Will Ghost of Yotei introduce a non-linear quest structure?
Yes, absolutely! This is one of the biggest and most exciting structural changes from Ghost of Tsushima. The main quest, which revolves around Atsu's revenge on the Yōtei Six, is intentionally non-linear. The developers have given players a lot of control over which target they want to pursue next. You'll often have multiple main quest markers on your map, each leading to a different member of the Six. You can essentially choose your own path of vengeance. This open-ended design allows players to tailor their experience. Do you want to go after the Oni first because you need his associated weapon? Go for it! This freedom is a fantastic fit for a story driven by personal revenge, as it truly makes Atsu's journey your journey, letting you set the pace of the retribution.
Yes, to a significant degree. While the opening and closing acts are fairly linear to establish and conclude the story, the entire middle section of the game is highly non-linear. After Act I, you are presented with the task of defeating four of the six main antagonists. You can tackle these in any order you choose. The world is open to you, and each warlord's domain is a self-contained "level" that you can approach at your leisure. This means two players could have completely different experiences in the middle 20 hours of the game, facing different bosses, learning different spirit abilities, and exploring different regions in a unique sequence.
It's not just the main quests either. Many of the side quests, especially the Mythic Tales, are now more complex chains that can be initiated in different ways and have multiple potential outcomes based on your choices during the quest. It's not quite The Witcher 3 level of branching, but it's a big step up from the largely linear side stories of the first game. The world feels much more reactive to your actions.
Yes, the game features a semi-non-linear quest structure. While the main story has a defined path, most side quests, collectibles, and mythic tales can be tackled in various orders. This gives players freedom to explore the mountain at their own pace and discover hidden stories organically.