Ghost of Yōtei emphasizes letting players explore and discover Ezo’s culture and beauty. Read on to learn more about how Sucker Punch pushed the game’s exploration and how long the game will be compared to its predecessor.
Ghost of Yōtei Focus and Length
Pushing Exploration and Combat Further
Ghost of Yōtei follows the footsteps of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, in letting players discover and explore feudal Japan. In an interview with GamesRadar+ on July 18, Sucker Punch Directors Nate Fox and Jason Connell shared their insights on how they pushed exploration further into the upcoming standalone sequel.
Both directors viewed big open-world titles, such as Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as the top standard for discovery and exploration. These games influenced how Tsushima went about those concepts, and Connell said that Yōtei will continue to push the agenda forward.
He explained, "We opted to try and come up with new ways to present you information while still being approachable, because people do want to explore and play the game in different types of ways. Some people really want to know where the golden path is and engage in it. Some people maybe have a larger appetite for exploration."
Furthermore, the game will expand on its intense combat, introducing additional mechanics and providing players with more options for battle. Fox stated, "With Yotei, we've added a lot more layers to create a more improvisational feel to the combat. It's deep! We've replaced the stance system with weapons – in fact, we added a fifth [weapon] – and these weapons are more than a simple visual replacement."
One of the things they added is the use of firearms. Since Yōtei is set 300 years post-Tsushima, weapons have also advanced, which brought guns into the mix. However, Fox said that these firearms are "not incredibly efficient" and won’t take away from their samurai combat. He stated, "Firearms have a role, and they are incredibly deadly when used at the right time. But it's not like Gun Kata, where the firearm is the melee weapon. Blades are the heart of the fantasy."
Beyond combat and exploration, the game highlights Ezo’s culture and essence. From its wildlife, with the mysterious wolf companion, to the progression of Atsu’s journey in hunting down the Yōtei six, the team wanted to capture Ezo’s serenity while keeping players on the edge. "The combination of natural beauty and hidden danger is our bread and butter. That's where this game really comes alive, and we're very proud of it," Fox said.
The Same Length as Tsushima
Despite having more content and filling the world with more activities, Yōtei will have the same playtime as Tsushima. According to HowLongToBeat, Tsushima’s main story lasts 25 hours, with an average of 50 hours for players who want to play through side quests and exploration. Connell noted that even though the game will give players freedom in their experience, he said that Sucker Punch was critical in pushing its narrative.
He elaborated, "One of the things I love about the Ghost franchise is that there are a whole bunch of options to make it your experience. We have this approachable, samurai cinema-inspired game, and so the trick for us as developers is to create a game that provides that extra level of creative freedom we strive for, allowing players to enjoy it, while at the same time, we’re never going to abandon the structure of the story."
Ghost of Yōte Themed Popcorn Bucket Sold Out
To coincide with the game’s upcoming release, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema movie theater chain will hold a "Way of the Samurai" film programme featuring cinematic samurai films that inspired the Ghost series. These films include "LADY SNOWBLOOD, LONE WOLF AND CUB: SWORD OF VENGEANCE, THE TALE OF ZATOICHI, 13 ASSASSINS, and RAN."
With this, Alamomart released an exclusive Ghost of Yōtei Popcorn Bucket on their website, which sold out immediately. The product description reads, "This beautifully crafted bucket, shaped like a traditional Japanese rice basket, is the perfect keepsake for any aspiring warrior." The popcorn bucket costs $40, and Alamomart has not announced if they plan to restock.
While the game is still a couple of months away, Sucker Punch is keen to present the game to everyone, highlighting the beauty of the cinematic samurai experience and Ezo’s culture. Even though the studio will move on with Tsushima’s story, they promise to deliver yet another masterpiece with Atsu’s journey.
Ghost of Yōtei will launch on October 2, 2025 exclusively on the PlayStation 5. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
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