Ghost of Tsushima
- February 27, 2024
- Nixxes Software
- 23h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut" is a PC game set in 13th century Tsushima Island, where the Mongol empire has invaded. Players control Jin Sakai, one of the last surviving samurai, who uses a combination of traditional and new tactics to protect his people and reclaim his home. This version includes early unlocks and additional content for a comprehensive experience.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Cloud
PlayStation
Reviews
- story5,481 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of *Ghost of Tsushima* is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, following the journey of Jin Sakai as he navigates the complexities of honor and survival during the Mongol invasion of Japan. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the intertwining of main and side quests, which often enhance the overall storytelling experience. However, some critiques highlight the predictability of the plot and the repetitiveness of side missions, suggesting that while the main story is compelling, the overall pacing can feel drawn out at times.
“The story is undoubtedly the biggest strength of the game.”
“The story is captivating and has intricate details woven throughout a fully detailed island with zero fencing.”
“The story explores themes of honor, sacrifice, and identity with a maturity that is deeply engaging.”
“The story is mediocre at best and super predictable.”
“The protagonist as well as the other characters in the story are incredibly boring and forgettable.”
“The story is dull and will put you to sleep, with unskippable cutscenes and unskippable dialogue.”
- graphics2,319 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Ghost of Tsushima* have received widespread acclaim for their breathtaking beauty and artistic design, often described as a visual masterpiece that immerses players in the stunning landscapes of feudal Japan. Many reviewers highlight the game's vibrant colors, detailed environments, and fluid animations, which contribute to an overall cinematic experience. However, some players have noted minor graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on certain hardware configurations, but these do not significantly detract from the game's visual appeal.
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, making every moment feel like you’re walking through a living work of art.”
“The visuals are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, making every moment feel like you’re walking through a living work of art.”
“The graphics are breathtaking, the story is super engaging, and the gameplay is super immersive.”
“Graphics are bad, gameplay mechanics are too old-fashioned and not in a good way.”
“The battles are repetitive, the story has no real thrill, the graphics are from the last decade, the characters have no...character!”
“The graphics look like a game from 2015.”
- gameplay1,975 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Ghost of Tsushima" is widely praised for its fluid combat mechanics, engaging exploration, and immersive world, often compared favorably to titles like "Assassin's Creed" and "Sekiro." While many players appreciate the variety of combat styles and the innovative guiding wind mechanic, some critiques highlight repetitive gameplay loops and occasional bugs, particularly with the standoff mechanic. Overall, the game is celebrated for its stunning visuals and satisfying gameplay experience, making it a standout title in the action-adventure genre.
“The story is legendary, the gameplay is fluid like running water and simple blocking mechanics and counterattacks feel like you're experiencing the five rings content in actual virtual reality.”
“The narrative, combat, gameplay loop, everything is expertly crafted here like a handcrafted katana.”
“The gameplay is dynamic but satisfying at the same time.”
“The gameplay mainly consists of exploring, scavenging, stealth, and combat.”
“The gameplay loop can stale pretty quick if you were trying to complete everything as they become available, but the best way to play is finding your own balance between core and side quests.”
“The standoff mechanic doesn't work 50% of the time causing you to just stand there and take a free attack.”
- optimization825 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its performance on high-end systems, reporting smooth gameplay and high frame rates. However, numerous users have also experienced significant issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and memory leaks, particularly after extended play sessions or in specific areas like the Iki Island DLC. Overall, while some players find it well-optimized for PC, others recommend waiting for further patches to address the performance problems.
“To be completely honest, the game isn't flawless but it's definitely one of the better ported and optimized games in recent years.”
“The optimization is awesome and the game runs flawlessly.”
“The game runs smoothly, even on higher settings, showcasing good optimization.”
“This is the worst optimized PC game I have ever played.”
“However, for whatever reason (optimization, memory leak, etc.) it just is not working for me.”
“The game surprisingly runs a lot better than the performance I am supposed to get according to the hardware requirements chart they released prior to launch.”
- music396 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Ghost of Tsushima" is widely praised for its exceptional quality and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's emotional depth and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the authentic Japanese instrumentation and orchestral arrangements, which complement both the tranquil exploration and intense combat moments. While some players noted occasional audio issues, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's artistic and narrative experience.
“The music is exceptional and really adds to many story moments like Yarikawa, the transition from Act 2 to 3, and the end of the game.”
