5 Best Video Games Like Ghost Of Yōtei

One video game that blew everyone away in 2025 was "Ghost of Yōtei," the standalone sequel to "Ghost of Tsushima." Set in 17th century Japan, the game follows a mercenary named Atsu who swears revenge on the murder of her family. Exploring an open-world version of the Ezo region, Atsu hunts the Yōtei Six, the group of rogue samurai who carried out the killings. Along the way, Atsu completes various side quests and participates in cultural activities, like painting and playing music on a shamisen.

For players who have completed "Ghost of Yōtei" and are still hungry for more period piece action in Japan, there is no shortage of modern games to satisfy that urge. Whether it's samurai titles set in the country's feudal period or Japan's contentious intersection of classical culture and modern industrialization, there are lots of well-received games to choose from. Each of the games we're including here draw heavily from various points of Japanese history, while offering their own take on third-person sword-based combat. These are the five best video games like "Ghost of Yōtei" to keep the samurai-influenced hack-and-slash action going.

Whether you know it as the "Yakuza" series or "Like a Dragon," Sega's third-person crime action franchise has thrived for over 20 years. While the main series is set in late 20th century to early 21st century Japan, the game received a period piece spin-off with "Like a Dragon: Ishin!" in 2014. The game is set in the 1860s, with Japan experiencing widespread upheaval as the arrival of Western powers bucks longstanding traditions with a sudden influx in outside influence and technology. Protagonist Sakamoto Ryōma sets out to find his adoptive father's killer and clear his name of the crime, uncovering a conspiracy involving the fate of Japan in the process.

"Like a Dragon: Ishin!" effectively brings its 19th century setting to atmospheric life, coupled with a twisting revenge story at its core. The game features the minigames, side quests, and fighting styles that "Like a Dragon" fans have come to expect, distinguished this time by the story's historical aesthetics. The game was remade for modern platforms in 2023, refining the gameplay mechanics and significantly upgrading the technical presentation. A thrill for longtime "Like a Dragon" fans and a great jumping-on point for franchise newcomers, "Like a Dragon: Ishin!" is a beautiful period piece expansion of the series.

The Soulsborne video game genre popularized by titles developed and published by FromSoftware has seen a worldwide boom in recent years. This includes the 2019 game "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," which mixes Japanese history and folklore in an intense adventure. Set during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku period, the game's titular protagonist is tasked with defending Kuro, the last of the mythical Dragon's bloodline. After losing an arm in battle, Sekiro replaces it with a prosthetic containing its own advanced features, while contending with betrayal from his closest associates.

Even as far as Soulsborne games go, "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" has gained considerable notoriety for its immense difficulty. This didn't deter hardcore gamers, of course, with "Sekiro" posting impressive sales figures and continuing FromSoftware's winning streak that began with 2009's "Demon's Souls." For "Ghost of Yōtei" players who enjoyed that game's parry and swordplay mechanics, "Sekiro" takes that gameplay one step further with its precision. Easily the toughest game on this list, "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" is rewarding — but not for the faint of heart.

Naturally, if you're a fan of "Ghost of Yōtei," you should check out 2020's "Ghost of Tsushima" if you haven't already. Set just over 300 years before the events of its sequel, the game takes place in 13th century Japan as it's invaded by the Mongolians. Protagonist Jin Sakai is grievously wounded defending the island of Tsushima and resorts to guerilla tactics against the invaders after recovering. Post-launch content for the game added Iki Island, expanding the story as Jin confronted his past while dealing with a new threat.

More than just laying a solid foundation for "Ghost of Yōtei" to build from, "Ghost of Tsushima" offers a long and engrossing experience to complete. The combat feels smooth and intuitive, rewarding players who favor precise timing and deliberate action rather than mindlessly swinging their swords. The game offers an immersive environment, full of side quests and other activities for Jin to become involved in, while also receiving a multiplayer mode post-launch. If, for whatever reason, you skipped over "Ghost of Tsushima," now's the perfect time to rectify that.

The 2024 game "Rise of the Rōnin" delves into the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate as Japan emerged from its lengthy isolation in the 19th century. The protagonist is initially tasked with assassinating Commodore Matthew Perry when he visits Japan in the 1850s, but is unsuccessful in killing the American naval officer. This kicks off a country-spanning saga as the player character pursues a mysterious masked samurai assassin causing turmoil in the wake of a growing western influence. Along the way, the protagonist teams up with actual historical figures from the period as Japan descends into civil war over its controversial decision to modernize and welcome outsiders.

"Rise of the Rōnin" features an exciting combat system and an expansive story that delves into a particularly pivotal moment in Japanese history. The game's big twists are largely telegraphed but the real appeal here is the samurai action and different 19th century cities and regions to explore. The game also offers a three-player cooperative online multiplayer mode to work together and accomplish various mission challenges. A reliably entertaining samurai adventure game that weaves real history into its open-world experience, "Rise of the Rōnin" excels when it focuses on its swordplay action.

Another samurai game set in Japan's Sengoku period during the 16th century is "Assassin's Creed Shadows," released in 2025. The 14th main installment in Ubisoft's long-running "Assassin's Creed" series, the game features two protagonists, Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke, who each possess unique play styles. The two characters get caught up in the shadowy war between the Templar Order and the Assassins as the conflict spreads to Japan. This leads them to discover a conspiracy that's taking advantage of the Japanese civil war to spread its influence throughout the country.

Fortunately, "Assassin's Creed Shadows" was not the big 2025 bomb some observers predicted it to be, surpassing five million players four months after its launch. The dual protagonist premise freshens up the venerable franchise while offering more variety and depth in gameplay. Though the story keeps within the series' well-worn formula, the gameplay and richly realized feudal Japan setting keep things from feeling overly derivative. With the franchise's usual multitude of things to do and an engaging open-world setting, "Assassin's Creed Shadows" course-corrects the series once again.