Now a mainstay in the Sony lineup of iconic franchises, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima is a game that grabbed me early on and kept me invested in its world till I reached the platinum completion. I think this game has earned its due credit over the years for its excellent story and verifiably realistic take on Samurai combat.
Switching between each stance provides a good blend of variety within combat. Just like how I imagined it was in real life, combat scenarios are over fairly quickly as well. The game feels very majestic and sometimes mystical while simultaneously remaining grounded in its narrative and characters. While the setup for the story starts off very cliche, I’m glad I didn’t allow that first impression to detract from the incredible storytelling.
The conflict between Jin Sakai and his uncle, Lord Shimura, is one of the most emotionally charged aspects of Ghost of Tsushima. It’s a clash between tradition and necessity, between honor and survival, and ultimately between loyalty and independence. Lord Shimura represents the ideal of the samurai code—rigid, honorable, and deeply tied to feudal loyalty. He raised Jin to embody these values, making him not just Jin’s uncle but also a surrogate father figure.
As the Mongol invasion pushes Jin to adopt stealthy and brutal “ghost” tactics, he begins to stray from the samurai ideals Shimura holds sacred. This divergence isn’t just philosophical—it’s deeply personal. To Shimura, Jin’s methods feel like a betrayal of his teachings and a stain on their family legacy. For Jin, however, they’re a necessary evolution to protect Tsushima and its people.
Their relationship becomes increasingly strained as Jin’s defiance grows, culminating in heartbreaking moments where they’re forced to confront their opposing worldviews. This devastating conflict is why I think Ghost of Tsushima has some of the best storytelling I’ve seen in gaming. You can see where each character is coming from and you want to see all of them succeed at what they do.
This game I believe is a must play, even if it may fall short in terms of some of the platforming, side-quest innovation at times. It does what it sets out to achieve gracefully and stays true to itself. Ghost of Tsushima is certainly the best Samurai game that is out there to date.
Verdict: 9/10
https://opencritic.com/game/9592/ghost-of-tsushima
Chao,
Mikhail