It’s not exactly controversial to compare the upcomingGhost of YoteitoAssassin’s Creed. Although the IP are distinct in several ways—they arguably have more differences than similarities—Ghost of Tsushimais nevertheless veryAssassin’s Creed-like, as it follows a blockbuster action-adventure story based around real-world history, presenting players with a massive open-world filled with collectibles, side activities, and enemy bases to clear out.Tsushima’s particular blend of melee combat and parkour-augmented stealth further strengthens theAssassin’s Creedcomparisons.
Unsurprisingly,Ghost of Yoteiis being compared toAssassin’s Creedto an even greater degree. It’s releasing in the same year asAssassin’s CreedShadows, Ubisoft’s long-awaited depiction of feudal Japan, and it stars a woman warrior, similar toShadows' Naoe. Despite the two games taking place during different eras in Japan’s history, it’s easy to see how audiences would draw parallels between the two, especially considering the obvious similarities betweenGhost of Tsushimaand previousAssassin’s Creedtitles. For better or worse, it looks like those comparisons might only grow stronger in the wake of a recentGhost of Yoteitrailer.
The aforementionedGhost of Yoteitrailer revealedthat the hotly anticipated title will launch on Jun 24, 2025.
Ghost of Yotei’s Recent Trailer Makes It Seem Even More Like Assassin’s Creed
Ghost of Yotei’s Plot May Seem Familiar to Contemporary Assassin’s Creed Players
Ghost of Yotei’s most recent trailer, entitledThe Onryo’s List, pulls back the curtain on its story of revenge. Atsu, the game’s protagonist, appears to have suffered a major loss at the hands of a group of ronin, who all correspond to various animals and mythological beings. The game appears to focus onAtsu’s search for vengeance, with at least one playable flashback sequence shedding light on her past. For those who have playedAssassin’s Creed Shadows, this premise should sound remarkably familiar.
AC Shadowsfollows Yasuke and Naoe, the latter of whom is seeking revenge on a group of ronin who killed her father. As players proceed through Naoe’s journey, they will dispatch this group of ne’re-do-wells one at a time, thereby progressing the plot. Each of these killers is established as a unique and formidable threat, which is what gives the story its structure. Just likeGhost of Yotei,Assassin’s Creed Shadowspresents players with an assortment of flashbacks that flesh out Naoe’s past, before the catastrophic event that set her on her journey of revenge.
It’s not justShadowsthat adopts this broad-strokes narrative structure:every modernAssassin’s Creedgameis about the player-character hunting down individual members of a villainous group, checking them off like items on a bloody chore list. There is often a revenge slant to these killings as well. For instance,Assassin’s Creed Originsis as much about seeking justice for the death of Basim’s son as it is about fighting the Order of the Ancients, who would eventually be known as the Knights Templar.
Why Ghost of Yotei’s Story Will Still Be Different from Assassin’s Creed’s
Despite their ostensible similarities, it’s safe to say thatGhost of Yotei’s narrativewill stand apart from those of the recentAssassin’s Creedgames in key ways, the most important of which being Atsu’s more personal motivation. While there could very well be certain social incentives or justifications for her blood-strewn calling, the game will almost certainly lack the grand, millenia-spanning conflict of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. In other words, Atsu’s journey of vengeance may be more intimate and personal, as her enemies aren’t members of some shadowy, magical organization like the Order of Ancients. This will hopefully makeGhost of Yoteia more focused, self-contained narrative, relative toAssassin’s Creed’s anthology.
Ghost of Yotei
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on a mission of vengeance all her own.Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is 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.
