Heidi Volante (Youtuber)

Yes, the Yotei map is slightly larger than Tsushima’s, but the key difference is verticality. Climbing mountains, traversing ridges, and navigating snowy valleys adds a new layer of exploration. The map feels dense rather than just expansive, with lots of secrets tucked away in less-traveled paths.

In terms of raw square mileage, yes, it is technically larger. But the more important difference is that it's much more vertically layered and dense. Tsushima was relatively flat, with a lot of open fields. Yotei is built around the massive central mountain, so the map is filled with deep valleys, sheer cliffs, dense, multi-layered forests, and winding river canyons. There's just more in any given area. It feels less like a sprawling plain and more like a intricate, explorable sculpture. So while it might take a similar amount of time to ride from one end to the other, the actual amount of discoverable content and navigable space per square mile is significantly higher.

I play on Hard mode and some of the late-game duels are absolutely brutal, but in the best way possible. They feel like a true test of everything you've learned. The attack patterns are less predictable, and the window for a perfect parry or dodge is incredibly tight. What I love is that they're rarely just about raw reflexes; they're about understanding the rhythm of the fight. The duel against the "Blade of Yotei" had me stuck for a solid two hours, but the feeling of finally winning was incredible. Don't be ashamed to drop the difficulty for a specific duel if you're getting frustrated—the story is worth seeing!