As a revenge tale, Ghost of Yotei is already primed and ready to be a complex story, particularly when it comes to how it handles its protagonist, Atsu. Stories that center around vengeance almost always see the avenger experiencing some kind of inner turmoil as they wrestle with whether to kill their offender, so the same can be expected of Atsu. However, players should arguably feel that conflict as well if Ghost of Yotei hopes to emotionally entrench them in Atsu's personal journey, and the method for doing so may be hiding in plain sight.
Atsu's "Onryo’s List" in Ghost of Yotei, a handwritten ledger of the names she intends to hunt down, serves as the central thread in her quest for vengeance, seeing her crossing off each name as they are eliminated. In the context of Feudal Japan, though, the idea of writing those names potentially takes on an entirely different meaning for Ghost of Yotei, especially when paired with one of the most prominent cultural and spiritual practices of the time period. While the game could simply see Atsu writing down and crossing out the names of her offenders in occasional cinematics, it might mean even more if players were directly involved in the process.
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A Calligraphy Mini-Game Could Make Ghost of Yotei's Kills Feel Heavier
Feudal Japanese Rituals and Ghost Lore Could Turn the Onryo's List Into More Than Just a Hitlist
In Feudal Japan, calligraphy wasn't just a form of art but a deeply spiritual act that was practiced by monks, samurai, and nobility alike, often as a meditative act linked to mindfulness, intent, and even purification. Writing a name with brush and ink could symbolize everything from reverence to condemnation, and depending on the context, it could even function as a kind of ritual. If Ghost of Yotei were to adopt this mindset, the Onryo's List wouldn't just be a menu screen or cinematic break. Instead, it could become part of the game's spiritual identity, serving as a window into how the world sees death, justice, and vengeance.
When Atsu writes down a name on the Onryo's List in Ghost of Yotei, it could be treated more as a rite that acknowledges not only the person she aims to kill, but the impact on her character of eventually doing so. Ultimately, it transforms the entire revenge arc into something that's more contemplative than anything else. If these names are written carefully or even reluctantly, it could make her journey feel more rooted in grief than mere bloodlust. That's the kind of tone Ghost of Yotei seems to be aiming for already, and connecting players directly to it with a mini-game could make every kill hit even harder.
Atsu’s Handwriting Could Reflect Her Mindset, Giving Players Emotional Control Over Vengeance
Where most revenge stories show a character's unraveling through dialogue or cinematics, Ghost of Yotei could let players feel Atsu's mindset through the physical act of calligraphy. A calligraphy mini-game could essentially become a litmus test for her mental state. Maybe her brush shakes if she hesitates, or it slashes with force if she's fueled by anger. Furthermore, with Ghost of Yotei's increased emphasis on player agency, perhaps this could even play into the kind of person Atsu eventually becomes. At the very least, involving players in the act of later crossing out those names with the blood on Atsu's sword with a Quick Time Event would be a way to connect them more deeply to her actions.
When Atsu writes down a name on the Onryo's List in Ghost of Yotei, it could be treated more as a rite that acknowledges not only the person she has killed, but the impact on her character of doing so.
If Ghost of Yotei truly wants to immerse players in the emotional and spiritual side of Atsu's story, then letting them perform calligraphy on the Onryo's List could be a big step in that direction. Rather than just being about making each kill feel heavier, it would also give players a reflective moment to consider what it means for Atsu's character development, and the part they are playing in furthering it. This is arguably one of the most important parts of a story that seems like it wants to show the unfortunate toll that revenge can have on someone.
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
