A clean, spoiler‑light roadmap through Ezo: the optimal order to tackle the main quests, what to do between them, and the single point where the story temporarily locks you in.
Read this first (spoiler‑light, promise)
This guide focuses on the main story path and the best‑practice order to play it, with just enough context to keep you oriented—no late‑game twists revealed. It also highlights missables (good news: there are effectively none) and clearly flags the one point of no return so you can prepare without anxiety. Sources that catalog the chapter list and progression structure confirm the order below and the fact that the game is designed to be player‑friendly about cleanup after credits.
How the main story is structured
Ghost of Yōtei tells Atsu’s revenge journey across Ezo (Hokkaidō) in a Prologue and three numbered chapters. The campaign blends guided “Tales” with open‑world routing—your leads are presented as golden ginkgo leaf markers (you can follow these to stay on the critical path). That means there’s a recommended order but also room to breathe, explore, and power up between beats.
Two additional notes about structure:
- Side content and training (“Sensei Tales” and “Mythic Tales”) meaningfully expand your toolkit—grabbing a few early unlocks (spear, bombs, kusarigama, firearms basics, a strong early armor) smooths the main path considerably.
- Post‑game cleanup exists. If you roll credits before finishing side content, the game returns you to a pre‑finale state to continue exploring and complete what you missed.
Optimal Main Story Mission Order (spoiler‑light)
Below is the consensus order of main quests (with minimal framing so you know what you’re walking into). If you simply follow the golden ginkgo leaves, you’ll naturally progress along this sequence.
Prologue
- The Snake — A short, focused opener that establishes Atsu’s target list and kicks the hunt into motion.
Chapter 1 — The Lonewolf
2) The Old Inn — Visit to unlock Bounties and Merchants; this is your hub‑like springboard for the chapter.
3) The Way of Dual Katana — Training on/near Mount Yōtei that broadens your stance/weapon options early.
4) Saito — An early infiltration attempt at a fortress; expect a partial face‑off and a re‑routing of your goals.
5) The Yōtei Six — Interrogate and follow leads to split the chapter into regional hunts.
6) The Oni — Track a particularly brutal target into Ishikari Plain.
7) The Kitsune — Hunt a cunning foe in Teshio Ridge.
8) The Saito Brothers (Part 1) — You’ll begin unraveling Saito’s family network; this thread continues later.
Chapter 2 — The Onryō
9) The Saito Brothers (Part 2) — The Horosaru/Oshima trail heats up; finish what you started in Chapter 1.
Chapter 3 — Cost of Revenge
10) Call of the Hunt — A burial‑site lead closes your net.
11) The Final Hunt of the Onryō — The endgame push and final confrontation.
Cross‑reference: A second major compendium lists the same core mission set (with identical naming) and places “Endgame” clean‑up tales after credits. This matches the “no permanent missables” design.
The Missables Reality Check
- Permanent missables? None. No collectible, side mission, or trophy is locked out forever. The post‑credits state returns you to the world “six months prior,” letting you mop up at your leisure.
- Dialogue/choice locks? Choices don’t block quests, collectibles, or trophies; pick what feels right for your Atsu.
- Region lockouts? During individual story instances you’ll be “mission‑locked” (can’t freely roam until completion), but once the mission ends you’re free again. Only the final commitment (see below) temporarily closes off side content.
Point of No Return — Flagged
There is one true point of no return: when you accept the final push to confront Lord Saito late in Chapter 3. Saying “Yes, proceed” locks you into the finale sequence; side content becomes temporarily inaccessible until credits roll. After the credits, the world rewinds to a pre‑finale state so you can resume exploration. Plan like this:
- Before selecting “Proceed” to the final encounter, finish any active Sensei/Mythic Tales, last‑minute upgrades, and bounties you care about.
- After credits, return to Ezo for anything you skipped.
This behavior is documented and reliable—we recommend treating the “final confrontation prompt” as your cue to pause and prep.
Smart progression: what to do between main quests (spoiler‑light)
You can blitz the story, but a little side prep turns hard spikes into smooth hums. Here’s a compact, spoiler‑light plan keyed to the mission order above.
