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 FAQ-only (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

    Jin Sakai on Tsushima Island—Mongol invasion open world.

    Overview
    Stance combat, Ghost stealth, and a painted feudal Japan.
    In-game setting
    Franchise opener. Prefer Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut for modern play—FAQ.
    Should you play it?
    Franchise start—Director's Cut is the usual 2026 buy for this campaign.
    Release date
    US PS4 July 17, 2020. Iki Island expansion later—FAQ / Director's Cut.
  2. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

    Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

    PS4PS5PCActionRemasterMainline

    Definitive edition—includes Iki Island and PS5 upgrades.

    Overview
    Iki Island story expansion plus DualSense / 60 fps options on PS5.
    In-game setting
    Same Story slot as 2020 Tsushima—replaces it for most players.
    Should you play it?
    Default way to play Jin's campaign in 2026.
    Release date
    US PS4/PS5 August 20, 2021; PC May 16, 2024 (Steam app 2215430).
  3. Ghost of Yōtei

    Ghost of Yōtei

    PS5ActionMainlineAtsu

    Standalone sequel—Atsu in 1603 Ezo, centuries after Jin.

    Overview
    New hero, northern Japan setting, and Ghost combat lineage.
    In-game setting
    Set ~300 years after Tsushima—standalone; optional before/after for spoilers.
    Should you play it?
    Current end of the Ghost mainline path as of 2026.
    Release date
    US PS5 October 2, 2025. No PC release as of 2026.

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 row 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.