Naoki Yoshida Names Ghost of Yotei His Favorite Game of 2025

While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has certainly captured the hearts of many this year, Ghost of Yotei has been a strong contender for overall acclaim. Naoki Yoshida, the director of Final Fantasy 14, expressed his deep admiration for Sucker Punch’s sequel, declaring it his top pick for 2025. This revelation came through 4Gamer’s annual wrap-up, where various notable game developers in Japan reflect on their favorite releases from the past year.

“I’ve played many different games this year, but the one I still find myself playing whenever I find the time is Ghost of Yotei,” Yoshida shared with 4Gamer, as translated by Genki via X/Twitter. “It’s a game I learned a lot from, in terms of the technical aspects and the production skills.” High praise, and not entirely unexpected. Ghost of Yotei, much like its predecessor Ghost of Tsushima, is truly an impressive title that offers a breathtaking recreation of Japan in the 1600s, waiting to be explored at your own pace. For Yoshida, the setting hits particularly close to home.

Ghost of Yotei has also garnered accolades from legends in the industry, with Team Ninja’s Fumihiko Yasuda noting that he has long dreamed of creating a game set in Hokkaido. Yoshida himself hails from this region and appreciates how well the game captures the beauty of Mount Yotei. “Being from Hokkaido myself, I was always captivated by the beauty of Mount Yotei whenever I visited Niseko as a snowboarder,” he remarked. “The recreation of that beauty was truly outstanding!”

If anyone’s opinion carries weight in the gaming world, it’s Yoshida’s, given his expertise in game design and personal connection to the location. While the open-world sequel may not have snagged awards at The Game Awards, the endorsement from Yoshida is a testament to its quality.

One can’t help but wonder what Yoshida thinks about the newly introduced lofi mode—perhaps a question for 2026. As everyone’s “free time is dwindling,” Yoshida emphasizes that he wants players to feel rewarded, regardless of how much time they invest in Final Fantasy 14.