“The soundtrack beautifully complements the narrative, with haunting melodies that linger long after the credits roll.”
“The exceptional sound design and musical score are faithfully preserved in the port.”
“The biggest issue I had is that all audio besides the background music would disappear in the middle of combat - this didn't happen every time I had the game launched, some sessions it didn't happen at all, but it certainly happened 50+ times while playing and was frustrating.”
“Sadly there's an audio bug that makes the game borderline unplayable at times (basically all sound effects disappear and only music is audible. Needless to say, kinda kills a lot of important audio cues such as arrow warnings etc).”
“Every time I go near Mongols, the dialogue and sound effects all stop apart from the music. The audio returns for about 10 seconds, but quickly goes again, leaving only music whilst I fight large groups.”
- stability327 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The stability of the game on PC has received mixed feedback from users. While many players report a smooth experience with minimal glitches and crashes, others have encountered significant issues such as frequent freezes, audio glitches, and graphical artifacts, particularly during cutscenes and combat. Overall, the game's performance appears to vary widely depending on hardware configurations, with some users experiencing a well-optimized experience while others struggle with persistent bugs.
“There are no issues with performance, no bugs, and no glitches—just a smooth, seamless experience that lets you fully immerse yourself in the game.”
“The game looks beautiful, runs smoothly, and I've had no glitches or bugs after 20 hours.”
“Nixxes did a great job with the port, it runs great and I haven't had any issues with bugs so far.”
“I wish I could recommend the game, but it is so unoptimized for PC with constant freezes just on startup, even with it being on an SSD.”
“The game is a buggy mess for the PC version and frequently has issues with cutscenes, making progression impossible.”
“Game freezes during open world play and more frustratingly during combat to the point it is currently unplayable.”
- emotional257 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Ghost of Tsushima" is widely praised, with many players reporting that the game's narrative evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears during key moments. The story, centered on themes of honor, sacrifice, and personal transformation, is described as beautifully crafted and deeply engaging, with well-developed characters that resonate with players. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to create an immersive emotional experience, enhanced by stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack.
“Ghost of Tsushima is a visually stunning and emotionally captivating game.”
“The story is deeply emotional, with rich characters and an engaging narrative that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
“The emotional weight of Jin's journey, his sacrifices, and the ultimate resolution of his quest provide a poignant and fitting end to this epic tale.”
“Boring story and unskippable dialogs.”
“Art direction/setting is doing a lot of lifting for a boring story, world, and combat system.”
“It's a boring game with a boring story covered up by good graphics and visuals.”
- atmosphere227 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Ghost of Tsushima" is widely praised for its breathtaking beauty and immersive quality, effectively capturing the essence of feudal Japan. Players appreciate the stunning graphics, dynamic weather, and detailed sound design, which together create a rich and engaging world that encourages exploration and appreciation of the environment. The combination of atmospheric music and environmental details enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The pleasant atmosphere of the open world combined with its beautiful graphics makes for a breathtaking experience.”
“The atmosphere, combat mechanics, narrative, and gameplay loops... all are great.”
“The atmosphere is breathtaking.”
“The atmosphere (despite all the recycled resources and copy-paste environments) is breathtaking.”
“The atmosphere it creates is surreal; it's very easy to get immersed and lose yourself in this game.”
“This game feels just like an Assassin's Creed wannabe game with all its repetitive gameplay and boring world...and for that, I think it's very overrated. The only good thing about this game is how it looks and the atmosphere...but that's not enough or rather not the most important thing in a game.”
- grinding135 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 76 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the game offers a rich narrative and enjoyable combat, many players find aspects of grinding to be tedious and repetitive. Some activities, particularly side quests and collectibles, can feel like chores, especially for completionists, though the overall gameplay loop is often described as engaging. Despite these criticisms, several players appreciate that the game avoids the extreme grindiness typical of other open-world titles, making the experience more enjoyable overall.
“Most of the achievements require little to no grinding -- and the ones that require some form of grind demand incredibly little of it.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This becomes tedious very quickly.”
“Simply put, it's not fun and the quests and combat are not hard; they just feel like tedious chores.”
“The biggest problem, however, is the boring and tedious side missions to collect talismans, increase your resolve, etc. These missions don't change in terms of the actions needed to complete them, so after the 20th time, it gets really old.”
