2025 has been one of the most stacked years for the video game industry. But even in the second half of the year, Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yotei is coming out with reviews that are not only glowing but also stronger than its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima. But what’s the reason behind it?
Ghost of Yotei | Reviews
10 – VGC
10 – Game Rant
10 – COGConnected
10 – Digital Trends
10 – PSU
10 – GameSpew
9.5 – PSX Brasil
9.5 – Areajugones
9.5 – CG Magazine
9.5 – Checkpoint Gaming
9.5 – WellPlayed
9 – Gamespot
9 – GamesRadar+
9 – GamingTrend
8 – IGN
OC – 90
MC – 88 pic.twitter.com/PlVnCve04q
The game’s release is just around the corner on October 2, 2025, and early reviews are already calling it one of the most stunning and stylish PS5 exclusives to date. Sitting at an 87 on Metacritic and an 89 on OpenCritic, Yotei edges past Tsushima’s scores and cements Sucker Punch’s Ghost saga as one of PlayStation’s defining franchises.
Ghost of Yotei is a Different Kind of Samurai Tale
While Ghost of Tsushima embraced the cinematic style of Kurosawa-era samurai films, Ghost of Yotei takes a very different route. This time, we follow a story that unfolds in 1603 Hokkaido (then called Ezo) and follow Atsu, a mercenary whose life has been defined by revenge.
Sixteen years after her family was slaughtered by the group known as the “Yotei Six,” she returns home to hunt them down. The biggest thing we should understand from this is that, unlike Jin Sakai, Atsu is not a noble samurai but an outlaw with little regard for tradition. This gives the sequel a darker, more personal edge.
Ghost of Yotei has one of the best open worlds I have ever experienced.
You’ll be constantly distracted by NPCs that need your help or say they need your help…
Many of the returning activities now come with small side stories and fun twist, like having to cut bamboo while… pic.twitter.com/9THKVRn2Ya
If Tsushima was about historical immersion, Yotei is about cinematic style. One vibe that we seem to be getting from early reviews is that the game feels like a classic western movie, but with a distinctly eastern setting, and that in itself is pretty unique.
But if there’s one recurring critique, it’s that Ghost of Yōtei still inherits some of the formula fatigue that we’re all too familiar with when it comes to modern open-world design. A lot of the reviews mention a feeling of repetition within some of the open-world mechanics. But evidently, it takes a backseat to the spectacle of the game.
Why It’s Being Rated Higher Than Ghost of Tsushima
On paper, Ghost of Yotei isn’t a revolutionary game. It’s one that iterates and builds from the success of its predecessor. Much of its open-world DNA mirrors Tsushima’s formula, which, as we said, has been one of its main criticisms. But the execution is also different this time.
Metacritic scores for the #Ghost games 🎮
'Ghost of Yotei' — 87 (103 reviews)
'Ghost of Tsushima' — 83 (122 reviews) pic.twitter.com/i8mGc66JLp
The game has a denser map design with better quests and objectives. And on top of it, there is a seamless execution of exploration tools like the Guiding Wind. The game’s Metacritic score of 87 and OpenCritic average of 89 are already among the highest this year, and are already ahead of Tsushima’s 2020 launch reviews, which settled at 83.
But you know what’s funny? Despite its high rating and positive reviews, Ghost of Yotei is barely cracking the top 20 games of 2025. It’s a Game Of The Year contender for sure, but 2025 has seen too many good games with the likes of Hades II, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong, and more. So on the awards side of things, we’ll have to wait and see.
In the end, Ghost of Yotei doesn’t need to reinvent the open-world genre to be extraordinary. It’s a bold and stylish revenge tale that’s full of cinematic spectacle. And once again, Sucker Punch has given us one of the most beautiful open worlds in the history of video games.
Will you be playing Ghost of Yotei when it comes out on October 2? Let us know in the comments!
