Ghost of Yōtei could be the game of the year

Ghost of Yōtei main title screen {IGDB Ghost of Yotei Press Kit}

By Mya McPhee

As a child, your entire family was murdered in front of you. Now you’re on a quest to avenge them.

Ghost of Yōtei (GoY) is the newest release from Sucker Punch Productions and follows a woman named Atsu as she traverses the island she grew up in hunting down a group known as The Yōtei Six, who are responsible for the death of her family.

The highly anticipated stand-alone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima released earlier this month, selling 1.3 million copies in its first day.

Astu in front of Mount Yotei {IGDB Ghost of Yotei Press Kit}

Set at the start of Japan's Edo period, The visuals GoY offers are stunning. From flower filled meadows to snowy mountain tops, every location the adventure takes you is more scenic than the last. The landscapes are populated with NPCs offering entertaining side quests, shrines you can use to improve your abilities at the end of winding mountain paths, and hot springs to rest in and reflect on your journey so far.

As Atsu travels her story is developed. You are immediately thrown into her quest for vengeance, learning about her past through flashbacks and stories she tells other characters she meets. She’s vicious towards her foes but avoids harming those who don’t deserve it.

Her enemies refer to her as The Onryo, a ghost-like creature from Japanese mythology who enacts revenge on those who wronged them in life, as the game progresses Atsu begins to identify with this title believing revenge is all she has left to live for.

The gameplay is complex enough to be a challenge, but not frustrating. Learning the battle mechanics takes time but once you figure it out the fights are fun and satisfying while remaining challenging. The skill tree mechanic allows the player to feel as though they are improving alongside Atsu, as they unlock new abilities and attacks.

Atsu riding a horse through a field {IGDB Ghost of Yotei Press Kit}

Music plays an important role in the game, serving as the main way Atsu remembers her mother. The score, composed by Toma Otowa, is essential to the story, beautifully underscoring the players many adventures and conveying the emotions of each moment perfectly.

A main criticism of the game is its open-ended story telling method. GoY is largely player driven, meaning there’s no set order for things to be done in this a huge difference compared to its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, which featured a far more linear story.

Some players feel that GoY is too freeform, and they often feel lost about what to do next. However, this isn’t a massive issue to most people, just a minor annoyance for a few dedicated Ghost of Tsushima fans.

As the year progresses, every game released is closely examined to see which are in with a shot of winning game of the year at The Game awards. However, despite a few criticisms, Ghost of Yōtei is certainly still in the running for game of the year.

Star rating - 8.5/10