Ghost of Tsushima was a huge hit when it came out in 2020, so it made sense that Sucker Punch Studios would make a sequel. For the past few years, a Ghost of Tsushima sequel was a common topic of speculation whenever new game announcements were expected. Finally, the State of Play event in September 2024 revealed the new game, and it was definitely not what fans expected. Instead of a direct sequel, Ghost of Yotei is a thematic one. The game presumably takes place in the same continuity as Ghost of Tsushima, and might have some subtle tie-ins fans will recognize, but it is overall an entirely new story with new characters, the main ties being the Feudal Japan setting and the similar theme of a “ghost” character.

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Although it may have been a surprise, Ghost of Yotei turned out to be a pleasant one. Once the initial shock of the game’s new direction wore off, fans of Ghost of Tsushima started to get excited to see where this new adventure would go and what it might bring to the series. Meanwhile, those who haven’t played the first game can jump right in without having to worry about missing important context. There is a lot about the game that remains unclear, but the trailer does provide a few clues about what players can expect. Piecing this information together reveals a few interesting things about what Ghost of Yotei will look like.

5 The New Heroine

Atsu Is The New Ghost

Ghost of Tsushima dealt with the adventures of samurai Jin Sakai, who is forced to question his notoriously rigid code of honor when it proves ineffective against the invading Mongol Empire. Many fans assumed a sequel would just pick up where the first game left off and continue Jin’s story. Surprisingly, this is not the direction Ghost of Yotei went with. Instead, it introduces a new protagonist: a female warrior named Atsu. Sucker Punch has avoided revealing much about her story, but she appears to be a ronin (a Samurai who lacks allegiance to a specific lord) who is wandering from place to place.

The trailer also begins with an unidentified man, apparently a target of hers, delivering a speech that indicates two things about her story. First, she is hunting someone, or maybe a group of people. Second, she seems to have enough of a reputation that “every Ronin here” is after her. It suggests Atsu might be an outlaw, and she might have specific targets she needs to find over the course of the game.

4 New Setting

An Entirely New Location

The first game was titled Ghost of Tsushima because… well… it took place on Tsushima island. Ghost of Yotei offers a new setting, one quite some distance from Tsushima: Hokkaido. This is quite a shift. To put it into perspective, Tsushima is located in the southwest of Japan, right between the rest of Japan and what is now South Korea. Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island, putting it closer to Russia. The games are literally set at opposite ends of the country, roughly 2000km apart.

There does seem to be a lot of emphasis on one particular landmark: Mount Yotei. This is a real-life active volcano, commonly compared to the more famous Mount Fuji. The trailer includes several extreme wide shots that put Yotei on full display, and specifically identify it as the game’s setting. Additionally, it is interesting the game itself is called Ghost of Yotei, not Ghost of Hokkaido, breaking from the convention set by its predecessor. Although it is unclear exactly how, it is evident that Mount Yotei will be a significant part of the game.

3 Possible Wolf Ally

Ghost Of Yotei May Be Experimenting With Animal Companions

In addition to the heroine, it appears Sucker Punch may be experimenting with a new ally. In Ghost of Tsushima, most of Jin’s allies were human, but there was a theme of him being connected to animals. Part of the story involved a bond with his horse, and there were little details like wild foxes and birds who could lead him to secrets. Ghost of Yotei‘s trailer might be expanding on that idea. During the opening monologue, there is a close-up of a growling wolf with its jaws covered in blood. It would seem logical to assume that this is an enemy, something reinforced when it appears again towards the end of the trailer. Only, instead of attacking Atsu, it immediately calms down. The wolf then appears to turn its attention elsewhere, towards something also observed by Atsu, before charging forward. The implication seems to be that they are working together.

This detail does seem to suggest one gameplay feature Ghost of Tsushima didn’t have — an animal companion. It seems Atsu will be accompanied by this wolf throughout the game, probably being able to issue it commands. The most obvious role for this creature would be to provide backup in combat, though a wolf could conceivably have other functions. Its second appearance in the trailer made it look like it was searching for something, so there could be an way to take advantage of scent trails. Regardless, there is definitely a bond between the wolf and Atsu that will play a role in the story.

2 Change Of Era

There’s a Pretty Wide Time Gap Between Games

One surprising detail about Ghost of Yotei is that it is not actually a direct sequel. Many fans would have assumed a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima would continue the story of Jin and his feud with the Mongols, but Sucker Punch jumped ahead in time for this sequel, and by a significant degree. Ghost of Tsushima took place in 1274, while Ghost of Yotei is set in the year 1603. That is 329 years between games. To put this into perspective, we can cross-reference the dates with British monarchs. Ghost of Tsushima would be set shortly after the death of Henry III, newly succeeded by Edward I (the one who would later fight William Wallace). Ghost of Yotei is set the same year that Queen Elizabeth I died. The time between games would have been enough for Britain to go through 12 kings, two queens, the Hundred Years War, and the Wars of the Roses.

This is an interesting choice, since it implies an entirely new story. The developers appear to be going for more of a thematic link to Ghost of Tsushima, rather than a narrative one, with a particular emphasis on the “ghost” part and the feudal Japan setting. The trailer also indicates this will impact gameplay in at least one aspect — Atsu will now have access to early firearms. One shot clearly shows her using a flintlock musket.

1 New Antagonists

We Don’t Know Who the Antagonists Are, But We Know Who They Are Not

Ghost of Tsushima took place during the real-life Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island, although its primary antagonist, Khotun Khan, was a fictional character. A big theme of the game was the Mongols anticipating the samurai code of honor and incorporating it into their battle tactics, to the point where Jin Sakai only succeeds by subverting their expectations. It made for a great dynamic, exploring questions of what was considered honorable in war. However, the Mongols can be ruled out as the antagonists of Ghost of Yotei. The Mongol Empire ended with a succession crisis that resulted in the Toulid Civil War between 1260-1264 AD. The end result was the empire fracturing into several smaller empires. Ghost of Yotei gives the year as 1603 CE, 339 years later. Unless Sucker Punch decided to take some serious creative liberties with the timeline, there is simply no way the Mongol Empire could return for this game.

It is unclear exactly who the antagonists are, but there are a few hints. The trailer begins with a speech by an injured man, possibly a Ronin, who just lost a duel with Atsu. Given the apparent circumstances of their meeting, and the fact that he dies by her hand, it can be inferred he is an antagonist. It is also mentioned that Atsu is apparently hunting someone, and that she is being targeted by other Ronin. These details suggest a revenge story, with Atsu being an outlaw. Putting the details together, it implies that, instead of an invading force, Ghost of Yotei will instead be about battling corrupt lords within Japan itself, perhaps casting Atsu as a Robin Hood-like figure fighting for the poor.

One detail some fans have noted is the scroll Atsu is seen holding in both the trailer and the cover art. The scroll seems to contain six Japanese characters, and there are six swords visible in the cover art. A popular, though unconfirmed, theory suggests the scroll is a hit list, and Atsu will spend the game pursuing these targets, which also supports the idea of a revenge or vigilante quest.