The following contains spoilers for Ghost of Tsushima .

A sequel to Sucker Punch's 2020 hit Ghost of Tsushima has yet to be officially confirmed, but there are more than enough rumors and leaks implying it is in development, even some which suggest it could be announced very soon. After all, Sucker Punch would be leaving money on the table by not delivering a sequel to one of the best games of the last five years. Ghost of Tsushima was a bit of a surprise on just about all accounts, but primarily in the arguably flawless execution of its open world and its engaging combat. However, if a sequel is indeed in development and on the brink of release, it may find itself needing to change some things about the first game for narrative continuity.

Ghost of Tsushima is all about Jin Sakai, a skilled samurai warrior who has been pushed to the point of needing to change his ways to save those around him. This ultimately means Jin abandons the honorable ways of the samurai to become the Ghost of Tsushima, a stealthy assassin that some in his clan would view as a disgrace. By the end of Ghost of Tsushima, Jin has lost his place in Clan Sakai, making him a nomad who may very well be leaving Tsushima Island and traveling to mainland Japan in a subsequent installment. Based on Ghost of Tsushima's story and where Jin may be headed next, it's safe to assume some changes to the first game's combat are in order, assuming a sequel will eventually be released. Thankfully, the first game's narrative may be enough to back up any changes to combat that may be made.

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Story Reveal
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Ghost of Tsushima 2's Story Reveal Could Be More Vital Than a Gameplay Reveal

Assuming Ghost of Tsushima 2 will eventually happen, rather than focusing on gameplay, its first reveal should prioritize another major topic.

How Ghost of Tsushima 2's Story Could Justify Changes to Combat

In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin Was Skilled in the Ways of the Samurai

From the beginning of Ghost of Tsushima, it is clear that Jin is already skilled in the ways of the samurai. Even so, his skills still evolve as players unlock various combat stances for him to use against different foes. Each combat stance in Ghost of Tsushima is effective against a certain type of foe, so unlocking them all and knowing when to swap between them is key to success.

The four stances in Ghost of Tsushima are:

  • Stone Stance: effective against Swordsmen
  • Water Stance: effective against Shieldmen
  • Wind Stance: effective against Spearman
  • Moon Stance: effective against Brutes

Despite Ghost of Tsushima's emphasis on stealth, each of these combat stances is useful when players engage in direct combat with their foes. However, being that Jin has now fully accepted his fate and role as the Ghost, these stances may no longer be necessary in Ghost of Tsushima 2 and could be replaced by some more stealth-oriented skills.

In Ghost of Tsushima 2, Jin May Be a Full-Fledged Assassin

The ending of Ghost of Tsushima sees Jin embracing his identity as the Ghost, so it may not make sense for him to continue using his combat stances in the second installment. Instead, Ghost of Tsushima 2 could take advantage of the series' continued narrative and provide Jin with an even greater arsenal of stealth skills and abilities that serve to enhance its stealth gameplay. There are already plenty of stealth skills available in Ghost of Tsushima, but perhaps Ghost of Tsushima 2 could make it possible to take different approaches to stealth, just as his combat stances in the first game allow him to take different approaches to direct combat.

Assuming Ghost of Tsushima 2 is in development and will soon be released, it could spice up the first game's combat mechanics by picking up right where it left off. Specifically, rather than being balanced between stealth and direct combat to show Jin's inner conflict, Ghost of Tsushima 2 could lean more fully into stealth gameplay to freshen up its combat and even drastically alter the base playstyle.