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If you're looking for games like Ghost of Tsushima, there are plenty of great alternatives to try out. Jin Sakai's sweeping journey across the beautiful landscapes of 13th century Japan is full of sword-based action, but it's also home to memorable, contemplative moments, a gripping story, and plenty to see and do. First released in 2020 on the PS4 before coming to the PC, you might find yourself looking for something like Ghost of Tsushima to try out.
Happily, there are also lots of exciting new games for 2025 and beyond that look set to appeal to any fans of Sucker Punch's action-adventure, with the highly anticipated sequel Ghost of Yotei, along with the next upcoming Assassin's Creed game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, which is set in Feudal Japan.
10. Yakuza 0
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Admittedly, this game may look like a leftfield choice for this list, but Yakuza 0, and by extension the whole Yakuza series, is the best in offering meaningful side quests. From procuring toys (and, err, other things) for children to helping a random stranger dodge a marriage proposal or infiltrating a cult, Yakuza 0 has it all, and the conclusion to each of these missions is both meaningful and heartwarming. The games in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s new engine, everything from Yakuza 6 onwards, also look absolutely brilliant, inviting you to saunter around real-life modern Japan and enjoy what it has to offer.
9. Horizon Forbidden West
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Platform(s): PS4, PS5
Guerrilla Games delivered its most impressive action-RPG to date in Horizon Forbidden West – one of the best PS5 games. It's an impressive sequel to 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn, a true showcase of the power of the PS5 and one of the best open world games on the platform. If you enjoyed being able to spend time exploring a beautiful, sprawling space in Ghost of Tsushima you'll find no end of joy from Forbidden West – particularly if you like the idea of seeing gigantic robo-dinosaurs on every horizon. The combat and story is also excellent, so why not jump into Aloy's latest adventure and lose yourself in a mysterious world for a hundred hours.
Check out our Horizon Forbidden West review for more.
8. Batman: Arkham Knight
Developer: Rocksteady
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Apart from the open world, Tsushima and Batman share the general feeling of combat. The whole idea of your character being surrounded, only to methodically make short work of his enemies, feels a lot like the fighting style the Arkham series popularized. Both games also offer multipart side quests that can take you all over. While some of what’s available can feel like filler, getting around as Batman still feels great, and if we’re honest, he’s sort of a samurai in his own right. The best Batman games, even the mostly linear Arkham Asylum, share with Tsushima that focus on their hero and how no matter how hard he tries, he can’t solve everything on his own – while Jin puts a team together for that, Batman sometimes gets supported by Robin, Catwoman, and Nightwing.
Check out our Batman Arkham Knight review to get our original verdict.
7. Infamous: Second Son
Developer: Sucker Punch
Platform(s): PS4
Yes, okay, it’s cheating ever so slightly to simply put another Sucker Punch game on this list, but it's an argument for the developer closing out the console cycle as it started it. Delsin's superpowered romp through Seattle is one of the best PS4 games thanks to fun movement and fluid combat. The side activities are all about collectables and can feel a little much if you've already done that a few times in other games by now. All in all Second Son was an interesting blueprint for how your choices in an open world could affect its inhabitants, and how even the comparatively limited space of a city could be used well in an open-world game.
Check out our Infamous: Second Son review for more.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Ancient Japan sure is one setting many people get excited about. The Wild West is another popular setting, and Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most detailed facsimile of a cowboy’s journey out on his journey through the land. From taking care of your horse to maintaining your own health and hygiene, there is a lot to keep an eye on, and while some of it can feel like busywork, the attention to detail is astounding. The same goes for the environment. And if you want your game to have standouts, the Deadeye system is still the best version of a standoff mechanic using guns. Apart from all the guns and cowboy hats it needs to be said that at the end of the day Red Dead Redemption 2 has a very engrossing story that fits the idea of a Wild West epic to the T.
Check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 review for more.
4. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
The way Ghost of Tsushima plays is a more direct improvement on older Assassin’s Creed titles, but Assassin's Creed Odyssey takes this spot for its absolutely gorgeous world. While the story is interesting in its own right, and the new combat system does the long-running series a world of good, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t immediately get lost in its landscapes. Whether it’s sandy beaches or statues of Greek gods high up on a mountain, you just want to see (and climb!) all of it. Assassin’s Creed has a reputation for taking players around the world. Because of that, many of us thought we’d first enter an open-world Japan as an assassin, now Tsushima has taken that particular crown.
Check out our Assassin's Creed Odyssey review for more.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Developer: Monolith
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mordor isn't a beautiful place - it's actually the opposite, but as ranger Talion, it can often almost feel like a playground. After Talion loses his family to orcs in a ritual summoning, he becomes one with a wraith called Celebrimbor, the smith who made the One Ring. From then on, Talion decides that his revenge is best taken from within, and basically kills a lot of orcs. What makes Shadow of Mordor such fun, and one of the best Lord of the Rings games, is how powerful you can become – with new skills, taking out lesser foes becomes a dance (not unlike Jin’s standoff takedowns). However, there are always powerful orc captains that can quickly put you in your place. Thanks to the unique Nemesis system, they also remember you and up their defenses if you use a certain attack too often. If you're looking for more combat with a similar feel to Tsushima, and you enjoy plenty of side content, this is the dark place for you.
3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Developer: FromSoftware
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Since a lot of Ghost of Tsushima’s charm comes from you being a samurai, you shouldn’t miss out on another standout with the same theme – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro plays differently, but places so much importance on the right times to block and strike that the idea is close to Tsushima’s standoffs. Once its world opens up, and after you've defeated your first few enemies, you'll find that Sekiro is just as beautiful and exciting as Tsushima, and its takedowns are just as satisfying – if not more so for how much risk and precision they take to pull off. Just be prepared for Sekiro's notoriously high difficulty, as like all of the best FromSoftware games, this isn't for those lacking patience.
Read our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review for more.
2. Rise of the Ronin
Developer: Team Ninja
Platform(s): PS5
Set in 19th century Japan, Rise of Ronin is another open-world experience that features combat you'll likely enjoy if you're a fan of Ghost of Tsushima. Not too dissimilar to the sword play Jin can engage in, the nameless warrior of Team Ninja's action-adventure is also a samurai who can get stuck into close quarters combat, with various styles that let you play around with the weapons of the time period. There's also ranged options - including a nimble grappling hook - that let you try out different approaches. Set in a beautiful world that's yours to explore, you'll also experience engaging questlines with choices to make. There's plenty to love about Rise of the Ronin if you're looking for something like Ghost of Tsushima.
For more, read our Rise of the Ronin review.
1. Onimusha Warlords
Developer: Capcom
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
The first part of the Onimusha trilogy was one of the games that served as direct inspiration for Ghost of Tsushima. While it's mostly a gameplay system that Tsushima took a cue from, Onimusha’s Samanosuke Akechi does have a lot in common with Jin: both battle through historic Japanese time periods, both are loyal samurai who receive help from badass women and both are built after Japanese actors. While the last point doesn’t sound like much, Akechi being what went for the spitting image of Japanese/Taiwanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro was a big step at the time. Onimusha is a more linear and puzzle-driven game overall, but it captures the spirit of feudal Japan and has a great soundtrack to boot. Plus, Onimusha 3 comes with a time travel plot featuring Jean Reno. Just saying.
