Ghost of Tsushima

For more of: The fantasy of being an expert with a blade, beautiful open-world traversal, engaging narrative
Notable differences: Few if any RPG mechanics, more action-oriented, stealth gameplay, a slightly more grounded, historically inspired setting
Availability: PS4, PS5

If The Witcher 3’s gripping narrative and fantasy of being a master swordsman has you desperate for more, you might wish to shake things up a little bit with Sucker Punch’s samurai sim Ghost of Tsushima. With a demanding cinematic approach that takes its cues from classic samurai films like 1954’s Seven Samurai and 1965’s Red Beard, Ghost is both a great action game and an engrossing visual treat.

Read More: Ghost of Tsushima: The Kotaku Review

It’s worth noting that Ghost of Tsushima technically isn’t an RPG. But with a drop-dead gorgeous open world that will give any beautiful sunset in The Witcher 3 a run for its money, a horse to race through said world, side-quests, and a variety of ways to improve protagonist Jin’s samurai skills, it sometimes feels like a more immediate, action-oriented take on much of what folks love about The Witcher 3.

Combat is kinetic, and deeply rewarding. It revels in the samurai fantasy in the same way The Witcher fantasizes about being a monster hunter. You can challenge foes to a classic standoff which never gets old and, unlike The Witcher, there’s a satisfying stealth element at play.

If you loved the thrill of sword fighting in The Witcher and desire more metal-on-metal action unchained from stat numbers, Ghost of Tsushima is a thrilling experience.