Gaming

Ghost of Yotei review: A tale sharpened by vengeance

Cold steel, quiet moments, and the heavy cost of revenge

Published

September 25, 2025

Revenge doesn’t leave room for ceremony. It doesn’t wait for drums to roll or banners to rise. Revenge is quick, sharp, and personal—like a blade pressed against the throat of the one who wronged you. That’s the story Ghost of Yotei tells, and it’s the story you live the moment you step into Atsu’s sandals.

If Ghost of Tsushima was about honor, legacy, and the soul of a nation under siege, Ghost of Yotei takes a different cut. It strips away the grandeur of armies clashing on fields and the dilemma of fighting as samurai or ghost. Instead, it focuses on something more primal: one woman’s burning need to reclaim her home and carve justice into those who tore it from her.

This shift makes Yotei a different kind of ghost story. One less about how history remembers you and more about how vengeance consumes you.

First impressions: A premier PS5 experience

Within the first hour, Ghost of Yotei asserts itself as a premier PS5 title. That’s almost a given these days, but here it’s worth pausing to appreciate. Yotei is breathtaking, from snowcapped peaks to dense villages, rendered with such clarity that you find yourself slowing down just to look.

Even the act of riding your horse feels cinematic, the camera pulling back ever so slightly to give you a wider, painterly view of the world. It’s a quiet but effective touch that makes exploration feel grand without losing intimacy.

The DualSense controller adds another layer, not with flashy gimmicks but with quiet, mundane moments. You feel it in the strain of building a fire, the tension of stringing a shamisen, the rhythm of cooking, or the delicate strokes of sumi-e side missions.

They don’t change the game, but they draw you into its quieter spaces—the stillness between battles where Atsu is more than her vengeance.

The opening sequence also sets the tone. Forget the sweeping invasion of Tsushima, where armies clashed and honor hung in the balance. Here, Atsu’s journey begins with something far smaller and more personal: a confrontation with one of her primary targets. No soldiers at your back, no sprawling battlefield—just you, your steel, and the first taste of revenge.

Combat and exploration: Sharpened and reforged

If Tsushima made combat dance-like with its flowing stances, Yotei changes the rhythm. Stances are gone, replaced instead with switching weapons tailored to enemy types.

On paper, it’s a neat twist. In practice, it can feel clunkier. Switching mid-fight, I often tried to chain an attack only to end up swapping weapons instead. Some of that might be muscle memory, but even after adjusting, the mechanic occasionally broke the flow.

That said, the expanded arsenal adds versatility. You’re no longer bound to katana-only duels. Since Atsu isn’t weighed down by samurai honor, every tool at your disposal is fair game—even in duels.

Throwing kunai, other ghost tools, and heavier weapons all come into play, making fights unpredictable and deeply satisfying when you string the right combinations together.

Loadouts are another standout addition. You get five customizable sets of armor and charms, and you can switch between them mid-fight. It’s a system that rewards experimentation, letting you prepare builds for stealth, brute force, or balanced encounters.

Progression feels organic, too. Yotei doesn’t spell out what you can or can’t handle. It’s only when you test yourself against strongholds that you discover just how outmatched you are.

That trial-and-error loop—failing, upgrading, returning stronger—feels like a lesson taught through scars, perfectly in line with Atsu’s path of vengeance.

And then there’s exploration. You’re free to roam after the prologue, but the game gently nudges you toward key areas first. Along the way, incidental encounters teach mechanics without overt tutorials.

Birds and foxes still guide you, but less intrusively than before. Often it’s NPCs whose chance encounters point you toward bamboo strikes, hot springs, or vanity items, making the world feel more lived in.

Story and side quests: Revenge with depth

What surprised me most about Ghost of Yotei is how well story and gameplay hold each other. The cohesion here is tighter than in Tsushima — which was already tight to begin with. Every side quest, every diversion, flows back into Atsu’s journey.

On the surface, Atsu is a mercenary and bounty hunter, her blade guided by vengeance. But the side quests are where cracks show. You see her warmth, her compassion—the humanity she tries to bury beneath her steel. It’s this duality that shapes pivotal story beats. Atsu isn’t just a vessel for revenge; she’s someone who struggles with how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice to see it through.

That’s what makes her story resonate. You aren’t just dishing out cold steel—you’re watching someone wrestle with the very cost of vengeance.

It’s also where the game sneaks in moments that make you smile. Twenty hours in, I switched the dialogue to Japanese and noticed NPCs calling Atsu rurouni. That’s “wanderer” in English—a reminder that while the localized anime Rurouni Kenshin was branded as Samurai X, its truer translation is Kenshin the Wanderer. It’s a subtle cultural touch that grounded Atsu’s character even more, a drifter carrying vengeance but also a heart still searching.

Around the 60-percent mark, I switched to Watanabe mode, where the creator of Samurai Champloo lends his signature lo-fi beats to exploration and combat.

