Summary
- Shortly after Ghost of Tsushima's prologue, players will choose a horse.
- Horse color and name choices are purely aesthetic, with no impact on gameplay mechanics.
- Every horse has the exact same speed and stamina, though the decision does have minor impact later in the game.
Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima's Yuna through a Mongolian camp in order to retrieve Jin Sakai’s sword, players will be led to a stable, where they will choose one of three new companions.
This horse will be Jin's primary mode of travel for most of the game. As new locations are discovered, fast travel is an ever-present option, but Ghost of Tsushima's Guiding Wind mechanic makes it much more satisfying to explore the island at Jin's or his horse's pace. With very little information provided at the time a horse is to be chosen, it can be unclear whether the decision itself will have any bearing on the game. Luckily, the choice of which horse color and what name to give it is largely negligible, but it does have minor repurcussions at a particular moment later in the story.
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut Review: Sharply Honed Excellence
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is the definitive way to play an already excellent game, complemented by equally engrossing DLC in Iki Island.
Ghost Of Tsushima Horse Color & Name Do Not Affect Gameplay
Choose A Horse Name & Color Based On Personal Preference
It may seem as though the choices players make in regard to their horse will have an impact on Ghost of Tsushima's three-act story, particularly since players can make other important choices throughout the game. However, the player's choice of horse actually has no impact on the rest of the game; each of the three options presented to players ride the same, with each having the same speed and endurance. The only difference is aesthetic, meaning players should choose a horse and its name based on what they prefer.
Horse Color |
Availability |
|---|---|
Black |
Default option |
White |
Default option |
Dapple |
Default option |
Golden buckskin |
Ghost of Tsushima Digital Deluxe and Collector's Editions |
Black with red mane and tail |
Given automatically when starting New Game Plus |
If players buy the Digital Deluxe Edition or Collector's Edition of Ghost of Tsushima, this will give them a fourth option – a beautiful golden buckskin horse, a rich brown color. A fifth horse color was added post-launch, but is exclusive to those playing through New Game Plus. These two horses are no different from the other options, aside from their physical appearance. There’s no real incentive to choose one horse over another, except for personal preference.
The same goes for choosing a name for Jin's horse – there are three options at the beginning of the game, but they ultimately have no bearing on gameplay, except for Jin's voiced lines when calling it. The three horse name options are:
Horse Name |
Translation |
|---|---|
Nobu |
Trust |
Sora |
Sky |
Kage |
Shadow |
Though some variety in how the horses behave may have been interesting, the choice of horse color and name may come as a relief to those struggling to pick. Jin's horse in Ghost of Tsushima is practically invincible. No matter what Jin does – trying to ride them off a cliff or stabbing them with his sword – the horse remains alive and well. It can also be called at will, so players don't have to worry about keeping track of it.
[Warning: Spoilers for Ghost of Tsushima.]
Players Must Choose Another Horse Later In Ghost Of Tsushima
Jin's Horse Is Killed At The Beginning Of Act 3
At the very beginning of Act 3, in the main story mission "Honor and Ash," the horse that players select at the beginning of the game dies of exhaustion and the wounds it received during Jin's escape from Castle Shimura. Jin first receives a temporary companion, the Thin Brown horse, but later gets the opportunity to select a new one in "Heart of the Jito." Much like Jin's original steed, this new horse has no effect on gameplay, and the choices include the Thin Brown horse and those that were previously not selected. One new name option, Kaze (Wind), is available, alongside the two unused names from Act 1.
Players who purchased the Digital Deluxe or Collector's edition will have four colors to choose from; the standard edition provides another three choices in Act 3.
The horse chosen in "Heart of the Jito" will remain with Jin throughout the rest of the game, and into the post-game, should players decide to finish up any previously avoided side content. Choosing the color and name of both horses is ultimately inconsequential, but they are still important decisions, since the horses will be Jin's constant companions throughout both the base game and the Iki Island expansion. Ghost of Tsushima's horse colors and names may not tangibly affect gameplay, but players will likely want a satisfying combination of the two.
Ghost of Tsushima
-
- Top Critic Avg: 84/100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- July 17, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary
The creators of the Sly Cooper franchise and Infamous shift gears with Ghost of Tsushima, an open-world action-adventure game. Set on the island of Tsushima, the invading Mongul armies arrive to begin their conquest of Japan. As Samurai fall in the wake of dishonorable war tactics, Jin Sakai learns that the only way to fight back will be to break expectations and walk the path of shadow. Jin will choose between the Samurai's righteous path and the Ghost's dark path. Players will traverse the sprawling island as they free citizens from invading rule and engage in fast-paced swordplay - or devastating stealth combat.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
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