At a recent event, both the director of the Ninja Gaiden series and the former director of Devil May Cry expressed admiration for Ghost of Yotei. The game has been performing impressively, garnering reviews that exceed those of its predecessor. In fact, its sales in the UK have surpassed those of EA Sports FC 26 in its second week, as well as the Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 collection. PlayStation players are undoubtedly thrilled with this sequel, which follows one of the PS4’s most cherished titles. Notably, it’s also earning accolades from respected figures in the action game development community.
Hideaki Itsuno, former director of Devil May Cry, and Fumihiko Yasuda, president of Team Ninja, known for their work on titles such as Ninja Gaiden, Nioh, and Rise of the Ronin, participated in a panel at the Archipel Caravan games event. Their discussion was centered around action in video games. During this session, Yasuda shared his thoughts on Ghost of Yotei. He mentioned that he has been playing the game and expressed his long-standing desire to create a title set in Hokkaido, reflecting on his roots near Tsushima, which has enriched his experience of the series.
Industry Praise for Ghost of Yotei
Yasuda highlighted how Ghost of Yotei stands alongside “exquisite” open-world games like Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, labeling them as “bar-setting” benchmarks in the genre. Notably, it has achieved a review score that is four points higher than Ghost of Tsushima. However, with 2025 being an exceptional year for gaming, it’s barely making it into the top 20 of the year.
Comparisons and Expectations
Despite being compared to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the directors of Ghost of Yotei expressed that they welcome more games sharing similar aesthetics and themes, stating, “We’re big fans of feudal Japan.”
On a different note, Itsuno admitted he has not yet had the opportunity to play Ghost of Yotei, though he praised the gameplay trailers, noting that the action appears impressive. This isn’t the first time that Sucker Punch’s samurai-themed games have caught the attention of prominent Japanese creators. Toshihiro Nagoshi, the mind behind Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball, previously acknowledged the original game, exclaiming, “that’s a game that should be made in Japan.”
Additionally, Ghost of Yotei has reintroduced the beloved hot springs feature, resulting in the familiar reaction from fans: “Jin’s butt is still unsurpassed.”