I love Ghost of Tsushima. I own three copies of the game: the PS4, PS5, and PC versions. I've played through it four different times, enjoyed Jin's adventure numerous times, and it's so intense that I've got Lord Shimura's "without honor" line stuck in my head whenever I commit a sin. But, despite my love for the game, I think Ghost of Tsushima should end with the only entry that exists.
Before I go any further, I should warn you that I'll be spoiling some major events in the game. So, if you're experiencing the world of Tsushima for the first time, you may want to bookmark this and come back later.
Before you get your pitchforks out, know that I would love to see a Ghost of Tsushima sequel. Sucker Punch has poured so much passion and love into the game, and it deserves to be pushed with the current-gen consoles. However, I don't think it should get a sequel, and there are a few reasons why.
The whole idea of The Ghost being a legendary figure that the residents of Tsushima look up to is due to folklore. In the game's world, he's very much a real figure, and whether it's Mongols or citizens meeting him, there's a level of shock and surprise. Gasps come as Mongols call out "The Ghost," despite most of them speaking a foreign language. He's a figurehead for the rebellion against the invaders—an almost-mythical creature, a ghostly samurai arisen to take on anyone who dares cross his path.
While Jin Sakai isn't real, the idea of him is. Historically, the Mongols did attempt to invade Tsushima as a stopgap between them and the mainland of Japan. However, a storm wiped out the fleet of ships. Jin is the storm personified. Whenever you enter stealth and use Ghost tactics, the weather changes to stormy. The finale leads up to a storm that stops the Mongols from escaping Jin's final attack against Khotun Khan, and even the starting sword kit is called The Storm of Clan Sakai.
The symbolism of Jin being the storm that defeated the Mongol invasion of Tsushima is substantial. It's almost like Ghost of Tsushima acts as 'the real story' behind a folklore. Jin's legend is told over generations, his unruly tactics giving people comparisons to that of a storm, before he eventually becomes "the storm" told about in history books.
I fully believe the ending where you spare Lord Shimura is the canon one, and it supports my theory. Killing a Jito would mark you as a true threat, and his name would be remembered forever, but adhering to his new code and sparing his uncle makes him a target for the Jito's rage, as he tells people to watch out for the Ghost, further fueling the folklore.
A sequel would expand Jin's story further, giving more tales of The Ghost to people in Tsushima and mainland Japan. But that takes away from the mythical aspect of the dangerous and unpredictable storm that is Jin Sakai. Jin's adventure as the Ghost of Tsushima being confined to one larger-than-life story keeps it as a tale that people tell their kids, and their grandkids, and so on. Adding more to the story only changes it into history.
Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see a Ghost of Tsushima sequel that expands Jin's legacy and progresses the conflict between Lord Shimura and The Ghost. But I believe it's better left as a legend.
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