Ghost of Yotei is just around the corner, releasing exclusively on PlayStation 5 on Oct 2, 2025. Sucker Studio has this time taken us north to Ezo (Hokkaido) in Japan, dropping us into a region of frozen tundras, looming mountains, and villages caught between survival and war. The big question is if this new samurai epic sticks with the open-world approach that made Ghost of Tsushima so great, or if it shifts to a more focused approach. Here’s everything about the open-world angle of the game.
Is Ghost of Yotei an Open World?
Yes, Ghost of Yotei is an open-world game, but it doesn’t copy-paste the Tsushima formula. Instead, it takes the lessons learned and turns them into a more dynamic experience. Where Tsushima sometimes leaned too hard on repetitive fox dens and shrine climbs, Yotei mixes it up with activities connecting to the environment, such as rituals unique to Hokkaido, wildlife encounters that change based on weather, and side quests that are less like chores and more like small stories.
The developers have also said that the world won’t bombard players with busywork. You won’t spend 20 hours chasing slight variations of the same collectible. Instead, the open world is designed to be alive with events that appear naturally as you roam the Japanese setting. Early impressions are evidence of how good and rewarding the exploration is in Yotei, where you learn about culture and history and reveal the past rather than simply grind for stat increases.
That said, the game still keeps a strong narrative spine. Atsu’s hunt for the Yōtei Six is a cinematic, linear story through the freedom to explore at your own pace. It can’t be said a sandbox, but more of a living stage where your journey takes a turn however you approach it. The open world gives you freedom but the story ensures you don’t lose direction. In short, Ghost of Yotei sticks with the open-world format that fans loved, but with creative design choices.
