Highlights

  • A potential sequel to Ghost of Tsushima should expand upon the Iki Island story and map, tying the DLC and sequel closely together.
  • A sequel could feature an invasion of mainland Japan, with Iki Island as the starting point for Jin Sakai's fight.
  • The sequel could further explore Jin Sakai's backstory, relationships, and the intriguing Mongol Eagle tribe faction from Iki Island.

Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most popular games ever released for the PlayStation 4, selling nearly 10 million copies even as a platform exclusive. Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, a studio known for franchises like Sly Cooper and Infamous, as well as vibrant, massive worlds, Ghost of Tsushima offered an incredible blend of action and exploration. It leverages all the skills that the studio has built over the years. Since the game was first released in 2020, many have been looking forward to a potential follow-up. If it happens, it shouldn't be afraid to expand upon Iki Island.

The first taste of the series' potential future came in the form of Ghost of Tsushima’s Director’s Cut in August 2021. While it featured a next-gen upgrade and further refined mechanics, the most important contribution that this new version of the game made was the introduction of the Iki Island expansion. It followed an all-new storyline on a fresh map, exploring Jin Sakai’s continuing personal struggle to fight against Mongol invaders. Instead of moving on from Iki Island like it never happened, Sucker Punch could tie the DLC and a sequel closely together.

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Ghost of Tsushima's Iki Island DLC Drops the Ball With Its Story

While Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is the definitive way to play the game, its DLC story content lacks the weight of the original game.

The World Of Ghost of Tsushima Can Be Expanded In A Sequel

One of the oldest techniques used to make a sequel feel more impactful is to include a section of the original game’s map, and that is definitely possible for Ghost of Tsushima 2. While the world is rich and vibrant, Sucker Punch has brought two small islands to life in the form of Tsushima and Iki Island, and much of the surrounding area can be expanded upon in a sequel. Iki Island could serve as the base for Jin Sakai’s continuing fight against Mongol invaders, since, while imminent threats were defeated in the base game and in the Iki Island expansion, Mongols could still serve as a looming threat to the safety of Tsushima and the rest of Japan.

Iki Island would feel right at home in a larger game world featuring more parts of Japan. Since the DLC location is close to Japan in the game’s world, a sequel that focuses on an invasion of mainland Japan could be featured, with Jin Sakai and his allies once again fighting against their invaders to defend the future of the country. Players could simply use Iki Island as their starting point, helping connect the two games and allowing Sucker Punch to pick up right where the Director's Cut left off.

Jin Sakai’s Backstory Can Be Explored Further

The story of Jin Sakai and how he evolved to become the Ghost is one of the best features of the original game. His ties to the island and how he learned the techniques to defend his homeland are detailed throughout the main game’s story, but his relationship with other important figures in Tsushima, like his father, Kazasuma Sakai, can still be explored more thoroughly. The Iki Island expansion gave players a taste of this potentially deep story, and this thread could continue in a sequel, picking up right after Iki Island’s story and explaining what Jin and his father’s ties have to do with the history of the island.

Iki Island’s Main Faction Can Make a Comeback

An incredibly compelling part of the expansion’s story is how Eagle, the main antagonist, and his small army captured the island. This new faction, called the Mongol Eagle tribe, is loosely related to the Mongol invasion and is different enough to be considered their own group. Their methods of warfare are interesting, too, as they’re far more skilled than their traditional Mongolian army counterparts, and are fiercely loyal to Eagle. A sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, therefore, could focus on the history of this faction and how it relates back to the mainland Mongol empire, and their continued activities on Iki Island, with Jin potentially having to return to fight off their control over the island once again.