In 2020, Sucker Punch releasedGhost of Tsushima, an ambitious samurai-themed game set in 13th-century Japan. Demonstrating a mastery of open-world design stemming from multipleInfamousprojects, the PlayStation studio put together arguably the genre’s most visually impressive project on the PS4. Over the next few years, a multiplayer mode, expansion, PS5 Director’s Cut, and PC port followed, cementingGoTas one of the most well-rounded historical epics on the market.Games likeGhost of Tsushimado not come around often.
While the campaign should keep people busy for quite a long time, eventually, they will exhaust everything thatGoThas to offer. Consequently, they will need to look elsewhere to get (somewhat) similar experiences. Simply put, no game out there is identical to Sucker Punch’s masterpiece; however, plenty of titles scratch some similar itches, even if they cannot reach all of them.
Updated June 11, 2025 by Mark Sammut:2025 should mark the return of Sucker Punch, withGhost of Yoteitentatively announced for the year. While waiting for the developer to confirm the PS5 sequel’s release date, fans craving another open-world game set in feudal Japan might wish to check out an upcoming Ubisoft release. If nothing else, Assassin’s Creed Shadows should besimilar to GoT.
Seemingly, ever since Ubisoft’sAssassin’s Creedhas been a thing, the community has been asking for a trip to Japan. That journey is finally set to happen viaAssassin’s Creed Shadows, an entry that should be the franchise’s most exciting game in a long time. However, the project has led a somewhat strange life so far, attracting some backlash even when it was still months away from its debut. Just to be clear,Shadowsis a hotly-anticipated release that is a pretty easy recommendation forGhost of Tsushimafans, at least to the point that they should keep an eye on its initial reception to see if they might want to invest in the title. Previews have generally been encouraging too.
On paper,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsshould be the perfect alternative toGhost of Tsushima(not counting the latter’s pending sequel,Ghost of Yotei). They are both massive open-world games set in feudal Japan, albeit highlighting different eras and regions. Both projects explore recorded events, all the while telling an original story featuring characters inspired by history.Shadowsopts for the dual-protagonist set-up, with players having access to a ninja (Naoe) and a samurai (Yasuke). Going by the available information, players will be free to choose which character they want to main, although they will occasionally need to complete missions as the other character. Naturally, they can also jump back and forth evenly between the two protagonists.
While way too early to say anything about its quality,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis undoubtedly one of the biggest games of 2025 so far. More importantly,the game will (hopefully) provide a fascinating look at Japanese history.
Team Ninja’sRise of the Roninlaunched to a positive but not glowing reception, a reaction not aided by the game debuting on the same day as Capcom’sDragon’s Dogma 2. The latter is arguably the superior overall experience, and it is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for an open-world action RPG with flexible classes and great combat. However,Rise of the Roninis far more similar in style, tone, and setting toGhost of Tsushima; in fact, Team Ninja’s 2024 release almost seems like a spiritual successor to Sucker Punch’s title.
Both open-world games are set during pivotal moments in Japanese history, withRise of the Ronintaking place during the Edo period’s final years. Both games deliver fast-paced action that seeks to be accessible but also challenging. While they have their similarities,Rise of the Roninis nevertheless a unique beast, and Team Ninja’s Soulslike expertise shines through the fantastic combat system. Although not as deep as something likeNioh 2, the gameplay is genuinely brilliant and, more importantly, less punishing than some of the developer’s previous outings.Rise of the Roninhas a robust selection of unlockable combat styles, weapons, and skills.
While initially a PS5 exclusive,Rise of the Ronindebuted on PC in March 2025. The port got a mixed reception.
After producing two fantastic open-world superhero games for the PS4 (and PS5), Insomniac managed to outdo itself withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. Featuring two playable characters (Peter Parker and Miles Morales), the 2023 sequel builds beautifully on its predecessors' foundations, providing improvements in a few key areas. While the core is largely the same, the combat system has been enhanced through the addition of Venom abilities, along with the fact that the leads have unique skills and abilities that fit their characters. The open-world is gorgeous and offers a solid selection of secondary optional content, which was one of the few areas somewhat lacking in the firstMarvel’s Spider-Man. The story does a great job of highlighting both Parker and Morales, even if the former gets more time in the spotlight than the latter.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is another triumph for Insomniac and the PlayStation brand, and it was one of the best games of 2023. Now, when compared directly toGhost of Tsushima, it is quite a different open-world experience since the combat and traversal mechanics are worlds' apart; however, they both offer gameplay that is satisfying along with immersive settings.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will arrive on July 20, 2025 on PC.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis a Soulslike RPG by Team Ninja. Although not a massive departure fromNioh, the 2023 release does shake things up somewhat by emphasizing parrying above everything else. This mechanic is so important, the game’s tutorial boss is basically unbeatable if players fail to deflect their attacks.
Narratively,Wo Longis set during China’s Three Kingdoms era, although Team Ninja’s project is not as history-driven asGhost of Tsushima. While players get to fight alongside quite a few historical figures, they will largely be going up against supernatural enemies. In terms of challenge,Wo Longis considerably harder thanGhost of Tsushima; that said, both games deliver fast-paced and skill-based combat.
Black Myth: Wukongtook the world by storm at launch, making it comfortably one of the biggest games of 2024. Now, in terms of world design and combat, Game Science’s effort is relatively far removed fromGhost of Tsushima; consequently, this recommendation’s validity comes down to what somebody is craving. While not historical,Black Myth: Wukongis based on an important Chinese text calledJourney to the West, which has influenced the likes ofDragon Ball,RWBY, andEnslaved: Odyssey to the West. Liberties aside,Wukongis arguably the most ambitious video game adaptation of this novel, and it is likely to be a lot of players' first exposure to most of this narrative’s ideas (at least, beyond minor reference and light inspiration). Similar to howGoTacted as a gateway to a part of Japanese history that is not that well-known in Western nations,Black Myth: Wukongcould serve the same purpose forJourney to the West.
