Jubei
Another Wolf Ghost Appears
Jubei is first shown in flashbacks as Atsu’s brother, who is presumed dead. However, he will appear during The Oni quest as a high-ranking samurai within the Matsumae army. At first, the two are glad to be together again, but then friction starts to emerge. It’s a similar relationship Jin develops with his uncle in Ghost of Tsushima. However, Jubei and Atsu start to see eye to eye much quicker.
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.
They’re both stubborn, with Jubei having a high amount of honor and valuing his men above all else. That is, until another later secret is revealed, showing just how sweet and caring Jubei can be outside of his samurai duty.
Hanbei
Understandably Afraid
Hanbei is one of the weapon masters that players can train under in Ghost of Yotei. He used to be a skilled bounty hunter who specialized in dual katanas before Lord Saito cut his left arm off. After this incident, Hanbei retreated to the mountains. Understandably, he was afraid of losing more than just an arm and didn’t want the same fate to befall Atsu.
After some convincing, his steadfast attitude lightens, and thus begins a terrific training montage. Hanbei is a great reminder that even the greatest warriors are human too, and they can and will succumb to fear at some point in their lives.
Ina
An Explosive Personality
Ina was born into a family of firework makers, but due to the war that Lord Saito created, she was forced to turn her beautiful creations into weapons. Players will stumble into her during a side mission wherein she will be throwing bombs against raiders like there's no tomorrow.
Once players get to Ina, she gives Atsu bombs in return to help defend her shop. It’s one of the better missions in the game, which helps Ina stick out, along with some later reactions.
Oyuki
A Woman Of Many Faces
Players will meet Oyuki during The Kitsune quest line in the game. She’s a fellow shamisen player like Atsu is in Ghost of Yotei, who will aid her on her quest to get revenge on The Kitsune. However, there’s a twist to her character that most players won’t see coming. Oyuki used to be The Kitsune, but was stripped of her rank by Lord Saito after she helped Atsu escape as a girl.
The Coolest Features In Ghost Of Yotei
From throwing swords to using new weapons, Ghost of Yotei has some cool new features.
While she may not have helped Atsu more, what Oyuki did ultimately helped her in the long run. How things unfold after this revelation are a bit more complex, but it puts Atsu’s bloodlust to the test.
Taro
It’s A Living
Atsu will stumble upon Taro in the plains of Ezo, about to die at the hands of a disgruntled ronin. Taro is a scavenger who goes to battlefields, takes what he thinks he deserves, and then sells it in his shop. This rubs some people the wrong way, and it is a grim life, especially for a child, but it’s hard not to applaud his entrepreneurship. He may not have as great a greeting as The Merchant from Resident Evil 4, but Taro definitely ranks up there as one of the better shopkeepers in games.
Mad Goro
Belongs In A Rick & Morty Episode
Mad Goro is a disturbed individual when players first chase tohim during The Oni main branch of missions. He drops nonstop bombs and has completely accurate shots like a trained sniper. He also has a loose tongue, and doesn’t mind talking about his stink or bowel movements. While he may seem like a crass villain at first, his antics will grow on players, making it hard not to laugh at his disturbing humor.
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
