Even after countless rumors and leaks suggesting it would happen soon,Ghost of Tsushima 2still has yet to be announced. Nevertheless, there is plenty of confidence in its development, what with the critical and ongoing success ofGhost of Tsushima— especially now that its PC port has been released, allowing even more players to experience it. WhileGhost of Tsushima’s storyhas come to an end, it simultaneously starts a new story that sees its protagonist, Jin Sakai, fleeing the shoguns who are hunting him down.
It has long been proposed thatGhost of Tsushima 2could take Jin to mainland Japan for its story. If it does, this would see Jin potentially traveling between Japan’s largest islands, much like players can inAssassin’s Creed 4: Black FlagandAssassin’s Creed Odyssey. In these particularAssassin’s Creedtitles, the ability to sail between islands made the game’s world feel much larger, though not necessarily always for the better. As such, this may not work forGhost of Tsushima 2, in light of the first game’s open world and howAssassin’s Creed’s larger, naval-driven maps have been received in the past.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Might Be Better Off Grounded
The Size of Ghost of Tsushima’s Map Already Toes the Line
Despite boasting one of themost celebrated open worlds in gaminghistory,Ghost of Tsushimastill isn’t perfect. Its open-world exploration can be a very fulfilling experience, as it rewards player agency and discovery more than many other modern open worlds. As players traverse the beautiful landscapes of Tsushima island, they might follow a bird to a noteworthy location or hear a curious sound in the distance signaling something worth investigating. However, the island opens up with each subsequent story act, and by the third, its open-world activities and exploration begin to feel rather repetitive, even with an immediate lack of map icons.
This isn’t a huge flaw by any means, asGhost of Tsushima’s open worldis still executed more brilliantly than most. Even so, it gently toes the line between being too much and being just right. It isn’t the most sizable open-world game ever made, but an open world doesn’t necessarily need to be large to feel large. As soon as an open world begins feeling too repetitive or bloated, that’s when it becomes a bit too much. This is somethingGhost of Tsushima 2should consider, especially if it takes Jin to mainland Japan.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Probably Pick an Island and Stay There
There is enough potential for amainland Japan-basedGhost of Tsushima 2to includeAssassin’s Creed’s island-hopping mechanics by giving Jin his own ship, or at least allowing him to travel between islands by ship. However, asGhost of Tsushima’s Tsushima island already verges on being too large, granting players the ability to travel between separate islands inGhost of Tsushima 2could ultimately result in an open world that feels too overwhelming to manage. Unless, of course, each island’s size was reined in enough to accommodate the others — but that wouldn’t make sense, given that mainland Japan consists of the country’s largest islands.
Instead,Ghost of Tsushima 2might be better off picking an island and staying there. This would allow Sucker Punch to flesh out one large location, much like it did with Tsushima Island in the first game, rather than dividing the strengths ofGhost of Tsushima’s open world between several sizable islands. The only other way including other islands could work is if the majority of the game took place on one island and saw Jin traveling to the others for a brief story bit, much like howStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s planetary explorationis structured. Even with all of this said, it’s still possible Sucker Punch could pull off anAssassin’s Creedapproach toGhost of Tsushima 2’s exploration, but only time will tell.
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
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In the late 13th century, the Mongol empire has laid waste to entire nations along their campaign to conquer the East. Tsushima Island is all that stands between mainland Japan and a massive Mongol invasion fleet led by the ruthless and cunning general, Khotun Khan.As the island burns in the wake of the first wave of the Mongol assault, courageous samurai warrior Jin Sakai stands resolute. As one of the last surviving members of his clan, Jin is resolved to do whatever it takes, at any cost, to protect his people and reclaim his home. He must set aside the traditions that have shaped him as a warrior to forge a new path, the path of the Ghost, and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.
