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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Start by learning when to block, parry, or dodge, then switch weapons to suit the enemy when a matchup calls for it. For exploration, follow the guiding wind when you have a destination and use the spyglass when you want to investigate something nearby. Take useful activities as they fit your route: Hot Springs increase maximum health, Bamboo Strikes increase Spirit, and Altars of Reflection unlock skills. There is no single required order for these early priorities.
Learn the combat cues before trying to overpower every enemy
GameSpot’s October 1, 2025 beginner guide describes combat as a matter of reading the attack cue and choosing the matching response. On the PS5 controls it documents, holding L1 blocks most basic attacks; a blue glint signals a parry, timed with L1 just before impact; and a red glint signals an attack to evade with Circle.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Ghost of Yōtei PS5 | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ghost of Yotei (PS5) | $52.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut | $43.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Merge Games Let's Build a Zoo PS5 | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Ordinary attacks: Hold L1 to block.
- Blue glint: Time L1 just before the hit to parry.
- Red glint: Press Circle to dodge rather than trying to block.
- Yellow glint: An enemy may try to disarm Atsu. Hold Triangle and release as the enemy swipes.
Strong attacks can break an opponent’s guard. Parrying, kills, and advanced techniques earn Spirit, which Atsu can spend to restore health or activate abilities. That makes defensive timing useful beyond avoiding damage: it helps build a resource for the next exchange.
Change weapons to answer the opponent
GameSpot’s matchup advice is to use a katana or odachi against enemies with one-handed weapons, and dual blades against slower opponents wielding two-handed polearms. Treat that as a useful starting point, not a rule for every fight: the practical lesson is to notice the opponent’s weapon and be willing to switch during combat. Ranged weapons also let you attack enemies from a distance.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
- Discover renegade combat, engage in lawless katana combat and battles with adversaires. Train with various sensei as you find and learn to use each new weapon.
- An unconventional story and journey, take in the cultural beauty of Japan, bathe in an onsen, visit shrines to pray, try Sumi-e painting, and so much more.
- Choose your weapon, battle Atsu's opponents as you see fit, with levelled-up dual katanas, odachi, kusarigama and other new weapons.
If a preferred weapon feels more comfortable, familiarity still matters. But weapon alignment can also matter for equipment: PlayStation Blog’s build guidance says some armor effects activate when Atsu uses the weapon type aligned with that armor.
Choose a combat approach that suits you
PlayStation Blog presents Warrior and Ghost setups as build concepts, not mandatory early-game paths. The Warrior approach favors parries and heavy attacks to stagger enemies, with weapon choice matched to the opponent. The Ghost approach emphasizes stealth and chain assassinations; if detected, tools such as sake jars or smoke bombs can help Atsu return to concealment.
Rank #2
- Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on her own mission of vengeance.
- Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
- Sixteen years after her family’s death, Atsu’s quest across Ezo brings her to unexplored lands in search of a gang of six outlaws, but she finds much more than vengeance. Throughout her journey, Atsu will discover unlikely allies, and greater bonds than she could have imagined.
Use those ideas as directions to experiment with rather than a build order to follow. A player who enjoys direct encounters can focus on timing and weapon changes; someone who prefers to avoid a fight can lean into stealth and tools. The available guidance does not establish one universally best early build.
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When you are following a quest or have a clear destination, the guiding wind points toward the tracked objective. A horse is available from the start, while signposts and NPCs can provide directions. Golden birds lead to notable places, so they are a useful cue when you are open to a detour.
Rank #3
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Roam vast countryside and expansive terrain to encounter rich characters, discover ancient landmarks and uncover the hidden beauty of Tsushima.
- The rise of the Ghost: Seek support from old friends and new unlikely allies to reclaim Tsushima.
- Mud, Blood and steel: challenge opponents with your katana for an immersive Samurai combat experience.
- Become legends together: play with friends or via online matchmaking in a series of two-player story missions or four-player wave-based survival missions in the legends online co-op
- A whole new island to explore: Travel to Iki Island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence in a brand-new story with deeply personal stakes.
Use the spyglass to turn a landmark into a destination
GameSpot’s guide says to scan the landscape with the spyglass and look for a yellow glow. Focus on a point of interest to mark it, then travel there. A discovered landmark can become a fast-travel destination; the map also allows fast travel to most locations you have discovered.
A practical way to balance progress and discovery is to use the wind while you want to stay on a quest, then pause to scan with the spyglass when a place draws your attention. That is a flexible way to use the navigation systems, not a required route.
Rank #4
- Build your own zoo with over 500 different animals at your disposal, then splice together over 300,000 different animal combinations
- Keep your animals and your itors happy, with hundreds of buildings, foliage, path and enclosure decorations
- Hire the perfect employees to deal with a variety of life events
- Control everything that happens in your park, from what your animals eat to what eats your animals…
- Decide whether you want to run your Zoo above board... or break the law and pocket the extra cash
Take nearby activities for the reward you want
| Activity | Reward or use | When it may suit you |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | Increase maximum health. | When you want a direct survivability benefit. |
| Bamboo Strikes | Increase Spirit capacity. Spirit fuels healing and combat abilities. | When you want more room for that combat resource. |
| Altars of Reflection | Unlock skills or perks to select. | When you want to build out Atsu’s abilities. |
You can reveal Altars of Reflection with the spyglass or with Traveler’s Maps purchased from Isaburo at the Old Inn, according to GameSpot’s beginner guide. When you reach an altar, pay respects to unlock a perk, then choose the unlocked skill that fits how you play.
Use camps and allies as support, not obligations
Camps are flexible stops. GameSpot lists options to cook food for temporary buffs, craft ranged ammunition, rest to restore health and Spirit, and play the shamisen. Consider stopping when you need supplies or recovery; there is no need to treat every camp as a checklist.
Members of Atsu’s Wolf Pack can support her with their wares and specialties. Their availability is not established as universal in the opening hours, so recruit and use allies as they become available rather than planning around a specific early roster.
A simple first-session plan
- In your first encounters, focus on recognizing the blue, red, and yellow glints and responding to each cue.
- Try the weapons available to you, and switch when an opponent’s armament suggests a different matchup.
- Follow the guiding wind when you want to make quest progress; use the spyglass or follow a golden bird when you want to explore.
- Take a Hot Spring, Bamboo Strike, or Altar of Reflection when one is nearby and its benefit matches what you need.
- Use a camp when recovery, temporary food buffs, or ranged ammunition would help with what you are doing next.
Ghost of Yōtei is a PS5 game first released on October 2, 2025, according to GameSpot’s game hub. The control guidance above reflects the PS5 buttons described in its beginner guide; if a control or progression detail differs in your live game, follow the in-game prompts.
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