PlayStation Plus is home to one of the best open-world RPGs out there

PlayStation Plus, as with any subscription service, is great for the very fact that it allows you to experience and discover gems you may have missed. There’s so much joy in falling in love with a game that your friends have been begging you to play for years, and vice versa. That’s an experience I’ve had lately. We all want something a little different out of the games we play. Personally, I love a narrative-rich RPG. I want combat and exploration that’s fueled by a stellar story, so it’s always baffled my colleagues that I’d never played Ghost of Tsushima.

Released by Sucker Punch back in 2020, the game follows samurai Jin Sakai who must protect his home of Tsushima from a Mongolian invasion. In my defence, I was probably too deeply focused on The Last of Us Part II back when Ghost of Tsushima was released - seeing as they were released mere weeks apart. To my delight though, PlayStation Plus’ extra tier is home to the comprehensive Ghost of Tsushima - Director’s Cut so I’ve spent the last few weeks diving in - and oh my, it is a delight I cannot stop raving about.

Take a look at Ghost of Tsushima in action below.

Ghost of Tsushima is everything you’ve come to expect from a PlayStation first-party exclusive. It’s packed full with a top-notch story, engaging combat, a sizable open-world, meaningful side quests, and it’s very beautiful to look at. It truly is the full package - and I think that’s what’s delighted me the most. I’d just come off the back of a Star Wars Jedi: Survivor playthrough and while I was dazzled by the main story, I was hugely let down by the lacklustre side quests. Fight, platform, repeat - with very little reasoning as to why you should other than to nab a slightly different lightsaber handle.

Sure, you’ll pick up cosmetics in Ghost of Tsushima too that are largely meaningless but narratively, the side quests - and there are a ton of them - deepen your relationships with your allies. I simply cannot imagine ignoring them when Norio, Kenji, Sensei Ishikawa, Yuna, and Lady Masako are all expertly written characters. Each has their own fighting style and backstory, and that’s reflected in the nature of those quests. Norio is a monk, so you’ll take a stealthier approach to combat. Sensei Ishikawa is a master of the bow, so be prepared for ranged challenges.

By completing these side quests, your allies will take you to new sections of Tsushima, teaching you about its various clans and locations. There are two side quests centred around the character of Yuriko I found particularly memorable. Yuriko is a sort of acting-grandmother to Jin. Her quests are vastly different from anything else you’ll experience in the game. It’s essentially a walk and talk situation, with a few cutscenes thrown in - but they’re far from dull. It featured some of the most emotional storytelling present throughout the game. If you’re about to dive in to Ghost of Tsushima, I really urge you to see and do as much as you possibly can.

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By the time I tackled the main missions, I felt the comradeship of the allies on my side. I’d explored Tsushima, meeting the people I was tasked with protecting. I’d liberated as many villages as possible that had been overtaken by Mongol camps. There really isn’t an aspect of this game that’s there simply to tick a box or gain you a trophy. Fox Den’s help you unlock important charm slots. Hot springs increase your health, or treat to a view of Jin’s naked butt if that’s of interest. It’s a story and world that’s so culturally rich, and the crafting of the story around every single aspect of this game clearly honours that.

It’s also refreshing that, for the most part, main quests felt quite distinctively different to the side missions I’d tackle with my allies. Of course, the combat remains much the same, but main quests will largely see you gather your allies together, taking on much larger combat challenges. I’ll keep this spoiler free but I will tease that the game is split into three acts. It’s clear when you’re nearing the conclusion of each act and I must admit, it’s perhaps the best-paced game I’ve played in recent memory. The anticipation is built perfectly.

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When I’ve raved about Ghost of Tsushima in recent weeks, I’ve been met with concern over its combat. There’s a misconception that it’s as challenging as FromSoft’s notoriously hard Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but it’s just that: a misconception. Ghost of Tsushima boasts perfectly accessible combat. Your main weapon is a sword, and you’ll be able to switch between four stances depending on whether your opponent is wielding a sword, spear, shield or is a ‘brute’. Alongside that, you’ll have two bows, throwable weapons (including kunai and smoke bombs), alongside a dart thrower. So you’re essentially as well equipped as you are in any other RPG.

There are, of course, various difficulty options. I played on the regular moderate option, but there are adjustments to make it easier and more difficult. I didn’t find myself struggling much at all, so I’d perhaps attempt a higher difficulty on another playthrough. PlayStation Plus, as I mentioned, grants access to the Director’s Cut which includes the Iki Island DLC. At the time of writing, I’m yet to embark on that adventure but I shall be doing so imminently and I cannot wait to explore more of this world.

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Ghost of Tsushima really does tick all of the boxes. I’m not the first to say that it’s one of the most beautiful games ever created visually, but it’s true. I wouldn’t say it’s the most technically advanced. I do think there are games out there boasting stronger graphics, but the landscapes created are *chef’s kiss*. Add in the DualSense’s features and you really are transported to a land far, far away (no, not the one from Shrek). You can hear the wind whistling through your controller, and feel the steady beat of your horses hooves. If you’re signed up to PlayStation Plus, there really is no reason why you shouldn’t go check out this game, so go on. Get downloading.