10 Best Games Like Ghost of Tsushima

With the recent announcement of Ghost of Tsushima‘s sequel, Ghost of Yotei, players are excited to dive back into Jin Sakai‘s story.

Either to relive the beautiful sights, reminisce in the combat, or to just enjoy the feudal Japanese vibe, players are easily able to find something to enjoy about Ghost of Tsushima.

Some players are looking for something new to play instead, but want to feel the game’s influence in their new media.

Many games are running into the challenge of trying (and failing) to live up to the hype, but there are several different games that take a well-done element from Ghost of Tsushima and expand on it.

Whether it be samurai-themed or just having fun combat, there are many games similar to this PlayStation exclusive.

10 Sifu

Incredible Kung-Fu Combat

Sifu is an indie game with AAA appeal, following the story of the protagonist taking revenge on those who partook in their father’s murder. It’s an action-packed Kung-Fu adventure, and the combat is loads of fun, but that’s not where it ends — in fact, death isn’t even the end, either.

Every time the player dies, they are resurrected by a talisman infused with magic. They age a year with every resurrection, which makes their attacks more powerful, but lowers overall health. Of course, when the player gets too old, they permanently die, resulting in a game over.

It’s not too long, and an immensely fun game for those who are fans of Ghost of Tsushima’s combat. Its premise is interesting, and the delivery is just as delightful, making for a great time overall.

9 Onimusha: Warlords

Hack and Slash With a Samurai Sword

Onimusha: Warlords was originally released for the PlayStation 2 back in 2002, with an HD remaster being released for the PlayStation 4 in the United States in 2019.

The game takes place in the Sengoku period of Japan, following the samurai Samanosuke Akechi as he fights demons in a hack-and-slash style. It’s classically early Capcom, and is an immense amount of fun for new and veteran players. Many players, to this day, are hoping for another installment.

Thankfully, the remaster makes it easy for players to have access to this older game, and it would scratch the itch for those looking to wield a samurai sword one more time.

8 Nioh 2

Nearly Endless Replayability

Players wanting more of a challenge in combat and more depth in their story will be pleased with Nioh 2. The game is a prequel, meaning that anyone can pick up the story without issue, despite it being a later installment.

The game follows a half yokai named Hidechiyo, also called a “Shiftling,” after a siege in Osaka and their journey across 1500s Japan.

This game has crazy amounts of replayability, with its New Game+ mode being one of the most fleshed out in gaming.

With the various builds that can be done, the stances and weapon options, and many more features, each new playthrough of Nioh 2 is fun and unique. It will provide something new for players every time, and be a great experience every single time.

7 Yakuza Series

A Fun Open World in Modern Japan

Taking on a more modern approach to the Japanese open world, the Like A Dragon/Yakuza series does a great job at capturing and representing Japan.

There’s a lot of questioning about what order the Yakuza games should be played in, but thankfully, all the games would be good contenders. For those wanting to play in an immersive open world with lots of options on what to do, however, Yakuza has that covered.

With endless options, several games’ worth of stories to tell, lots of wacky hijinks and countless adventures, the Yakuza games are a great, modern tale for Ghost of Tsushima fans.

6 Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Yakuza’s Distant Cousin

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is an unrelated (non-canon) spinoff to the Yakuza series, following a completely separate cast of characters and an entirely different story — and this story is set in 1600s Japan.

Similarly to Yakuza, this game offers tons to do. If players want to play the game normally and experience the story, they can. If they want to exclusively focus on the romance and other relationships, they can. If they want to endlessly play Ryoma’s Villa like a Farming Sim, they can.

There are a lot of fun options for a game so similar yet different in terms of samurai stories. Players will enjoy the open world, the characters, and all other elements of this game.

5 Way of the Samurai Series

An Old PlayStation Classic

Way of the Samurai had a surprisingly fleshed out open world, despite the limitations of the PlayStation 2. The franchise last saw a main-game release with its fourth installment in 2012, and a spinoff game in 2020, with no other word about the series since.

In the first game, players are a wandering ronin named Kenji in a village called Rokkotsu Pass. It takes place at the start of the Meiji era, right after the fall of the samurai.

Despite its age, it holds up surprisingly well, and the rest of the franchise maintains that momentum as best as it can.

The decisions that players make in this game have a direct impact on how the game ends, which wasn’t unheard of when the game came out—just rare. The player can choose Kenji’s allegiance between the fighting clans, if he will engage in combat with NPCs, and other details that influence the outcome.

4 Black Myth: Wukong

Adapting Ancient Chinese Folklore

Black Myth: Wukong is a Soulslike retelling of Journey to the West, an ancient Chinese folktale. Following the titular character, Sun Wukong, players are in for an action-packed adventure in every chapter; however, in true Souls-like fashion, this game has a steep difficulty spike.

For players who want challenging combat and interesting hacking and slashing adventures, Black Myth: Wukong flexes those gaming muscles in an incredibly fun way.

With it being a classical tale, at times it feels very similar to Ghost of Tsushima’s cinematic, Kurosawa-inspired story. It’s folklore in all the best ways, making for a great experience for fans wanting something new.

3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A Difficult Souls Game With Intense Combat

It’s no secret that FromSoftware makes hard games, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is no exception. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not fun, challenging, or engaging — and besides, there’s a ton that beginners can learn.

The titular character, Sekiro, is also called the Wolf (or Okami in Japanese), and his story takes place in a very bloody, 14th century Japan. Once believed to be dead, he’s on a mission to rescue his master and get revenge on his enemies.

While the plot is very similar to the first act in Ghost of Tsushima, the game couldn’t be any different. It’s a challenge from every angle, yet is wholly enjoyable all the same. Players will love the fresh life that this story breathes into the samurai genre, just get ready for some of the hardest bosses in gaming.

2 Trek to Yomi

A Kurosawa-Style Side-Scroller

Trek to Yomi is surprising amounts of fun with even more surprising amounts of pain. This side-scroller action game follows the young Hiroki on the day his master, Sanjuro, is murdered during a bandit invasion of his village.

The main bulk of the game takes place years later, after Hiroki is named the main samurai of his village. From there, players make sure that he follows through with his promise to protect the village and his wife, Aiko.

The tone of the game follows Ghost of Tsushima‘s iconic Kurosawa Mode, with immensely fun combat and a thrilling story. The parallels in cinematography make for memorable sights and sounds, and that’s not even considering how it feels actually playing the game.

It provides a unique, cinematic experience for players itching for more samurai action, one that will be thoroughly enjoyed.

1 Rise of the Ronin

Overthrow the Shogunate With Your Twin

When Rise of the Ronin came out this year, players weren’t ready for the striking similarity it has to Ghost of Tsushima. With riveting gameplay, gorgeous imagery, and, of course, cats, Rise of the Ronin is slowly growing in popularity.

The game follows the Blade Twins during the final years of the Edo period in Yokohama. After a failed attempt at assassinating Commodore Matthew Perry, the twins go on an action-packed adventure to overthrow the shogunate in an era of growing western influence.

The game has frequently been compared to Ghost of Tsushima, and for good reason. Thankfully, Team Ninja has another game in development, so one can only play Rise of the Ronin with baited breath for what’s to come next.