After 40 to 45 hours, the change in music breathed new life into the experience. Still, the tracks lacked variety. A handful more would have gone a long way toward making the mode feel as dynamic as it deserved.

Variety and challenge

Combat and exploration may carry the game, but variety keeps it fresh. Early hours separate puzzles, platforming, and raids. Deeper in, the game starts blending them.

Solve a puzzle, it opens into a platforming section, which then rewards you with a raid. It’s a satisfying escalation that prevents fatigue from setting in.

Photo mode is fun as always.

And of course, the Easter eggs are back. Just as Tsushima tucked little surprises for fans to find, Yotei does the same. They’re never heavy-handed, always small delights for those paying attention.

The price of vengeance

By the time the credits roll, Ghost of Yotei leaves you with something sharper than spectacle. Where Tsushima gave you the weight of history, Yotei carves its mark with intimacy. Revenge doesn’t need armies or nations to matter—it just needs a blade and a target.

That’s why Ghost of Yotei stands on its own. It may lack the grandeur of its predecessor, but it’s more cohesive, more personal, and more daring in how it tells its story. Atsu’s journey isn’t about how the world remembers her; it’s about how far vengeance will take her—and how much of herself she’ll lose along the way.

In the end, Ghost of Yotei is less a story about honor and more a reminder of the cost of revenge. And it’s a price you’ll feel, long after the controller is set down.

I highly recommend this game. It’s a swift Swipe Up—as swift as Atsu unleashing a katana strike.

Ghost of Yotei was reviewed on a PlayStation 5. The Publisher provided the review keys.

Related Topics:Ghost of Yotei PlayStation PlayStation 5 PS5 Sucker Punch Studios

Gaming

The next Elder Scrolls game is called Sentinel

And it will be set in Hammerfell.

Published

November 4, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.

Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.

The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.

Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.

Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.

Gaming

Wild Rift Patch 7.3, celebrates K/DA comeback

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER

Published

November 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

Riot Games is celebrating the return of virtual K-pop group K/DA with new music, exclusive skins, and major gameplay updates in League of Legends: Wild Rift Patch 7.3.

After a six-year hiatus, K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER, the group’s newest track and the title track of an EP featuring three additional songs. The release marks a new chapter for the virtual group, which brings its latest musical era to the mobile MOBA through the new HEATBRINGER skinline.

To celebrate the comeback, Riot Games hosted FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party in the Philippines. The event brought fans together for a listening party featuring music from across Riot Games’ virtual acts, live Wild Rift gameplay, community activities, and exclusive photo opportunities.

Attendees also experienced live AAA ARAM matches featuring gameplay disruptions and augments inspired by Riot Games’ musical universe, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

K/DA returns with new HEATBRINGER skins

The K/DA comeback introduces the HEATBRINGER skinline, featuring new looks for the group’s four original members: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.

The skins give the champions a new visual identity inspired by K/DA’s latest musical era, with fiery red and white elements that bring their stage presence to the Rift.

The collection also includes Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.

The new skins are exclusive to Wild Rift and are scheduled to launch on November 4, 2026.

The comeback extends beyond the cosmetics. With FIRESTARTER and its accompanying EP now available on major music streaming platforms, K/DA’s return brings together Riot Games’ music and gaming communities.

Wild Rift Patch 7.3 overhauls marksmen and item builds

Beyond the K/DA celebration, Patch 7.3 introduces significant gameplay changes that reshape champion builds, jungle strategies, and objective control.

One of the biggest changes targets marksmen, giving critical-strike builds more room to scale. Base critical-strike damage increases from 175% to 200%, while the attack-speed cap rises from 2.5 to 3 attacks per second.

Several marksmen also receive individual adjustments, including Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Twitch, Lucian, Caitlyn, Draven, Miss Fortune, Samira, Zeri, Jinx, Vayne, and Ashe.

The item system gets an overhaul to support these changes. Players can explore new or redesigned options, including Hexoptics, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Fiendhuler Bolts, Stormrazor, Rapid Firecannon, and Immortal Shieldbow.

Lifesteal also receives changes intended to support basic attacks, on-hit damage, and abilities treated as basic attacks.

Support items are part of the update, too. Echoes of Helia is positioned toward offensive supports who want to convert damage into healing, while Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water, and Harmonic Echo also receive changes.

Jungle changes reward efficient farming

Patch 7.3 also changes how junglers approach the early and mid-game.

The updated jungle system rewards consistent camp clearing with bonus gold and introduces a catch-up mechanic for junglers who fall behind. This reduces the pressure to constantly gank and encourages players to balance farming with opportunities to assist their teammates.

Clearing camps also progresses Ecosystem Protection stacks, allowing Smite to scale from 600 to 1,000 and eventually 1,400 true damage.