Beyond that element, the game should still have some elements that satisfy fans ofGoT. While closer to a Souls-lite,Wukong’s combat is fast-paced, crisp, and challenging, along with being quite stylish. Although not an open-world and fairly linear at times, the game does occasionally emphasize exploration, especially during its later chapters. Similar to Jin, the Destined One primarily utilizes a specific type of weapon, although he gets upgrades and unlocks quite a few spells andskills to help modify combat. Visually, both projects are gorgeous, andWukongpushes the PS5 to its limit in the same way thatGoTtested the PS4’s capabilities.
Anyone who enjoyed the open-world explorative feeling ofGhost of Tsushimashould check out From Software’s latest release,Elden Ring. Although the difficulty takes some getting used to (unless players are already hardened fromSekiro), the world is incredibly expansive and beautifully designed. There is so much to see and do inElden Ring, and players can easily pack 100 hours into their first playthrough depending on how much they explore.
With multiple ways to build a character, lots of quests to sift through, hidden items and weapons galore, and tons of bosses to eliminate,Elden Ringis one of the best open-world experiences currently on the market and a great next step forGhost of Tsushimafans looking to flaunt their combat skills.
6Way Of The Samurai Series
An Immersive Ronin Sim
Acquire’sWay of the Samuraihas been somewhat forgotten over the last decade. While never one of the biggest names on the market, this series was consistently impressive. Each game does a great job of immersing players in a different era of Japanese history, casting them as Ronin who insert themselves into a town’s political and social struggles.Way of the Samuraialmost ventures into life-sim territory at times, with the campaigns not being afraid to slow things down at times.
The games (especially the sequels) provide quite a few player-driven choices as well, which enhances their replayability since two playthroughs can go in wildly different directions. All four entries are good in their own right, butWay of the Samurai 4is probably the best entry point for new players. It has the most polished and complex combat system, along with an interesting setting that is explored well. Still, each game is worth a try, and they are not particularly long either.
Ghost of Tsushimafans craving a Soulslike open-world will want to prioritizeElden Ring; however, if someone is primarily interested in exploring another part of Japanese history, they might wish to prioritizeSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceinstead. While created by FromSoftware, the 2019 release is notably different from the developer’s other flagship projects, to the point that an argument could be made that it is not a traditional Soulslike project.
Sekirois set during Japan’s Sengoku era, which falls roughly in betweenGhost of Tsushima’s Kamakura andGhost of Yōtei’s early Edo periods. Unlike Sucker Punch’s epics,FromSoftware’s masterpiece leans completely into mythology and fantasy, delivering an experience that only uses history for minor inspiration. Still, the game is filled with imagery from its era, and the fantasy elements are implemented quite well.
Now,Ghost of TsushimaandSekiro’s combat are wildly different, with the latter being far more difficult than the former. That said, they both focus on blocking and parrying, with dodging being secondary.
8The Onimusha Series
Japanese History With A Supernatural Flair
Players looking for a game with a similar aesthetic and vibe but are craving something darker (although, some parts ofGhost of Tsushimaget pretty dark) can look into theOnimushaseries. This underrated franchise has a similar vibe to theResident Evilfranchise but is set in Japan and follows an array of historical figures that must combat supernatural forces through combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration.
Those who have always wanted to try a “melee-focused"Resident Evil-style title should find a lot to enjoy withOnimusha. It’s one of the better cult classics out there and although it’s a bit dated in terms of graphics, it’s still an enthralling adventure.Onimusha: Warlordshas received a solid PS4, PC, and Xbox One remaster, and that release is the best place for newcomers to start.
Anyone craving another open world with great story elements, characters, and fluid combat should be sure to putMiddle-earth: Shadow of Warat the top of their list. Drawing from lore and setups based onThe Lord of the Ringsseries,Middle-earth: Shadow of Waris the continuation of Talion’s journey fromShadow of Mordor.
The sequel includes some great updates in an open-world setting and gives players access to the entertaining and engaging Nemesis system that will have them fighting against enemies from their past, further adding to the story elements as they make their way through each area.
While predominantly concerned with gangster epics set in modern Japan, Sega’sYakuzafranchise is known to take the occasional detour for its spin-offs.Like a Dragon: Ishin!is set during Japan’s Edo period and features characters inspired by history, albeit with faces that will be familiar to anyone who has played the mainline entries. A story about personal revenge that also highlights its intriguing era,Ishin!demonstrates the license’s stellar writing through its central quest and fun characters.
A remake of a 2014 Japanese-exclusive game, this spin-off features an urban open-world that is quite small and cannot be compared toGhost of Tsushima’s massive map; however,Like a Dragonknows how to make the most of limited real estate, andIshin!is not an exception. The combat plays like the mainline beat ‘em up entries, albeit with a heavier focus on weapons and the implementation of anovel card system. Players get four stances to rotate through, and they provide a fair amount of variety and unlockable skills. While not particularly deep, the action is fast-paced and enjoyable, and it is just neat to set a version of Kiryu wielding a traditional katana.
More importantly,Ishin!tells a gripping historical tale that helped shape modern Japan. Even if it is fairly known within the franchise’s native country, this story is likely to cover new ground for many Western players, and the game does an admirable job of respecting history while injecting that typicalYakuzaflavor. The result is an unquestionably Japanese experience that is also accessible to an international audience.
