Briefly: an open world action game about a samurai who fights against Mongol invaders

Year of release: 2020

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Developer: Sucker Punch Productions

Genre: third-person action

Game modes: Single-player, Multiplayer

Approximate duration: 25 hours for the main story and 60 for the whole game.

1274 – A Mongol army invades the Japanese island of Tsushima. Samurai Jin Sakai and his uncle, the rulerShimura, try to stop the invaders, but are defeated. Shimura is captured, and Jin miraculously survives.

Realizing that it is impossible to defeat the Mongols in a fair fight, the hero decides to change tactics. He goes in search of allies and learns the art of stealthy assassination in order to free his uncle and drive the enemy from his native land.

Why it’s worth playing

Despite not having the most advanced graphics, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most picturesque games of its time. Sun-drenched meadows, scarlet fields of flowers, golden groves – every frame looks like a hokku-inspired painting. The game even offers special mechanics for composing them.

Ghost of Tsushima is created with a love for classic samurai movies. The developers were inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa, and for complete immersion they added “Kurosawa Mode” – a black and white filter and modified sound that creates an atmosphere of old movies.

For those who want to expand the adventure, there’s a Director’s Cut edition with the Iki Island add-on. In it, Jin travels to a neighboring island where new challenges, enemies, and a deep personal story await him.