Ghost of Yōtei

Ghost of Tsushima is probably my favorite game of the past decade. It offered a fresh take on the open-world genre at a time when it was beginning to feel a little stale, pairing its innovative design choices with a compelling original storyline and stunning visuals that put most other eighth-gen titles to shame. Ghost of Yotei improves upon its predecessor in almost every measurable way, although it falls a little short where it matters most.

Atsu is a capable protagonist, but her story is one that I've experienced countless times before, most recently through Assassin's Creed Shadows a little earlier on this year. To Yotei's credit, there are moments when the narrative truly hits home, but these instances are few and far between. Too many of the key story beats were predictable, and the ending felt a little forced, undermining many of the themes and ideas explored in the build-up to the final showdown.

For these reasons alone, Yotei feels like a backward step. However, although it may not be a ground-breaking game like its predecessor, it is still a very good one. Combat is significantly better this time around, and the visuals offer the same incredible vibrancy with some added fidelity. Exploration works a lot better than it does in Assassin's Creed Shadows due to Yotei's denser map and superior fast travel system, but chasing the platinum can still feel like a chore at times.