Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Follow in the Footsteps of Elden Ring's DLC

Summary

Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has set many standards since its release, with its open-world design being one of the most apparent. WhileShadow of the Erdtree doubles down onElden Ring’s open world, it simultaneously offers something new that aGhost of Tsushimasequel could benefit from.

Exploration inGhost of Tsushimais rewarding in more than one way, with a gorgeous open world to look at and plenty of secrets to uncover. However, Shadow of the Erdtree’s open world manages to achieve something in its overtly vertical design that the firstGhost of Tsushimadoesn’t — but a sequel could make up for that.

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Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Replicate Shadow of the Erdtree’s Verticality

Shadow of the Erdtree’s Emphasis on Verticality Allows for More Rewarding Exploration

Shadow of the Erdtree’s emphasis on verticalitydoes more for the DLC than simply making it larger. Whereas a flatter open-world design would allow players to be driven to explore by what they see, the vertical design of the Land of Shadow in Shadow of the Erdtree makes exploration even more rewarding because players can’t initially see certain areas they may discover. Such an emphasis on verticality essentially hides major parts of the world from players' view, making the often accidental discovery of those areas a far more rewarding experience.

For example,Shadow of the Erdtree’s Stone Coffin Fissurearea is a massive underground cavern that can only be found via thorough exploration of the surface. This is not to mention the fact that the region where the Stone Coffin Fissure can be accessed is on the edge of the map in Shadow of the Erdtree, making finding it doubly challenging. IfGhost of Tsushima 2were to follow Shadow of the Erdtree’s lead and have a more vertical world, players might find its exploration to be more worthwhile than it was in the first game.

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Could Benefit From a Little More Verticality in Its World Design

The firstGhost of Tsushimais known for its breathtaking open world, but the majority of it is flat and open, with much of what could be a personal discovery largely being spoon-fed to the player. While this is likely due to Sucker Punch attempting to create a more historically accurate representation of Tsushima Island, the developer’s lenience in other areas could justify a stronger emphasis onverticality in aGhost of Tsushimasequel. A more vertical world inGhost of Tsushima 2would not only make it feel larger, but it would also contribute to exploration feeling far more rewarding than it was in the first game.

Ghost of Tsushima 2 Could Introduce a New Tool to Complement Its Emphasis on Verticality

IfGhost of Tsushima 2were to offer more verticality in its world design, it could also introduce a new tool to complement that. A glider, for instance, would be a great tool for a more vertical open world, as it would allow players to return to the ground much quicker than they could by simply climbing down.Rise of the Roninfeatured a glider, and given its comparisons toGhost of Tsushima, perhapsGhost of Tsushima’s sequel should double down on those comparisons and include its own glider. Regardless of how realistic or historically accurate it is, a more vertical world would be remiss not to include a convenient tool like a glider to go along with it.

It’s unclear whetherGhost of Tsushima 2’s open worldwill be designed with more verticality in mind, as well as whether the sequel is indeed in development. To this day, the sequel is only realized through rumors, leaks, and assumptions. However, shouldGhost of Tsushima 2ever see the light of day, a more vertical world than the first game would be a welcome feature.