Should I Play Iki Island Before Main Story in Ghost of Tsushima?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

To maximize both the challenge and depth of Iki Island‘s expansion content, I strongly recommend completing Ghost of Tsushima‘s entire core campaign before venturing to the new northern territory. The additional island territory is very much designed as an epilogue that builds on everything that came before.

Many of Iki‘s themes and emotional high points center on developing Jin Sakai’s character in the wake of all he endured fighting for Tsushima. The developers at Sucker Punch have said this plotline follows up on the weight of the Ghost’s actions across the main game’s story. References to Jin’s complicated legacy with his uncle Lord Shimura as well as the shades of honor from his father Kazumasa further connect to arcs established in the base game.

Iki Island’s new threats like the Adachi clan and Eagle tribe are also steep challenges compared to what came before according to early player impressions. Lead antagonists like Ankhsar Khatun are described as more lethal adversaries than Khotun Khan. Common foes across the island on average seem to have 20-40% more health and attack power over their mainland counterparts to match Jin’s expanded arsenal of skills, stances, and mythic techniques in the late game.

Many rewards also assume you have already reached Ghost of Tsushima’s endgame power ceiling. For example, armor perks from the new Sarugami and Six Blades sets directly enhance endgame techniques like Chain Assassinations, the Samurai Clan Armor‘s Hachiman‘s Frenzy, or Buildables during duels. Developing these gear sets early shortchanges their massive late game potential.

Beyond gameplay advantages, experiencing the main game’s full emotional weight first also pays off from a narrative standpoint. Reflecting on Jin’s complete transformation into the Ghost legend grants more resonance to Iki’s themes of living with trauma and finding hope after loss. Revisiting Tsushima afterward also lends renewed perspective on core story events and characters thanks to insights learned during the expansion.

In conclusion, Ghost of Tsushima’s Iki Island both spiritually and gameplay assumes the context of everything that comes before it for maximum impact. Treat it as the capstone epilogue it was designed as after witnessing the main game in full to fully appreciate Jin’s complete bittersweet progression into Tsushima’s mythic Ghost protector.

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James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

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