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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone PS5 adventure starring Atsu, set in 1603 in Ezo—the region now known as Hokkaido—more than 300 years after Ghost of Tsushima. You don’t need to know Tsushima’s story to start. For a smoother opening, experiment with weapons without feeling obliged to switch constantly, follow the landscape rather than a rigid route, and adjust combat or navigation settings to suit your needs.
Do you need to play Ghost of Tsushima first?
No. PlayStation describes Ghost of Yōtei as a standalone chapter with a new protagonist and setting. Atsu’s story takes place around Mount Yōtei in 1603, more than three centuries after Ghost of Tsushima. The earlier game may provide series context, but it is not a prerequisite for following this one. PlayStation’s announcement introduces the game as a new story.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Ghost of Yōtei PS5 | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ghost of Yotei (PS5) | $52.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Riders Republic PlayStation 5 Standard Edition | $25.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Perp The Persistence Enhanced Amélioré(e) Anglais PlayStation 5 | $18.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut | $43.80 | Buy on Amazon |
How should you approach weapon choices?
Ghost of Yōtei uses weapon choices in place of Ghost of Tsushima’s stance system. A third-party gameplay guide describes five melee weapons, each with strengths against particular enemy types. It also says you can change weapons during a fight, but the game does not punish you for sticking with a preferred one. Treat switching as something to try when you’re curious—not a rule you must follow. The gameplay guide is the source for these weapon details.
| Weapon | Beginner’s way to think about it |
|---|---|
| Katana | A familiar, straightforward melee choice. |
| Dual katana | A paired-blade option to try when you want a different feel. |
| Yari | A spear option; consider it when you want to test a different reach or matchup. |
| Kusarigama | A distinct weapon type worth experimenting with against the encounters the game presents. |
| Odachi | A larger-blade option with a different feel from the katana. |
The guide identifies katana, dual katana, yari, kusarigama, and odachi as the five melee types and says they are effective against particular enemy types; it does not provide a detailed matchup chart here. Don’t treat the table as a prescribed order or a definitive ranking. Try weapons as opportunities arise, then keep the one you enjoy.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
- Discover renegade combat, engage in lawless katana combat and battles with adversaires. Train with various sensei as you find and learn to use each new weapon.
- An unconventional story and journey, take in the cultural beauty of Japan, bathe in an onsen, visit shrines to pray, try Sumi-e painting, and so much more.
- Choose your weapon, battle Atsu's opponents as you see fit, with levelled-up dual katanas, odachi, kusarigama and other new weapons.
Use other tools when a direct fight feels difficult
The same guide lists bows, firearms, kunai, smoke bombs, and blinding powder among the ranged weapons and tools, and describes stealth as a major approach. If a straight fight is giving you trouble, consider using distance, stealth, or a tool instead of insisting on a head-on exchange. The available source does not establish a universally best build or guarantee that any one approach will work in every encounter.
How can you explore without cluttering the screen?
Follow something that catches your eye: a landmark, a path across the landscape, or a point on the horizon. That’s a practical way to play in keeping with the developers’ stated aim of offering less intrusive guidance, long sightlines, and room to follow curiosity. It is not a required route or a claim that one direction is best. Sucker Punch’s tech deep dive describes this exploration philosophy.
Rank #2
- Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on her own mission of vengeance.
- Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
- Sixteen years after her family’s death, Atsu’s quest across Ezo brings her to unexplored lands in search of a gang of six outlaws, but she finds much more than vengeance. Throughout her journey, Atsu will discover unlikely allies, and greater bonds than she could have imagined.
Use the Guiding Wind when you want more direction, then return to wandering when you don’t. The gameplay guide also describes a spyglass and shamisen songs as exploration and navigation features. You can treat them as ways to engage with the world rather than items on a mandatory checklist.
Which settings are worth checking before you start?
There is no universally correct settings setup. If a particular cue, control, or visual element is making play harder, check the accessibility options and choose what addresses that need. PlayStation’s Ghost of Yōtei accessibility page lists these options:
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- Battle against over 50 players simultaneously in a massive multiplayer playground.
- Compete in an all-out mass start race—collide, grind, and fight your way to the finish
- Customize your character to show off your style to your friends or show up the competition.
- Bike, ski, snowboard, or wingsuit through a seamless open world in Career mode or multiplayer events.
- Go wild on the heights of iconic US national parks like Yosemite, Zion, and Bryce Canyon.
- Enhanced Combat Cues: enlarges glint attack visuals, which can make parry and dodge cues easier to read.
- Aim Assist: can auto-target nearby enemies when using ranged weapons.
- Enhanced Wind Visibility: makes the Guiding Wind clearer. A separate option can move the camera toward the wind when it blows.
- Offscreen Detection Indicator: offers indicator choices for awareness of offscreen threats.
- Simplified Button Holds: changes certain hold prompts to a single press.
- Text presentation options: adjust text size and related display choices for readability.
- Persistent center dot: keeps a center-screen point visible; PlayStation notes it may help reduce motion sickness.
Try the options that fit your needs rather than enabling everything by default. For the exact labels and available choices, consult the official accessibility page.
Is Photo Mode available during play?
Yes. Tap right on the D-pad to open Photo Mode, which PlayStation says works during exploration and combat. Its Photo Mode guide suggests trying landscapes at 24mm or below, experimenting with different focal lengths for portraits, and cycling through times of day to compare lighting. These are creative options, not progression requirements.
Rank #4
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
What should you know about the current PS5 release?
Ghost of Yōtei is a PS5 game, and Sony’s release announcement also notes PS5 Pro features, DualSense haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers. Sony’s launch announcement is the source for those platform details.
As of PlayStation Blog’s September 25, 2026 Complete Edition announcement, the Complete Edition includes the main game, Legends, Echoes of Sekigahara, and Most Wanted. The same announcement says patch 2.0 adds armor appearance customization and a high-contrast accessibility option. It gives October 1, 2026 as the global patch date and October 2 in some territories, including Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Check the announcement for details relevant to your region and edition.
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Best Value
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Roam vast countryside and expansive terrain to encounter rich characters, discover ancient landmarks and uncover the hidden beauty of Tsushima.
- The rise of the Ghost: Seek support from old friends and new unlikely allies to reclaim Tsushima.
- Mud, Blood and steel: challenge opponents with your katana for an immersive Samurai combat experience.
- Become legends together: play with friends or via online matchmaking in a series of two-player story missions or four-player wave-based survival missions in the legends online co-op
- A whole new island to explore: Travel to Iki Island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence in a brand-new story with deeply personal stakes.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
