Revenge has always been a reliable fuel for storytelling in games—but let's be honest, it's starting to run dry. Ghost of Yotei's Revenge theme might be one of the last time we'll see it pull effectively.
We've seen it play out a hundred times: someone gets wronged, then goes on a tear through a long list of enemies until the final confrontation ties it all up with a bow (or a body count).
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+ 2It's impressive how Ghost of Yōtei manages to feel fresh yet again, and perhaps for the final time. It's been five years since Ghost of Tsushima made its mark, and now Ghost of Yōtei is coming, not just as a follow-up but as a daring rethinking of the revenge narrative.
Set against the backdrop of 1603, at the dawn of the Edo period, this new chapter unfolds in the snow-dusted region of Ezo, present-day Hokkaido. Atsu, a survivor turned executioner, leads the charge instead of another samurai in the spotlight.
She's out for revenge against The Yōtei Six, the group that destroyed her life and took her family. From the very first moment, the Ghost of Yōtei makes no secret of its pursuit of vengeance. Atsu's tale begins in ash and blood, yet it doesn't end there. Atsu becomes the terrifying Onryō, a vengeful spirit rooted in Japanese folklore.
The game takes place as Japan experiences major shifts under the new Tokugawa shogunate. Atsu's path crosses these shifts, especially through her connections to the Ainu people, who endured cultural suppression at this time. Whether the player leans into the personal or the political, Ghost of Yōtei plants its story in both worlds—and it's all the stronger for it.
And this is the franchise's sharpest revenge arc to date, no doubt. Ghost of Tsushima also played with the idea, mixing it into Jin Sakai's struggle and his slow break from tradition. But it was never the main act—more like a quiet undercurrent pulling him toward darker decisions.
click to enlarge + 2Of course, all of this comes together under one question: how long can a game keep relying on revenge? This is the second time a Ghost game has put vengeance at its core, and it has many of us wondering if this could be the last time it hits the mark so perfectly.
It's purposefully crafted, visually bold, and supported by a structure that puts the story's progression in the hands of the players. But because it lands so well, it also feels like a natural ending point for this narrative formula. We've now had two games in a row tied to revenge.
Though Jin's narrative delved into it in a more reserved way, it's undeniably part of his arc. Atsu's narrative takes it as far as it can go, with no way forward except retracing past steps.
If the next Ghost game pulls the revenge card again, it might just feel like a rerun instead of a fresh take. A franchise can only revisit the same emotion so many times before it starts to lose its impact.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Ghost of Tsushima page.