Ghost of Yotei launches on October 2, 2025. And if you’re excited about its stealth-heavy, samurai-styled, and myth-infused experience, you’re definitely not alone. But while we wait, there are already plenty of games out there that tap into similar vibes. The ambiance, the sword fighting, the ghostly and overtones, or the historical setting. Below are 14 titles that either share DNA with Yotei or offer elements that might prepare you for what’s coming. Here’s why each one is worth checking out.
1. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
- Released: Jul 17, 2020 (PS4), Aug 20, 2021 (PS5), May 16, 2024 (PC)
- Developer: Sucker Punch | Publisher: Sony
A beautiful open-world with samurai action and stealth that feels like you’re in a classic Japanese film. The combat is sleek, and it even changes depending on whether you play as a ghost or an honorable warrior. It’s Iki Island expansion just adds more to that immersive feel. If you want to polish your combat skills before Yotei drops, there’s no better place to practice than its predecessor itself.
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released: March 22, 2019 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer: FromSoftware | Publisher: Activision
Sword fighting in this game is quick, harsh, and extremely satisfying. You have an option to be stealthy, but the highlight is definitely the boss fights and close one-on-one combats. It has also got that mystical setting with monsters and legends, and delivers all this in a way only FromSoft can.
3. Trek to Yomi
- Released: May 5, 2022 | PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, Switch
- Developer: Flying Wild Hog | Publisher: Devolver Digital
A cinematic, side-scrolling samurai tale drenched in atmosphere. The unique art direction amplifies the haunting journey that sticks with you even after your play session is over. The swordplay is simpler. It’s slower, yes, but that restraint only reinforces the somber, reflective tone – something Yotei may well echo.
4. Rise of the Ronin
- Released: March 22, 2024 (PS5), PC version expected later
- Developer: Team Ninja | Publisher: Sony / Koei Tecmo
Here you find your character in the Meiji period, juggling moral choices in an open-world action. The story spreads in different directions based on your choices, and the swordplay is sharp and reactive. It’s not perfect, but the setting and the freedom kind of remind me of what Yotei might be going for in terms of narrative and exploration.
5. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Released: March 3, 2023 | PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC
- Developer/Publisher: Team Ninja / Koei Tecmo
Though based on Chinese myth, Wo Long features fast, spirit-charged swordplay and demon-slaying magic. It’s a punishing but atmospheric game that dives deep into dark fantasy.
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6. Nioh 2 – Complete Edition
- Released: Feb 5, 2021 (PC), earlier on PS4
- Developer: Team Ninja | Publisher: Koei Tecmo
It’s samurai vs demons. You battle yokai and wield spirit-based abilities. Its depth and difficulty might be more intense than what Yotei aims for, but the spiritual core and samurai themes line up well.
7. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
- Released: Dec 6, 2016 | PC, PS4, Xbox
- Developer: Mimimi Games | Publisher: Daedalic
This is a top-down stealth game. It’s quiet, slow, and all about timing. The Edo-era setting is done really well, and every character you use has unique tools. If you want strategy over button-mashing, and a more serious tone, this one gives off the quiet intensity Yotei might channel.
8. Aragami 2
- Released: Sept 17, 2021 | PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC
- Developer/Publisher: Lince Works
You play as a shadow-wielding assassin who can teleport between cover and silently take down enemies. While more stylized and fantastical than Yotei seems to be, the spiritual themes and stealth mechanics are very much in sync.
9. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Releases: Nov 15, 2024 | PS5, Xbox, PC
- Developer: Ubisoft Quebec | Publisher: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in Japan with two leads, one stealthy and one berserk. The world seems really detailed, and the game mixes parkour, assassinations, and sword fights. The duality in playstyle reminds people a lot of what Ghost of Yotei might go for too: the freedom in how you fight.
10. Shinobi Rising
- Released: Feb 2023 | PC
- Developer/Publisher: W.R.K.S Games
This is a small indie game that comes with a cool ninja stealth story set in one single night. It is short but has atmosphere and mystery. And the gameplay is about sneaking and solving. Fans of slow, tense pacing might appreciate how much it captures the ninja vibe in a compact package.
11. Like a Dragon: Ishin!
- Released: Feb 21, 2023 | PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | Publisher: Sega
Part of the Yakuza series but it is set in historic Japan. You fight with swords, guns, and fists, and it’s way more dramatic and flashy than Yotei will ever feel. But the storytelling, setting, and character drama could still hit similar notes for players who like loads of emotion in their samurai tales.
12. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
- Releases: July 24, 2025 | PS5, Xbox, PC
- Developer: Leenzee Games | Publisher: 505 Games
This is also a Chinese folklore-based game, yet with the same methodical combat that you find in Souls games. The world is gloomy and full of ghosts and tragic legends. It echoes the kind of tone Yotei seems to be setting.
13. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
- Released: July 18, 2025 | PS5, Xbox, PC
- Developer: A44 Games | Publisher: Kepler Interactive
This is where the swordplay, guns, and magic are mixed up perfectly in an open-world action game. You have a spirit companion, much like the Wolf companion we are going to receive with Yotei. And its fusion of fantasy and grounded action could resonate with players interested in Yotei’s rumored mix of the seen and unseen.
14. Stellar Blade
- Released: April 26, 2024 | PS5
- Developer: Shift Up | Publisher: Sony
More sci-fi than samurai, but it has beautiful visuals, high-speed combat, and emotional story beats. While the setting is different, its polish and emotional focus feel does bring it oddly close to Yotei’s cinematic and serious style.
Why These Games Still Make Sense While You Wait
These games are great for scratching that itch you’d feel while waiting for the next Ghost of Tsushima. Sure, they don’t look like the game, but they definitely have a lot that will hold you off.
Though they are not all samurai or ghost games, all of them strike a similar mark in terms of darker themes, combat, personal history, and a very central emphasis on setting and tension. All of them contribute to setting the tone of Ghost of Yotei, and by trying some of them, you are likely to be a bit more prepared on what drops on October 2.
