Summary
- Ghost of Yotei is anticipated to improve upon Ghost of Tsushima with new gameplay mechanics and visuals.
- NPC schedules could make the open world more dynamic and immersive in Ghost of Yotei.
- Implementing NPC schedules in Ghost of Yotei could enhance player agency and interactions for a more unique experience.
Ghost of Yotei is one of the most anticipated games of 2025, as it rides in on the coattails of Ghost of Tsushima's success — Sucker Punch's surprise hit from 2020. Despite not being a direct sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei is expected to build on the foundation of its predecessor with numerous improvements, including those that have already been witnessed in its visuals and what Sucker Punch has confirmed about the game's new gameplay mechanics and its renewed emphasis on player choice.
One area that Ghost of Yotei absolutely needs to capitalize on is its open world, as that is the very thing that contributed to Ghost of Tsushima's massive popularity. With how well Ghost of Tsushima did in this regard, it's hard to believe that Ghost of Yotei could still improve on it, but that is nonetheless true. Sucker Punch has already expressed its intentions to make Ghost of Yotei's open world less repetitive than its predecessor's, which is great, but there is still something missing that would make the upcoming entry's world feel more alive: NPC schedules.
Ghost of Yotei's Stealth System May Need to Look to Assassin's Creed Shadows for Enlightenment
Ghost of Yotei could make its stealth even more immersive and challenging by utilizing one of the best things about Assassin's Creed Shadows' stealth.
Ghost of Yotei's NPCs Should Have Their Own Schedules
NPC Schedules Are a Great Way to Increase Immersion in an Open World
NPC schedules have become an increasingly popular mechanic over the last decade or so, and especially in more recent memory, as titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 show just how much realism and immersion can be added to a game when its NPCs feel like real individuals trapped in a virtual world. When NPCs have schedules in a video game, it means they have predetermined routines and activities that change depending on the time of day. Ultimately, this allows the world they live in to feel more dynamic, as these NPCs simulate realistic behavior as opposed to remaining static in one location.
Ghost of Tsushima had a day-night cycle that added more movement to its own world, but its NPCs didn't have schedules to complement that cycle. Instead, regardless of the time of day, Ghost of Tsushima's NPCs remained in the same place, making that day-night cycle feel more like a superficial gimmick than anything else. Now, this puts Ghost of Yotei and all its ambitions up to the task of offering up an even more mobile world with NPC behaviors that are actually affected by the time of day.
NPC Schedules in Ghost of Yotei Could Affect Both the World and Gameplay
Even more than its predecessor, Ghost of Yotei is in a perfect spot to make full use of an NPC-schedule system. Firstly, incorporating NPC schedules would obviously make Ghost of Yotei's world feel even more alive than Ghost of Tsushima's did. With NPC schedules, merchants might close up shop in the evening, and guards and other enemies might go to sleep at night, leaving players with a prime opportunity to get the jump on them. In this way, Ghost of Yotei wouldn't just feel more alive than the first game, but it would also allow for some unique gameplay opportunities as well.
Speaking of unique gameplay opportunities, Ghost of Yotei's Atsu is clearly a ronin, meaning she is a rogue samurai, unlike Jin Sakai initially was in Ghost of Tsushima. In other words, she is likely not bound to or obligated to follow a strict code of honor as Jin was, leaving the door wide open for her to perform unorthodox acts, even against innocent people. According to what has been revealed about her story so far, she is in pursuit of vengeance but simultaneously on the run, which means she will need to do whatever it takes to survive on her own. As such, a day-night cycle with real NPC schedules might result in opportunities for Atsu to commit theft — like when shops close up for the day or guards leave their pockets open for pickpocketing when they lay down to rest at night.
With NPC schedules, merchants might close up shop in the evening, and guards and other enemies might go to sleep at night, leaving players with a prime opportunity to get the jump on them.
If Sucker Punch truly wants Ghost of Yotei to evolve Ghost of Tsushima's formula, implementing NPC schedules would be a great step forward. The potential for a more immersive open world where characters follow their own routines and gameplay is even influenced by a day-night cycle is a perfect fit for Atsu and her unpredictable and potentially morally flexible persona. With a stronger emphasis on player agency and unique interactions, Ghost of Yotei could expand on what made its predecessor great while making a name for itself in the process.
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
