Ghost of Yotei is already set to deviate from its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, in a variety of ways. From a brand-new protagonist to the introduction of rifles, Ghost of Yotei promises an exciting change of pace that many were not expecting from a sequel. These changes are bold, but incredibly compelling, and there are still plenty of questions to be answered about what new features lie in store for players.
It's clear that protagonist Atsu's arsenal will be quite different from Jin, which is intriguing enough. However, when it comes to the smaller details of the sequel's gameplay, Sucker Punch still has yet to bring forth deeper information. There is already a lot of intrigue surrounding Ghost of Yotei's time jump into the future, which offers a glimpse at an important period of Japanese history. As Atsu embarks on her quest for vengeance, there are bound to be features that help her succeed at her mission, which opens the door for a fascinating Japanese folk item to be of use: teru teru bozu.
Ghost of Yotei Could Show a Different Side of an Iconic Animal
It might be a long shot, but Ghost of Yotei could show an entirely different side of one of Ghost of Tsushima's most iconic and peaceful creatures.
Ghost of Yotei Could Find Great Use for Teru Teru Bozu
Japan's Fascinating Weather-Watching Dolls
Teru teru bozu are small handmade dolls that are hung outside of windows and doorways to help ward off rain. This folk practice was a popular way to wish for sunny weather, and it was particularly popular during the Edo period. Since Ghost of Yotei is set at the beginning of the Edo period, it would make perfect sense to feature these weather-watching dolls. Although the franchise is a work of fiction, Sucker Punch proved with Ghost of Tsushima that the developer cares for attention to detail when it comes to being as historically accurate as possible with its settings. This would present a perfect reason to introduce teru teru bozu, as it could have some exciting gameplay implications.
Traditionally, teru teru bozu are made with either tissue paper or cloth, which could make these dolls an interesting crafting item.
Teru Teru Bozu Could Make the Weather its Own Character
- Weather could affect combat and enemies.
- Weather-watching dolls could be a great photo mode tool.
While these are two vastly different uses for teru teru bozu, these possibilities could make such a small feature have a far greater impact than one might assume at first. When it comes to actually affecting in-game weather, there could be the traditional teru teru bozu, but introducing one that has the opposite effect and brings bad weather could be useful, too. Depending on the situation, sunny or rainy weather could affect an enemy's fighting abilities, offering players the chance to plan ahead and use these dolls strategically. Ghost of Yotei's combat already looks exciting, but making it even more dynamic and complex could bring an extra layer of fun.
Apart from actual gameplay use, featuring these unique dolls would be great for fans of photo mode. Getting to change the weather at one's whim might prove to be a game-changer, as it gives players the freedom to transform their in-game surroundings. The finer details of Ghost of Yotei's mechanics are uncertain, but subtle features like this could be a powerful tool.
Japan's Edo period ran from 1603-1867.
Ghost of Yotei Waits on the Horizon
There is currently no announced release date for Ghost of Yotei, but it has at least been confirmed for sometime in 2025. Since it was announced last year, the wait for more news and details has felt long, but the coming months are bound to bring exciting developments.
As of now, the inclusion of teru teru bozu is just mere speculation, but it would likely feel right at home in the game's world. Ghost of Yotei's fresh approach is teasing a compelling new chapter, and it will be thrilling to see what extra features are waiting for players to experiment with.
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
