Spoilers ahead for Ghost of Yotei and Red Dead Redemption 2Ghost of Yotei is set 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima, and with that comes a brand-new cast of characters. Atsu leads the story as the main protagonist, but this time around, instead of hordes of Mongol invaders, Ghost of Yotei makes its main antagonist group a much smaller operation: the Yotei Six.
The Yotei Six sets in motion the story, as they serve as the primary source for Atsu's rage. Sixteen years prior to Ghost of Yotei's main story, the Yotei Six kill Atsu's family. The group believes her to also be dead, but that clearly isn't the case. Ghost of Yotei's main villains are a fearsome organization, and they may be giving another notorious gaming gang a run for their money: the O'Driscoll Boys.
Red Dead Redemption 2's O'Driscoll Boys Are a Force to Be Reckoned With, But They May Have Met Their Match With the Yotei Six
A More Organized and Effective Gang
One of the biggest defining characteristics of the O'Driscoll Boys is that their leader, Colm O'Driscoll, is far more interested in quantity over quality. The bar for entry is quite low, which attracts plenty of dangerous outlaws and people with bad intentions. Colm sees his ranks as highly expendable, but he uses his large number of recruits to kill and steal as they please in order to expand their leader's reach and grow his reputation.
The Yotei Six are quite the opposite. Of course, in the time between killing Atsu's family and the time the game takes place, the group has expanded their reach, but it has been done far more methodically. Where Colm doesn't care if he loses a member, Yotei Six founder Lord Saito takes his core group seriously, even if he still uses them more as tools than true allies. Exploring as Atsu across Ezo will quickly make it clear that there are those who are loyal to the Yotei Six and those who are not, and the former showcases just how much influence the gang has managed to achieve.
In addition to Lord Saito, the other Yotei Six members consist of the Spider, the Oni, the Dragon, the Snake, and the Kitsune.
Based on the opening of Ghost of Yotei, it's clear that the Yotei Six can be just as ruthless as the O'Driscoll Boys, since they aren't afraid to kill women and children. What makes them even more terrifying, though, is how intelligent and well-organized they are. Their methodical approach lends the group to achieving more longevity, where Colm's preference for fast-paced pillaging and thoughtless violence leads to demise.
After Colm's death in Red Dead Redemption 2, the O'Driscoll Boys find themselves on borrowed time, and Arthur can help Sadie take down the remaining members to avenge her husband.
The Yotei Six Are Now Part of Gaming Villain History
It's incredibly hard to craft a compelling villain, let alone six. Colm O'Driscoll was an interesting character in his own right, but compared to main antagonist Micah Bell, he fails to reach his full potential. Lord Saito, on the other hand, is a worthy leader of the Yotei Six, and his ability to build and expand the group's network is both terrifying and impressive.
Apart from the Yotei Six, Ghost of Yotei could be a great option for Red Dead Redemption 2 fans who have been looking for a fresh story-driven game that still allows plenty of exploration. Of course, Ghost of Yotei definitely isn't as lengthy, but it still has plenty of elements that scratch that same itch. Ghost of Yotei brings emotional storytelling and violence front and center, but without a group as intimidating as the Yotei Six, it may not have been as effective.
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
