Ghost of Yōtei Review Review

Ghost of Yōtei picks up the samurai mantle from its predecessor and marches north to the harsh, snow-covered land of Ezo. It’s a cinematic revenge tale that nails the mood and visuals, offering a rich combat system and satisfying progression. But it doesn’t quite shake off the constraints of the open-world blueprint it follows.

The real highlight of Ghost of Yōtei is its combat. Every swing, parry, and brutal takedown lands with weight. From traditional katanas to more exotic weapons like sickles and spears, the game lets you experiment with different playstyles. Combat improvements over Ghost of Tsushima are clear, and enemy encounters are far more intense. Boss fights, in particular, are more than just health bars, they feel personal and cinematic.

Set in the wilds of Hokkaidō, the world is simply gorgeous. From dense pine forests to mountain shrines blanketed in snow, Ezo is dripping with atmosphere. Weather effects, lighting, and the iconic “guiding wind” system all work together to create an immersive sandbox that rewards exploration. You will find yourself on countless occasions stopping to admire the scenery. It’s not just window dressing, there are secrets, collectibles, and hidden bosses that push you to veer off the main path. More often than not, your exploration is going to be rewarded with something more than a beautiful view.

The shift to a new protagonist, Atsu, works well. She’s driven, layered, and brings a different energy to the narrative than Jin Sakai. The idea of a female warrior being unusual is acknowledged within the game and gives her a reason to fight harder. Slaying enemies in battle that were moments ago dismissing Atsu as an opponent because she is a woman makes the battle more satisfying. Atsu is just as formidable in battle as Jin Sakai from the previous game.

The revenge story has real emotional weight, especially in the early and mid-game. The unnecessary cruelty we see in the opening scenes are sure to get you onto the same page as Atsu in hating those who she is setting out to kill. However, the final act begins to drag as pacing stumbles. Some narrative threads get sidelined or resolved too quickly, making the ending feel slightly rushed.

Side content and world design is where Ghost of Yōtei stumbles a bit. While the world is beautiful, many side missions fall into the trap of being formulaic. Go here, clear out that camp, collect a token. There are highlights, sure, especially some mythic tales, but too often the loop feels familiar. It’s a missed opportunity, especially given how strong the main path is. It is beginning to feel as though these incredible open world games from Sony are starting to fall into the same cut and paste formula that Ubisoft have been criticized of for a very long time.

The performance of the game is smooth, polished, and visually stunning. The cinematic presentation remains top-tier. Still, some animations (especially climbing and environmental traversal) feel outdated. The overall beauty and combat are just flawless though, this game is incredible. Dialogue delivery can sometimes miss the emotional mark. Scenes where a man is looking at the burnt bodies of his friends and the delivery just doesn’t feel like he is upset. If he walked off whistling it wouldn’t be a surprise. This is of course hard to do right when you have 100s of side quests but it does stick out when it happens.

THE VERDICT