These changes make efficient farming more important when preparing to secure major objectives such as Baron Nashor, Rift Herald, and Dragons.

Epic monsters also adjust to the pace of each match, scaling according to the average player level rather than simply growing stronger as time passes.

Turrets receive substantial changes as well. Plating now extends to outer, inner, and inhibitor turrets and remains permanently. The new Crystalline Overgrowth mechanic lets turrets accumulate crystals that champions can detonate with their first basic attack.

Together, these changes place greater emphasis on lane pressure, defensive positioning, and coordinated pushes. Winning team fights remains important, but teams must also turn their advantages into meaningful objective damage.

Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai join the roster

Patch 7.3 expands the champion roster with three additions: Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai.

Hwei, the Visionary, brings a flexible set of abilities to the mid lane. His Subject: Disaster, Subject: Serenity, and Subject: Torment ability groups give him tools for dealing damage, supporting allies, and controlling opponents.

Sylas offers explosive damage and crowd control. His kit includes an ability that pulls enemies into a stun-to-knock-up combination, while Kingslayer restores health based on his missing health. His ultimate lets him steal an enemy champion’s ultimate ability.

Rek’Sai brings another approach to initiating team fights. Her Unburrow ability knocks up nearby champions, while her ultimate helps her track nearby enemies before striking.

These additions give players more options for adapting their team compositions and strategies.

Ranked play and game modes get updates

Competitive players also get changes to Ranked and Legendary Ranked.

The S/A and MVP scoring systems now evaluate performance according to a player’s lane and champion role instead of relying on a single universal metric. Strong performances can also yield more Ranked energy.

Legendary Ranked receives adjustments to its seasonal entry requirements for former Grand Masters, alongside a new trial format designed to help top performers advance from Legendary Commander Rank.

Players looking for something different can also try Rift Rumble, a new 3v3 mode played on a symmetrical map. Teams battle for kills and compete to capture ultimate stones that can change how their champions secure eliminations.

Meanwhile, AAA Realm continues to evolve with a music-themed season and new augment cards. These include Sonic Waves, which draws inspiration from Riot Games’ musical acts, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

A new era for K/DA and Wild Rift

With FIRESTARTER, the HEATBRINGER skins, and a sweeping gameplay update, Patch 7.3 connects Riot Games’ music and gaming communities through a shared celebration.

K/DA’s return gives fans a new soundtrack and fresh looks for their favorite champions, while the gameplay changes introduce new ways to approach champion builds, jungle farming, and map control.

Players can follow Wild Rift Philippines’ official social media channels for updates on the latest patch, champion releases, and in-game content.

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER.

Gaming

Petit Planet launches December 4

HoYoverse’s cozy life sim arrives soon

Published

November 1, 2026

GadgetMatch

HoYoverse will launch Petit Planet, its first cozy galactic life simulation game, on December 4, 2026. The game will be available on PC, iOS, and Android, with a Nintendo Switch 2 release planned for 2027.

The announcement was made during the Petit Planet Pre-Launch Special Program on November 1. HoYoverse also revealed more details about the game’s characters, gameplay features, and launch events.

Build a planet and meet new Neighbors

In Petit Planet, players take on the role of Planet Tenders who travel across the Starsea with Oumuamua, a Starsea Spirit said to listen to people’s wishes.

Each player starts with their own planet, where they plant a Luca Seed that grows into a Luca Arbor. This tree gradually shapes the planet’s landscape, seasons, and ecosystem.

Players will also meet various Neighbors, including Planet Coordinator Mobai and Starsea Racer Elsasani. Getting to know these characters allows players to develop friendships and discover their individual stories.

Beyond their home planets, players can explore scattered Islets across the Starsea. They can also visit the Galactic Bazaar to play games, participate in auctions, and share their creations with others.

Launch events offer free rewards

HoYoverse has prepared several events to celebrate the game’s launch.

Players can enter a pre-registration lucky draw through the official website for a chance to win prizes. Regular gameplay will also offer more than 1,000 clothing and furniture items for free.

The Besties, Made to Match! event rewards players who invite two friends to pre-register. Each participant will receive an exclusive clothing item.

Starting November 1, the Launch a Planet event will let players design their own planets through the official event website. Participants will also have a chance to win surprise grand prizes.

The first Petit Planet Seasonal Creation Event will begin alongside the game’s launch. Selected fan creations can win cash prizes, in-game rewards, and official merchandise.

Players can also visit the game’s official X account after the special program to receive a Moving Guide and join a giveaway featuring a suitcase, gift cards, and an exclusive luggage tag.

Pre-register for Petit Planet

Petit Planet is now available for pre-registration on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Epic Games Store. Players can search for the game on these platforms to pre-register and receive a notification when it launches.

The game arrives globally on December 4, 2026, for PC, iOS, and Android. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is scheduled for 2027.