Ghost Of Yotei’s Side Content Is Some Of The Best I’ve Ever Played

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Before Ghost of Yotei came out, Sucker Punch really emphasized that the game would have a lot of meaningful activities to keep players engaged. This approach isn’t new – I particularly loved it in their previous game – but I was curious to see how they would build upon that foundation.

Both games have incredibly beautiful worlds, but that alone isn’t enough to keep players engaged for long. This is a frequent problem with open-world games – eventually, they can start to feel repetitive and tedious.

I don’t like just collecting things just to earn a trophy; I want to genuinely enjoy what I’m doing and feel like the items or activities are worthwhile on their own. What’s unique about Ghost of Yotei is that everything feels equally important.

Atsu collects cards by finding sidequests, Yotei Six hunts, and bounties, and you can view them all on the map. Selecting a card will usually show you where to go next.

I especially like how the game clearly shows you the reward you’ll get for finishing an activity, right under the description. It’s great, but maybe too effective – I’ve definitely found myself tempted to keep playing late at night, knowing I could earn a new armor set if I just played a little longer.

Each set of items has its own distinct look and special powers, but we won’t get into that right now. What’s really important is that sidequests feel meaningful – they’re not just tasks to fill time, but interesting paths to explore as you discover this lovely world.

I’m really impressed with the bounties. I already love the game’s fighting and especially the dramatic one-on-one duels, but I worried the bounties would just be repetitive fights with enemies that didn’t feel very different. Thankfully, each bounty is a completely unique challenge.

Certain stories evoke strong emotions, such as the heartbreaking legend of the Blue Yamauba and her family’s misfortune. Others present unusual challenges, like needing to play music for various people to identify an assassin who despises the shamisen’s sound.

I really enjoyed taking on each bounty, not just for the rewards, but because each one had its own little story. My favorite was Shiro the Swindler – we teamed up to raid a fortress and steal a huge pile of money!

It was almost predictable that the Swindler would betray Atsu – his name suggests as much! – and the way it happened was actually quite amusing.

Mythic Tales really build on what makes Ghost of Tsushima special. Like the main stories, they start with stunning cutscenes, offer fresh and imaginative goals, and end with a tough fight against a powerful, famous warrior.

Varied And Valuable Sidequests With Heart

Completing challenges usually unlocks a special armor set with unique powers, letting players customize how they play. For example, I really enjoy using the kusarigama for stealth attacks, so I was excited to learn that the Crimson Kimono armor extends the range of those attacks, making them even more effective.

As a player, I’m really excited about the unique armor abilities in Ghost of Yotei. They’re not just cosmetic – they can actually change how you play the game! It definitely makes exploring all the side quests and content feel worthwhile, because you’re rewarded with stuff that genuinely impacts your gameplay.

Sidequests, called Tales, also play a big role in the game. While they don’t usually offer huge rewards like powerful items, you’ll typically earn money or cosmetic items. I personally found some of these side stories to be really heartwarming.

One of the most memorable parts of Tales was guiding a baby bear to safety with music. Another was helping a scared father protect his wife while she was in labor, as they were attacked by Oni Raiders in a cave.

While some side quests are quick, lasting only about ten minutes, Sucker Punch excels at making you care about the characters involved, even in that limited time. I stumbled upon one while riding my horse – a common occurrence in this game – and I was really happy I took the time to do it. The new parents actually named their daughter Atsu after me, which was a nice surprise!

Many games fill their worlds with NPCs who simply stand around and repeat the same lines. While Ghost of Yotei includes some of those basic characters, it also features NPCs who truly bring the world to life and make it feel special.

Atsu is battling for more than just revenge—she’s fighting to stay alive in a brutal world. Like many others, including those parents, she’s simply trying to survive. It felt good to pause her hunt for the Yotei Six and offer them some help.

Certain activities, like hitting bamboo and using the hot springs, can get a bit monotonous. However, it’s still worth doing them regularly as you explore, because the increased health and spirit energy you gain are very helpful.

The game is challenging even on the normal difficulty, with plenty of tough enemies. Bosses are especially difficult if you have trouble with timing your dodges and blocks. Skilled players likely won’t find it too hard, but I enjoyed the sense of my character, Atsu, becoming more powerful as I played.

I’m almost finished with the game – just a few things left to do before I earn the platinum trophy! I’m really enjoying it because even the smallest accomplishments feel great. I think it’s one of Sucker Punch’s best games so far.

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2025-10-22 00:10