Ghost of Yotei’s Path to New Stances Can Still Be Fun

While it may not be continuing the story of Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei will still be entering the auditorium on its predecessor’s stage, delivering a fresh yet familiar samurai adventure in the heart of Ezo during Japan’s Edo period. With a new protagonist, Atsu, now picking up the mantle of the Ghost, and a story set 300 years after the first game, Ghost of Yotei has an opportunity to evolve the combat of Ghost of Tsushima while still acknowledging its roots. Arguably, one of the best ways to accomplish that is by revisiting the first game’s stances and reimagining the system to feel both innovative and nostalgic.

In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin unlocks various stances by observing or defeating certain Mongol leaders. However, with Ghost of Yotei seemingly already deviating significantly from its predecessor, it may need to look beyond this method to prevent its gameplay from feeling too stale or repetitive. While there are multiple ways Ghost of Yotei can go about this, there are a few that not only seem more believable than others, but might actually make the process of learning new stances more fun than Ghost of Tsushima ever made its own.

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Ghost of Yotei Can Make Its Approach to New Stances Fun

Ghost of Yotei’s Atsu Can Study Stances That Jin Learned in Tsushima

Assuming Ghost of Yotei chooses to retain the four stances from Ghost of Tsushima (Water Stance, Wind Stance, Moon Stance, and Ghost Stance), rather than simply seeing Atsu learn them in the same way Jin learned his, the game’s story could directly connect Atsu to Jin’s legacy in some way to have her learn these stances indirectly through him. Perhaps Atsu could rediscover the stances through ancient scrolls or oral traditions that tell of Jin’s exploits from the Mongol invasion era. Furthermore, if Ghost of Yotei wanted to be a bit more supernatural with its integration of Jin’s stances, Atsu could potentially encounter Jin’s spirit or visions of his battles.

Ghost of Yotei Can Introduce New Stances Unique to Atsu

If the game didn’t introduce Atsu’s stances to her by connecting her to Jin’s legacy in Ghost of Yotei, it could still introduce new stances that are unique to Atsu. For example, since it has been confirmed that Atsu will be able to dual wield weapons in Ghost of Yotei, perhaps she could have a stance that would revolve around her proficiency with dual katanas for versatility and multitarget combat. This stance would potentially prioritize speed and aggression in combat, seeing Atsu use rapid slashes and chain attacks to subdue her foes.

If Ghost of Yotei has an animal companion, as it seems it may, perhaps Atsu could have a stance dedicated to her animal companion fighting alongside her in battle. This particular stance, a “Beast Stance,” for instance, might allow players to command Atsu’s companion to attack or pin down a target, thereby creating an opening for them to strike. The animal companion could also be signaled to distract enemies so players could approach them undetected for a stealth kill. A stance such as this would also be more meaningful to players, as it would involve an animal bond between Atsu and her pet, which would likely be integrated into the narrative.

As it has a prime opportunity to be both innovative and thoughtful, bringing fresh ideas to the table and yet looking back at the legacy of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei‘s stance and combat system has a chance, not just to be innovative, but to be thoroughly fun as well. Whether through Atsu’s unique dual-wielding techniques, the introduction of an animal companion, or the reimagining of Ghost of Tsushima‘s stances, Ghost of Yotei has the potential to provide players with a rich and dynamic samurai adventure that feels both familiar and excitingly new.

Action

Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

2025

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment