One year after its release, Sony is releasing the new Complete Edition of this PlayStation exclusive. Not only does it continue the story of this samurai blockbuster, but it also includes a new bounty mode.
For fans of Japan, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of series is a real treat anyway; where else can we swing a samurai sword so authentically in a historical setting? Following the huge success of Tsushima, the studio followed up with Ghost of Yotei in the fall of 2025.
Instead of playing as the brave warrior Jin Sakai during the Mongol invasion, we take up the blade some 300 years later as the mercenary Atsu. In the far north of Japan, she still has an old score to settle with her parents’ murderers. In the GlobalESportNews review, the PlayStation exclusive secured a solid score of 88. A year later, the game’s story is now continuing in the form of a Complete Edition.
In addition to the new bounty mode called “Most Wanted,” the new version also includes the first story DLC for Ghost of Yotei. Story fans in particular should keep an eye out for this; in Echoes of Sekigahara, you’ll not only encounter an old acquaintance from Atsu’s past, but also experience one of the most defining battles in Japanese history—the Battle of Sekigahara—up close.
Table of Contents
One Battle to End All Wars
In the main game, we first meet Atsu as a vengeful warrior driven solely by the desire to eliminate the Yotei Six. But it wasn’t always that way; after her parents’ death, Atsu initially spent several years in the south of the main Japanese island, where she worked as a mercenary during the final years of the Sengoku period. During this time, she took part—unfortunately on the losing side—in the Battle of Sekigahara, which enabled the Tokugawa clan to secure its nearly 250-year reign over Japan.
Memories of that day play a central role in the new DLC—for Atsu’s former comrade-in-arms, Nagato, known as “The Handsome One,” is lured north by rumors of a great treasure of gold and also finds himself at odds with Atsu’s enemies.Nagato and Atsu are connected by more than just their time as mercenaries. It quickly becomes clear that there were romantic feelings between the two. However, Nagato has apparently abused that trust—Atsu no longer trusts the adventurer.
(Atsu shares an eventful past with fellow mercenary Nagato—but she doesn’t trust the pretty boy.)
New Area, Familiar Gameplay
The storyline centered on Nagato and the Snake’s Gold is about five hours long, making it slightly shorter than that of the Iki Island DLC for Ghost of Tsushima. However, this DLC also features a completely new region: the so-called Ashoro Foothills are located on the eastern side of the island of Hokkaido, surrounding the Akan Volcano.
Visually, the new area doesn’t have as distinct an identity as the various regions in the main game—but that doesn’t make Ghost of Yotei any less cinematic. The cutscenes, in particular, unerringly capture the rugged, natural beauty of Hokkaido in nearly every frame. However, at first glance, the new map also appears somewhat smaller than Iki Island from Tsushima.
In terms of gameplay, Echoes of Sekigahara largely sticks to the familiar formula; we still need to adapt our weapons to those of our opponents to succeed in duels. We use the katana to fight other swordsmen, the kusarigama is effective against enemies with shields, and the spear, in turn, helps against the kusarigama.
(Hokkaido’s natural beauty is also wonderfully showcased in the new DLC for Yotei.)
New Weapons and Nasty Arrows
But there are also a few new mechanics: Atsu has now mastered a cool Robin Hood-style archery trick that lets her target multiple enemies at once with her bow. There are also “Mighty Weapons” now, such as the Sasumata—a forked spear—and the Kanabo. We’re already familiar with the large club from AC Shadows. With it, we can deal massive blows to enemies and even ignore their parries.
The Men of the Snake now also use special arrows when hunting Atsu; these get lodged in you and prevent you from healing during combat. You have to remove them first before you can use the next healing vial. Plus, there are a few new, challenging boss fights waiting for you. None of this is truly revolutionary; the new mechanics basically just add a little more depth to Ghost of Yotei’s already solid combat gameplay.
What else is included in the Complete Edition?
The brand-new “Most Wanted” survival mode is essentially its own little roguelike within Yotei. In successive runs, you’ll complete bounty missions that get progressively harder. Once you’ve defeated the enemies, you’ll receive bonuses and unlock additional playable characters like Nagato and Oyuki.
If you already own Ghost of Yotei, you can upgrade to the new Complete Edition for about 15 euros; otherwise, you’ll miss out on Echoes of Sekigahara and the new “Most Wanted” mode. However, the “Beauty of Yotei” mode is free for all Yotei owners; in this mode, the camera flies through various scenes of Hokkaido accompanied by atmospheric music. Essentially, though, it’s just a fancy slideshow.
