Ghost of Yotei ESRB Rating Teases New Game Details

Summary

ESRB rates Ghost of Yotei “M” for Mature, detailing bloody combat and mature themes.
Game follows lone warrior Atsu seeking revenge through violent means.
Ghost of Yotei will explore dark narrative themes with intense violence and adult content.

The ESRB has officially rated Ghost of Yotei “M” for Mature, and the listing offers more than just a warning label: it’s teasing key elements of the game’s tone and content. Riding high on the critical success of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei emerges as a spiritual successor that shifts the timeline over 300 years into the future, promising a fresh story set against the backdrop of a striking new location.

Unveiled back in September 2024, Ghost of Yotei has kept interest high with steady updates from developer Sucker Punch. A March 2025 reveal offered a deeper look into the story, confirming that Ghost of Yotei follows Atsu, a lone warrior fueled by the trauma of her family’s murder. She sets out on a personal path of revenge, taking whatever jobs she can – bounties, odd tasks, anything that moves her closer to those responsible. Along the way, the game gives players the freedom to shape how she fights, survives, and builds her legacy as the new Ghost.

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With Ghost of Yotei‘s release date inching closer, the ESRB ratting summary sheds new light on what to expect. Rated M for Mature 17+, the game includes “Blood and Gore,” “Drug Reference,” “Intense Violence,” “Language,” “Partial Nudity,” and “Use of Alcohol.” Combat in Ghost of Yotei makes use of katanas, spears, bows, and rifles, with cinematic finishing moves captured in stylized slow motion. Dismemberment and decapitations are part of the experience, alongside assassination sequences that lean into visual flair and brutal precision.

Ghost of Yotei Hints Brutal Combat and Mature Content

There’s more to the rating than combat, though. Ghost of Yotei points to a darker narrative direction, with scenes involving characters being burned alive, stabbed repeatedly, or shown committing suicide by cutting their own throat. Outside of battle, the world continues to reflect mature themes. Sake can be consumed, drinking games appear in select locations, and intoxication is visually represented with screen-blur effects. A female character’s bare buttocks are briefly visible in a hot spring sequence. There’s also a reference to opium in the dialogue and a moment of strong language, including the word “bullsh*t.”

All these elements suggest that Ghost of Yotei will be a daring and unflinching sequel, pushing the Ghost series into darker and more mature themes. It is worth noting that July 2025 will also be a key month for Ghost of Yotei, as Sucker Punch is set to reveal a comprehensive preview during a special State of Play event. This presentation promises an in-depth look at the game’s exploration, combat mechanics, and new gameplay systems.