Ghost of Yotei
At first glance, Ghost of Yotei feels like yet another glossy, big-budget open-world adventure for the PlayStation 5. It’s gorgeous, but aren’t they all? It plays great, but what else is new? Down the list, Ghost of Yotei checks all of the boxes that have become standard for a Sony first-party blockbuster. A few hours in felt very impressive but far from novel. I kept playing, though. And kept playing. And kept playing. Dozens of hours later, the richness and unique flavor of Sucker Punch’s latest sequel comes into fuller focus. The writing is excellent, and the sum total of its world begins to feel profound in ways both big and subtle. It marries the sprawling frontiers of a Red Dead Redemption 2 with the punchy rhythms of an old-school action game. It’s refined but approachable with design and craftsmanship that’s firing on all cylinders. – Ethan Gach
