Highlights

  • Ghost of Tsushima 2 should stay true to its roots to maintain the solid foundation that made the original game a hit.
  • Doubling down on what made the first title great, Sucker Punch should focus on refining gameplay and quality of life improvements.
  • To avoid losing its identity, Ghost of Tsushima 2 should resist the temptation to incorporate trendy features from other games.

Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch Production's 2020 Kurosawa-flavored samurai title, was a breakout PlayStation hit at the tail end of the previous console generation. Through its tale of outcast samurai Jin Sakai and his quest to protect his home island from the invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century, Ghost of Tsushima wowed many players and critics with its breathtaking visuals, narrative, and crunchy combat.

With mounting speculation and hints of a full followup or half-sequel blowing in the wind, there is a related discussion about what fans may want to see in Ghost of Tsushima 2. Though nothing has been officially stated at this time, there are a variety of options the studio could take to deliver another excellent experience and improve aspects from the original. However, in its search to do so, Sucker Punch would do well to ensure that it doesn't stray too far from the core elements that created the solid foundation Ghost of Tsushima was built on.

Ghost of Tsuhima is confirmed to be getting a film adaptation helmed by John Wick director/producer, Chad Stahelski.

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Why Ghost of Tsushima 2 Probably Won't Exactly Be 'Ghost of Tsushima 2'

The ending of Ghost of Tsushima leaves the title of Ghost of Tsushima 2 up in the air, specifically when it comes to where Jin may end up in a sequel.

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Smartly Stay True to its Roots

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Needs to Double Down on What Made the First Great

Initial impressions of the first title's reveal brought comparisons to the Assassin's Creed series, but upon release, Ghost of Tsushima proved it was much more than an "AC clone." In fact, it technically beat Ubisoft to the punch with its feudal Japan setting, one that many fans were requesting for AC previously. Tsushima contained many fine design decisions and nuances, such as the Guiding Wind navigation tool that assisted in carving out its own identity in the AAA third-person action/adventure genre. Its use of flashy and fluid samurai stances as well as the dueling mechanic coupled with its rich story and characters all went a long way to immersing players in the world and feel of feudal Japan and providing a satisfying gameplay loop.

Given this, it seems a naturally prudent move to keep most of these elements intact, and focus on streamlining and introducing quality of life changes throughout. This isn't to say it shouldn't attempt any innovation or experimentation, as there is always room for improvement and refinement. There are certainly outside ideas Sucker Punch might take inspiration from. As one example, Ghost of Tsushima 2 could take a cue from Soulslike design philosophy, and impose a steeper penalty for death or mission failures.

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Avoid the 'Kitchen Sink' Approach

It can be tempting for developers to chase recent popular trends that have arisen and adapt similar features to keep pace. However, this opens up the risk of including items that seem like a good idea on paper but end up bloating or homogenizing the experience in an undesirable manner. The next Ghost of Tsushima has a number of possible paths it could take, but it has to be careful not to muddy its own identity in the process, and risk letting go of what made the first game stand out from the pack.

One of the items praised in the first title was the approach towards optional side content and collectibles. While it did contain these like many of its peers, it also reined them in. This was a welcome choice, and mitigated player exhaustion and burnout. Sucker Punch should be mindful of the effectiveness of this, and continue in that vein.

Some other interesting considerations would be for Ghost of Tsushima 2 to integrate more direct player agency in its narrative and dialogue, letting fans choose a certain tone in interactions or even branching storylines that still create a coherent and enjoyable whole. Though it will be exciting to see if, and how, Sucker Punch can top the first title, it has the talent and resources on hand to achieve it, so long as it stays true to the original's overall vision.