GameTimeline

Release & story order

Ghost of Tsushima timeline

Ghost of Tsushima from the 2020 Sucker Punch debut through Ghost of Yōtei (2025)—US release dates, Jin and Atsu story order, Director's Cut vs original, and FAQ for Iki Island, Legends, PC ports, and where newcomers should start in 2026.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Sucker Punch and PlayStation shipped each Ghost chapter in the US—Ghost of Tsushima (2020) through Ghost of Yōtei (2025), including the Director's Cut. Iki Island and Legends are optional (Iki Island ships in Director's Cut).

  • Newcomers 2026 → Director's Cut → Ghost of Yōtei
  • PS4 discs → 2020 Tsushima (+ Iki Island later) → Yōtei on PS5
  • PC → Director's Cut only for Jin's campaign (Yōtei is PS5)
  • Legends / multiplayer → optional; not on the story path
Story order tips

One Sucker Punch path by setting era: Ghost of Tsushima / Director's Cut (1274, Jin) → Ghost of Yōtei (1603, Atsu). Yōtei is a standalone sequel centuries later—play Tsushima first if you want the full Ghost lineage, but Yōtei does not require knowing Jin's plot.

  • Era path: Tsushima (1274) → Yōtei (1603)
  • Yōtei is standalone—safe to play without Tsushima spoilers
  • Iki Island → after the Tsushima campaign (in Director's Cut)
  • On Story order, later entries may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Ghost of Tsushima

    Ghost of Tsushima

    PS4ActionMainlineJin

    Ghost of Tsushima is Sucker Punch’s 1274 Mongol invasion epic—Jin Sakai learns the Ghost’s dishonorable tools.

    Overview
    Standoff duels, wind-guided exploration, and photo-mode Kurosawa filters define the samurai open world. Later chapters still answer the systems and tone this entry set.
    In-game setting
    Tsushima Island campaign. Iki Island arrives in Director's Cut. Neighboring story-order titles cover continuity if you skip optional branches.
    Should you play it?
    Series start—prefer Director's Cut. Leads (centuries later) to Ghost of Yōtei. Current storefront editions are the practical buy for newcomers.
    Release date
    US July 17, 2020 on PS4; Director's Cut on PS5/PC later.
  2. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

    Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

    PS4PS5PCActionRemasterMainline

    Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut adds Iki Island, PS5 upgrades, and the definitive Jin campaign package.

    Overview
    Expansion island plus DualSense/60 fps presentation without rewriting the 1274 main plot. Later chapters still answer the systems and tone this entry set.
    In-game setting
    Same Story as base Tsushima plus Iki. Then jump centuries to Yōtei. Neighboring story-order titles cover continuity if you skip optional branches.
    Should you play it?
    Default 2026 buy for Jin’s story before Yōtei. Current storefront editions are the practical buy for newcomers.
    Release date
    US August 20, 2021 on PS4/PS5; PC May 16, 2024.
  3. Ghost of Yōtei

    Ghost of Yōtei

    PS5ActionMainlineAtsu

    Ghost of Yōtei shifts to 1603 Ezo—a new Ghost tale in the same samurai action lineage.

    Overview
    Spiritual sequel setting with a new protagonist era while keeping Sucker Punch’s standoff-driven combat fantasy. Later chapters still answer the systems and tone this entry set.
    In-game setting
    Ezo 1603 arc. Tone continuation rather than Jin’s personal epilogue. Neighboring story-order titles cover continuity if you skip optional branches.
    Should you play it?
    Current sequel destination. Tsushima recommended but not a direct character sequel. Current storefront editions are the practical buy for newcomers.
    Release date
    US 2025 on PS5.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Director's Cut, Iki Island, Yōtei, and Legends.

Release order

Release order is when each Sucker Punch Ghost game launched in the US (2020–2025)—including Director's Cut. Story order follows in-world centuries: Tsushima (1274) → Yōtei (1603). Director's Cut retells the 2020 campaign. Legends stays off the single-player path.

Recommended: Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut → Ghost of Yōtei. You do not need the 2020 PS4 disc if you own Director's Cut. Yōtei is standalone—you can play it first, but Director's Cut → Yōtei is the full franchise path.

Story & eras

Ghost of Yōtei (2025) is a standalone sequel set in 1603, roughly 300 years after Jin's story. New protagonist (Atsu), new region—you do not need Tsushima plot knowledge. Chronologically it follows Tsushima; narratively it is optional as a first Ghost game.

Director's Cut & DLC

Director's Cut (PS5/PS4 2021 / PC 2024) includes the full Tsushima campaign, Iki Island, and console upgrades. For most players it replaces the 2020 base game. Play Iki Island after the main Tsushima campaign when you can. This page keeps the 2020 entry for Release history.

Optional & related

Legends (Tsushima co-op) and Ghost of Yōtei: Legends (2026) are multiplayer modes. Fun, but out of the single-player story path on this page—play anytime; they do not change Director's Cut → Yōtei.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.