Summary
WhileGhost of Tsushimafans might have been expecting the next game to be a direct sequel featuring Jin Sakai, Sucker Punch pulled a fast one on them and chose to deliverGhost of Yoteiinstead. Not only doesGhost of Yoteifeature a brand-new protagonist, Atsu, but it is also set 300 years after the events ofGhost of Tsushima, during the Edo period of Japan, right in the heart of Ezo, known today as “Hokkaido.”
The time jump betweenGhost of TsushimaandGhost of Yoteicertainly benefits Sucker Punch’s plans to makeGhosta full-blown franchise as opposed to one continuous story, but the centuries between the two games ultimately leave out one of the most important eras in Japan. However, perhaps a futureGhostgame could still explore this period, and there are plenty of reasons why it should.
The Ghost Franchise Shouldn’t Forget the Sengoku Period
Ghost of Yotei’s Time Jump Skipped the Sengoku Period
SinceGhost of Yoteiis set300 years after the events ofGhost of Tsushima, it effectively skips one of the most important periods of Japanese history: the Sengoku period, otherwise known as “Sengoku Jidai.“Ghost of Tsushimais set in the year 1274, during the Kamakura period, whileGhost of Yoteiis set in 1603, during the Edo period. The Sengoku period, however, lasted from 1467-1568, and marks one of the most turbulent and violent periods of Japanese history. Given its rich history and the state Japan was in during Sengoku Jidai, it would only make sense for a futureGhostgame to be set during it.
The Sengoku Period Would Be Perfect for a Future Ghost Game
The Sengoku period, also known as the “Warring States” period in Japan, was rife with intense civil conflict, political instability, and the rise of powerful samurai clans. Similar to how theMongol invasion of Japanwas the major threat inGhost of Tsushima, the Sengoku period was defined by constant conflict between powerful warlords, samurai, and rival factions. Additionally, in the Sengoku period, samurai were forced to adapt to new forms of warfare and political structures as the world rapidly changed around them. Each of these elements would undoubtedly work together to produce a compelling story with engaging gameplay in theGhostfranchise.
Firstly, the Sengoku setting has the potential to offer a memorable narrative for aGhostgame, as it could explore themes of loyalty, honor, and the conflict between tradition and evolution, much likeGhost of Tsushimadid with Jin’s internal struggleand the Mongol invasion of Japan. There is also plenty of room in the Sengoku period for a futureGhostgame to feature the large-scale battles thatGhost of Tsushima’s more stealth-focused gameplay couldn’t have allowed, especially in light of how much conflict was present during the era. On that same note, a future SengokuGhostgame could feature a more chaotic form of gameplay thatGhost of Tsushima(and perhapsGhost of Yotei) couldn’t have featured.
The Sengoku setting has the potential to offer a memorable narrative for aGhostgame, as it could explore themes of loyalty, honor, and the conflict between tradition and evolution, much likeGhost of Tsushimadid with Jin’s internal struggle and the Mongol invasion of Japan.
In order to take advantage of the Sengoku period,theGhostfranchisewill need to move back in time at some point afterGhost of Yotei, but that shouldn’t be too difficult to do, especially with Sucker Punch’s aim to tell a variety of different stories using the idea of the Ghost, rather than simply telling the story of one character. There is arguably little reason why a futureGhosttitle wouldn’t be set during Sengoku Jidai, but perhaps the developer has already considered it, and the only thing between the idea and its manifestation is time.
