Ghost of Yotei - Most Organic Game Since RDR2

Ghost of Yotei Review

Think of a game you’ve played where everything felt organic, where your actions flowed naturally instead of feeling like a to-do checklist. The last one that gave me that feeling was Red Dead Redemption 2, where everything felt natural and unforced.

Ghost of Yotei captures that same magic. Main missions often take a back seat because the side quests and world activities are so well-designed that they naturally find you while exploring.

I played the game on PS5 for about 70 hours, and there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to Yotei and its world. Let’s break it down.

First Impressions

To say the game starts strong would be an understatement. It throws you straight into the first boss fight before you even have time to catch your breath. The beautifully curated opening sequence sets the tone for what’s to come and then somehow exceeds it, delivering an experience that feels rare in gaming today.

After that first encounter, the world truly opens up. As you venture further into Ezo, you’re met with breathtaking views, and they’re not just background scenery. If you can see it, you can go there.

Those incredible first impressions never fade. The game maintains that same level of quality from start to finish.

A Few Hours into the Game

A lot happens in the opening hours, but the tone remains consistent. If you can look past the stunning visuals long enough, you’ll meet a handful of NPCs who aid your journey by providing upgrades and resources. What’s great is that you don’t always have to go to them. Sometimes, they come to you when you set up camp, striking up small talk and offering upgrades or even side quests. It’s a refreshing change.

There are many ways to find points of interest, such as following birds, playing Atsu’s instrument, or talking to random NPCs and enemies. Everything connects beautifully, making exploration one of the game’s biggest highlights. Best of all, the quests never feel repetitive.

You’ll also encounter a storyteller who shares mythic tales, some of the best side quests in the entire game, even rivaling the main missions in quality.

Story - Nothing to spoil here

There isn't a thing you don't know already about Ghost of Yotei's story. It is a revenge story, but how it plays out is the real beauty of the game.

There isn't much to talk about the story here so I'll leave it at that; Onto Gameplay.

Gameplay - Man they pulled this off!

The world of Ezo around Mount Yotei is vast and free to explore at your own pace. NPCs you meet will often inform you about nearby points of interest, making exploration feel natural rather than forced.

You can set up camps to craft ammunition, cook meals for stat boosts, and participate in activities like painting, gambling, and playing the shamisen to uncover new locations.

Combat lets you choose your own approach, whether it’s all-out offense, silent assassination, or ranged attacks with archery and firearms. Atsu is occasionally joined by a wolf companion, whose frequency depends on your upgrades in the Wolf Skill Tree.

The game also includes special visual modes titled Kurosawa, Miike, and Watanabe, allowing you to play in black and white, cinematic close-up, or with lo-fi beats.

Weapons and Combat - Glorious & Shiny

Ghost of Yotei offers a wide variety of weapons and combat techniques that keep gameplay fresh right to the end.

Melee Weapons

Katana, Dual Katana, Odachi (heavy sword), Yari (spear), and Kusarigama (chain and sickle). Each has unique advantages depending on your playstyle.

Ranged and Quickfire Weapons

• Bows: A fast-drawing short bow and a powerful long bow for stealth kills.

• Guns: Effective for close and long-range combat, but not for stealth.

• Throwables: Fire bombs, blind bombs, and smoke bombs.

• Quickfire: Kunai and blinding powder.

A new addition is the disarming attack, which lets both you and enemies knock weapons out of each other’s hands. It’s a small but meaningful change that adds to combat depth.

Characters, Graphics and Environment

Every major character, including enemies, is well-written and well-performed. The emotional range, especially from Atsu, is impressive, and even side characters feel meaningful.

Graphically, the game is breathtaking. Screenshots don’t do it justice. It’s something you have to experience firsthand.

The story itself is a classic revenge tale, but what makes it special is how it’s told and how it keeps you invested.

Side Activities - They ain't side anymore

Normally, I don’t dedicate a section to side content, but Ghost of Yotei earns it.

From dueling legendary warriors to hunting bounties and chasing birds that lead you to secrets, there’s no shortage of meaningful distractions. Familiar activities from Ghost of Tsushima like hot springs and bamboo strikes return with new twists that make them feel fresh again.

Playing the shamisen and painting add new layers of flavor, and even fox encounters feel reimagined with unique surprises. Clearing enemy camps never gets old either, thanks to smart design variations that keep each encounter interesting.

Everything feels natural, integrated, and rewarding.

Boss Battles

Boss fights are beautifully designed and packed with personality. Each one has distinct movesets, and the Mythic Tale bosses in particular hit hard. These duels are stunning in both visuals and atmosphere, from the music to the settings.

They’re so well done that I found myself replaying them at the hardest difficulty just to master every move. They’re that good. I wish there was a boss rush mode or something because I loved these duels so much that I ended up doing no damage duels on all these bosses at Hardest difficulty.

Conclusion

Ghost of Yotei is a complete experience that excels in nearly every category. The organic side quests, fluid mission flow, and polished combat make it one of the most enjoyable open-world games in recent memory.

Erika Ishii’s portrayal of Atsu is outstanding. Her performance brings real emotion and depth to the story. The combat delivers on all fronts, and the optional bosses are both challenging and rewarding.

If there’s one thing I wish the game had at launch, it’s a New Game Plus mode.

I don’t usually aim to convince anyone to play or skip a game. I just share my thoughts. But in this case, you need to play Ghost of Yotei. It’s everything great about open-world adventure titles wrapped in a world that feels alive, reactive, and unforgettable.

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SpawnYaard