- character development66 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Character development in "Ghost of Tsushima" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly through the protagonist Jin Sakai's journey from a traditional samurai to a more complex figure known as the Ghost. Players appreciate the rich interactions with a well-crafted supporting cast, which enhances the narrative and allows for a profound exploration of themes like honor, sacrifice, and personal conflict. The game's storytelling, combined with stunning visuals and cultural attention, creates an immersive experience that keeps players invested in the characters' arcs throughout the journey.
“The character development is compelling, with a strong supporting cast that adds richness to Jin’s journey.”
“The character development is profound, offering a rich, emotional journey that is both personal and epic in scale.”
“The story is compelling, and the character development is profound, especially as Jin transitions from a traditional samurai to the ghost, adopting stealth and guile as new weapons in his arsenal.”
“I definitely prefer RDR2's approach to gameplay and character development (flaws and all) compared to Ghost of Tsushima.”
“The story fell flat immediately for me - a strong, completely unrealistic for the time period female character saves the main character's life literally 5 minutes into the game - not exaggerating that at all - from the middle of a battlefield that was surrounded by the Mongolian army. Then the first character development flashback for the main character (who is Japanese royalty in feudal Japan) is apparently being 'bullied' by the local kids.”
“Edit: The Iki Island DLC is a bad fanfiction that straight up retcons most of the subtle storytelling and character development of the main game. Iki Mongol combat and duels are absolute trash and it comes shipped with token Ubisoft hallucinogen trash story with recycled voice lines from the main game as much as possible.”
- humor45 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating its blend of witty dialogue, amusing character interactions, and unexpected comedic moments, such as the hilariously named antagonist "Kotton Kandy." While the game tackles serious themes, it manages to incorporate lighthearted elements that keep players entertained, including funny side quests and quirky visual glitches. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the experience, making it enjoyable even amidst the game's more intense moments.
“Main antagonist was named Kotton Kandy, which I find hilarious.”
“Story also intense and rewarding, and even well-placed witty humor (Kenji has my solid vote for 12th century award-winning stand-up comedian).”
“I wear a funny hat and I kill bad guys with a sword, what's not to like?”
“I am loving the game so far, but playing for 40 minutes and then crashing is not funny.”
- replayability43 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the engaging combat, varied gameplay, and rich story that encourage multiple playthroughs. The addition of multiplayer modes and new challenges further enhances replay value, although some players note limitations in certain modes. While opinions on replayability vary, the consensus leans towards it being a significant strength of the game.
“The fact that the gameplay is so varied and so polished, and the overall lack of bugs, completed with a fantastic story and a lot of replayable content, I honestly have to rate this game a 9.8/10.”
“Being able to explore the beautiful world of Tsushima and tackle challenges with friends would add another layer of enjoyment and replayability.”
“The game's dual nature, allowing players to embrace the traditional samurai path or the stealthy ghost approach, adds depth and replayability.”
“The legends mode is good but severely limited in content and the raids are a nightmare of bad game design with no incentive on replayability if the player is able to complete them.”
“Albeit, legends mode is pretty enjoyable with friends it doesn't have much replay value once you max out.”
“There is not really different kinds of gear in 'Ghost of Tsushima' like in Souls games, so you don't really have builds, which probably affects replayability.”
- monetization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the game's lack of monetization, with players praising it for being free of microtransactions, DLC, and other common cash grab tactics seen in modern titles. Many users express relief at being able to enjoy a complete gaming experience without the pressure of in-game purchases, emphasizing that the game feels designed for enjoyment rather than profit. Overall, the sentiment is that this game stands out positively in an industry increasingly filled with monetization strategies.
“Overall it is absolutely worth its price, we sorely need more games like this, a well-written emotional story with plenty of side content, even if a bit repetitive after a while, gorgeous graphics and an epic soundtrack, with a lot of cosmetic options you get from exploring and playing with absolutely no monetization, and even a story expansion with a new area and more content, what more can we ask for nowadays.”
“No microtransactions, ugly HUDs, battle passes, or any other hallmarks of a modern game of this caliber in sight.”
“Wow, a game that feels like it's meant to be played for fun instead of monetization!”
“Sony just after a quick cash grab and a lot went for it.”
“For a while now we have been getting more used to Ubisoft and Bethesda pushing these open world games stuffed to the brim with DLC and microtransactions.”
“I tried to play more but the more I go the more it's apparent that this was in development in 2015, released before the pandemic, and just does not resonate in 2024; it's a total Sony cash grab for expiring merch, sad.”
