Ghost of Tsushima's sequel, Ghost of Yotei, aims to address a common criticism leveled at its predecessor: repetitive gameplay. Developer Sucker Punch promises a more balanced experience, mitigating the repetitive nature of the open world.

Ghost of Yotei: Embracing Freedom and Variety

Repetitive Gameplay: A Key Criticism of Ghost of Tsushima

In a New York Times interview, Sony and Sucker Punch shed light on Ghost of Yotei, focusing on its new protagonist, Atsu, and a key improvement: less repetitive open-world gameplay. Creative director Jason Connell explained, "One challenge with open-world games is the repetitive nature of tasks. We aimed to counter this, creating unique experiences." He also confirmed players will master both firearms and melee weapons like the katana, a departure from the original.

While Ghost of Tsushima boasts an 83/100 Metacritic score, criticism regarding repetitive gameplay is prevalent. Reviews on the site describe it as "a competent but shallow...attempt to replicate Assassin’s Creed," suggesting a more focused approach could have been beneficial.

Player feedback echoes these sentiments. Many praise the game's beauty but cite repetitive enemy encounters and gameplay loops as drawbacks. One player noted the limited enemy variety, highlighting the repetitive nature of combat.

Sucker Punch aims to avoid this pitfall in Ghost of Yotei. They intend to maintain the series' signature cinematic flair and visuals while addressing the repetitiveness. Creative director Nate Fox stated, "When developing the sequel, we asked, ‘What defines a Ghost game?’ It's about immersing players in the beauty and romance of feudal Japan."

Revealed at the September 2024 State of Play, Ghost of Yotei launches in 2025 for PS5. Sucker Punch Sr. Communications Manager Andrew Goldfarb emphasized the game's focus on player freedom and exploration at one's own pace in a recent PlayStation blog post.