Ghost of Yotei’s Revenge Arc Shouldn’t Ignore a Core AC Shadows Theme

Given the number of games set in feudal Japan that keep coming out, comparisons are expected and sometimes even warranted. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of the latest feudal Japan games to be critically compared to a title released previously, Ghost of Tsushima, but AC Shadows‘ success has arguably proven that those comparisons might have been a bit preemptive and more a result of Ghost of Tsushima‘s popularity than AC Shadows‘ intentional similarities to it. This trend is far from over, however, as Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei is next in line, and it may not be able to avoid being compared to its predecessor or even Assassin’s Creed Shadows for that matter.

Based on what has been revealed about Ghost of Yotei so far, its story will be very similar to Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ narrative in that they are both largely revenge stories. It hasn’t yet been disclosed just how far Atsu’s revenge arc will go in Ghost of Yotei, only that she “will hunt down those responsible for the death of her family and exact her revenge.” In order to prevent Atsu’s story from being a one-way ticket to vengeance, however, Ghost of Yotei might benefit from exploring one of the most prominent themes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ revenge narrative.

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Ghost of Yotei Can Add Depth to Its Meditation By ‘Stealing’ This AC Shadows Feature

Ghost of Yotei could deepen its meditative focus by adapting AC Shadows’ Kuji-Kiri, an immersive ritual that ties reflection to character growth.

Ghost of Yotei Should Be Open to Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Theme of Forgiveness

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is a Revenge Story Saturated in Forgiveness

While there are a number of side stories going on throughout Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ overaching narrative, the primary source of fuel behind its main story is revenge. Naoe, a skilled shinobi from Iga Province, seeks vengeance after her father, Nagato, is mortally wounded during an assault on her village by Oda Nobunaga and his forces. On the other hand, Yasuke, an African warrior who becomes a samurai under Nobunaga, confronts his own past involving the Templar Order. His own journey leads him to track down those responsible for wronging him and his family.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t solely about revenge, though, as both Naoe and Yasuke’s arcs are saturated in forgiveness, to the point that it’s the very thing that unites Naoe and Yasuke as dual protagonists. Naoe, upon meeting Yasuke, wants to kill him for serving Nobunaga in the raid on her village. Fortunately, Junjiro steps in, suggesting that Naoe is just as guilty as Yasuke, as she was responsible for killing Junjiro’s father, Ido Yoshihiro. This forces Naoe to examine the weight of her own actions and make the choice to forgive Yasuke.

Ghost of Yotei’s Revenge Arc Would Be More Nuanced Focusing on Forgiveness

When a story is laser-focused on a protagonist getting payback, there’s a risk that their motivations become one-dimensional and all of their character development funnels into that single emotional conclusion. When revenge becomes the only thing that matters, characters don’t question themselves or aspire to change, and moral complexity is all but stripped away in favor of said character achieving their goal. This is where Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ theme of forgiveness could benefit Ghost of Yotei‘s revenge story, as it would potentially add more nuance to Atsu’s character.

If players were given a chance to forgive Atsu’s enemies in Ghost of Yotei, it could pay off for her character arc in the long run. Ultimately, it would make Atsu a far more complex character in Ghost of Yotei, avoiding the one-dimensional tendencies of many revenge stories and allowing players to see her journey from diverse perspectives. Given what Sucker Punch accomplished with Jin Sakai’s story in Ghost of Tsushima, things already look good for Atsu’s own character arc, but time will tell.

Action

Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

2025

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment