Ghost of Yotei vs Ghost of Tsushima: Which open-world samurai game is best?

As the latest PlayStation exclusive, Ghost of Yotei on PS5 is the sequel to the 2020 Game of the Year nominee, Ghost of Tsushima. Ghost of Yotei is set 300 years after Ghost of Tsushima, allowing players to take on the role of a new protagonist and embark on a fresh adventure, while building on what made Tsushima so highly acclaimed.

Both games, including the Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, are excellent in their own right. But we’ve compared key components of the gameplay, setting, and story to determine which is the better samurai game.

Ghost of Yotei vs Ghost of Tsushima: Setting and characters

The Ghost of Tsushima protagonist is Jin Sakai, one of the last surviving members of the Sakai clan. Jin’s inner conflict plays a huge role in dictating the character’s story, but that conflict is dealt with by the player when decisions have to be made on whether or not Jin should stick to his samurai roots or become a vigilante known as the Ghost to fight back against the Mongol invasion. Jin uses his skills to protect his uncle and the island as he pursues freedom against the Mongols.

As for Ghost of Yotei’s Atsu, she presents herself as a cold, lone wolf. As a child, she accidentally led Lord Saito, the leader of Yotei Six, to her family, which resulted in their deaths. A story that begins with going after revenge for those who killed her family will see Atsu develop new bonds. Also, the more you learn about her story, the more attached you become to her complex layers and need for vengeance.

Whether you prefer the main character in Ghost of Tsushima or the Ghost of Yotei protagonist is down to whether you want to play as a samurai who becomes the hero of an entire island or somebody who becomes a hero in their own story. Both main characters and their plots are as compelling as each other, a huge factor in making Ghost of Yotei a worthy successor to Ghost of Tsushima.

Ghost of Yotei vs Ghost of Tsushima: Gameplay

Although the Ghost of Tsushima map is roughly the same size as that of Ghost of Yotei, the fact that the story in Ghost of Yotei isn’t linear like Ghost of Tsushima makes the world feel bigger in Yotei. They’re both open-world games, but Ghost of Yotei allows players to go in different directions to advance the plot. Ghost of Yotei will spend most of its time being open-ended, apart from major plots that go down in certain locations, depending on how you deal with the members of the Yotei Six you’re pursuing.

If you’re familiar with Ghost of Tsushima gameplay, the formula in Ghost of Yotei is similar, but allows for more freedom in exploration and confronting the Yotei Six clan. Ghost of Tsushima does have exploration and optional side quests, but the main story is linear. This game does have two endings that are based on a singular decision you make at the very end of the game.

Ghost of Yotei gameplay has the upper hand over Ghost of Tsushima because the open-world activities are more varied in Yotei and are naturally discovered. The visuals in Ghost of Yotei are breathtaking, making all of that content a joy to explore.

Ghost of Yotei vs Ghost of Tsushima: Combat

They say less is more, but not when comparing the fighting in Ghost of Tsushima with Ghost of Yotei combat. The combat in Ghost of Tsushima does an incredible job at being satisfying and immersive, making you feel like a true samurai. The two main combat trees focus on parrying and dodging skills, and the weapons you use range from katanas to swords, bombs, and even a long bow. Since Jin can become a Ghost, stealth mechanics are a core feature in Ghost of Tsushima, with enemy detection meters and silent takedowns.

A Ghost of Yotei review into combat, however, shows how it has been taken to a new level. Ghost of Yotei brings more weapons and active combat skills. There are five melee weapons to choose from, but also lethal equipment such as knives and bombs. You can even disarm enemies mid-fight and then use that weapon against them. Atsu is even joined by wolves that will assist you in combat, taking down enemies and allowing you to come in for the finish, or saving you from an attack when you’re running low on health.

Ghost of Yotei’s combat doesn’t focus on stealth as a main mechanic. In fact, you don’t get standard stealth skills until later on in your playthrough. Instead, you will engage in direct combat with your opponents, throwing you straight into the action when you encounter an enemy.

Ghost of Yotei vs Ghost of Tsushima: Verdict

Both games are similar in more ways than one, but the Ghost of Yotei game takes the already successful formula and makes it that much better due to improved visuals and textures, more varied combat, and engaging exploration for those who wish to do so. However, Ghost of Tsushima is thematically stronger, with Jin’s internal struggles enhancing the narrative. The prominence of the invasion plays a role in making everything feel more high-stakes, as does the ability to sway away from the morals of a samurai.

Whether Ghost of Tsushima or Ghost of Yotei is a better game is all down to personal preference. With that said, Ghost of Yotei is more of the same but better, exactly what a sequel should be. If you favor a strong and emotional story, Ghost of Tsushima does have the edge here. If you’re eager to explore, Ghost of Yotei’s gameplay provides memorable opportunities to do so.