Ghost of Tsushima is just breathtaking. From its stunning visual style, which feels like a living, breathing painting, to its deeply immersive gameplay, this game sets a new standard for what open-world adventures can be. It’s not just a game, it’s an experience, a love letter to samurai culture, and a testament to the power of artistry in gaming.

The combat system is a work of genius. It’s fluid, precise, and deeply satisfying, blending elegance with brutality in a way that makes every encounter feel like a duel from a classic samurai film. The story is equally compelling, weaving a tale of honor, sacrifice, and redemption that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The characters are richly developed, and the emotional weight of Jin Sakai’s journey stays with you long after the credits roll.

The open world is a marvel. Tsushima Island is a lush, vibrant landscape that begs to be explored. While some tasks can feel repetitive, they’re so well-integrated into the world and so much fun to complete that it hardly matters. The game’s unique approach to immersion, like using the wind as a natural guide instead of cluttering the screen with waypoints, is nothing short of brilliant. It’s a small detail, but it makes the world feel alive and organic in a way few games achieve.

And then there’s the immersion. By hiding the UI entirely, Ghost of Tsushima pulls you into its world like few other games can. You’re not just playing as Jin Sakai, you are Jin Sakai, riding through fields of golden grass, battling Mongols under the glow of a setting sun and finding peace in quiet moments of reflection. It’s a level of immersion that’s rare in gaming and it’s executed flawlessly here.

As incredible as this game is, I can’t overlook the baffling decision to remove it in 180 countries due to lack of PSN support on the PC release despite it being single-player focused and fully playable offline. Denying access to such a masterpiece is indefensible. The issue isn’t requiring a PSN account; it’s locking out entire regions from even purchasing the game. It’s decisions like these that make you question what's wrong with the gaming industry today.