After The Old Inn (Ch. 1)
- Unlock Bounties and start collecting early rewards; merchants also fully open here, so your upgrade economy begins in earnest.
- Clear a few early bounties in the surrounding grasslands to fund weapon/armor improvements.
- Sensei/Mythic hits to grab early:
- Ishikari Plain (Sensei): “The Way of the Yari” → expands your spear discipline; its two follow‑ups deepen the tree.
- Ishikari Plain (Sensei): “The Bomb Maker” → “Fight Fire With Fire” → unlocks and improves bomb tactics.
- Ishikari Plain (Mythic): “The Undying Samurai” → yields a strong armor set—excellent early survivability.
Between The Oni and The Kitsune
- Consider detouring to Tokachi Range (Sensei): “Path/Redemption of the Ōdachi” to unlock the heavy blade and its techniques, useful against brutes and armored foes.
- If you favor hybrid melee, Teshio Ridge (Sensei): “Way/Path of the Kusarigama” adds range control and unique crowd answers.
As you push toward the Saito Brothers
- On the Oshima Coast, the Sensei Tale “Guns and Consequences” rounds out firearms know‑how—a good preparation for late‑game mixes.
- The Mythic Tale “The Storm Blade” in Oshima nets a prestige weapon reward and is worth the climb if you enjoy dueling set‑pieces.
Tip: If you’re ever unsure how to advance the main plot, mark the golden ginkgo leaf lead on your map and ride the wind. It’s the cleanest, spoiler‑safe signal that you’re on the critical path.
Chapter‑by‑chapter spoiler‑light guidance & checklists
Prologue — The Snake
A compact, cinematic primer on Atsu’s hunt. Don’t overthink upgrades here; the game wants you moving.
Checklist before Chapter 1:
- [ ] Loot basic supplies; you’ll gain proper upgrade flow shortly.
- [ ] Note the golden ginkgo lead for where the story wants you next.
Chapter 1 — The Lonewolf
This chapter “opens the map” and teaches you to triangulate leads.
Story flow (spoiler‑light):
- The Old Inn → activates Bounties/Merchants; grab a few easy contracts.
- The Way of Dual Katana → shore up stance variety.
- Saito → an infiltration that escalates the hunt.
- The Yōtei Six → your path splits; chase The Oni (Ishikari) and The Kitsune (Teshio).
- Saito Brothers (Part 1) → foreshadow the next chapter’s business.
Do these before leaving Chapter 1:
- [ ] Complete “The Way of the Yari” + at least one follow‑up (Ishikari).
- [ ] Finish “The Bomb Maker” (Ishikari) to unlock bombs.
- [ ] Clear a few bounties to upgrade pouches/gear.
- [ ] Secure “The Undying Samurai” Mythic armor if you want a forgiving mid‑game.
Missables here? No—everything remains doable later.
Chapter 2 — The Onryō
The web tightens around the Saito family.
Story flow (spoiler‑light):
- Saito Brothers (Part 2) → conclude the thread begun in Chapter 1; this sets up the final chapter’s leads.
Strong optional prep in/around Chapter 2:
- [ ] Tokachi Range (Sensei): Ōdachi path for brute‑control.
- [ ] Teshio Ridge (Sensei): Kusarigama path for crowd and gap‑closing utility.
- [ ] Pick up scattered Mythic Tales if you’re chasing particular armor or weapon perks.
Missables here? Still none; keep calm and explore.
Chapter 3 — Cost of Revenge
Your leads converge.
Story flow (spoiler‑light):
- Call of the Hunt → burial‑site pursuit.
- The Final Hunt of the Onryō → the commitment moment and finale sequence.
Stop & prep before the commitment prompt:
- [ ] Finish remaining Sensei Tales you care about (e.g., Oshima Coast: “Guns and Consequences”).
- [ ] Top off upgrades at merchants, spend your currency, craft final ammo stocks.
- [ ] Wrap any personal “must‑do” side tales for narrative closure.
Point of No Return here: Accepting the final confrontation locks side content until credits, after which you’re placed back six months prior to finish anything.
Quality‑of‑life tips that make the story flow better
- Don’t stress puzzles and hints: If you prefer fewer nudges, higher difficulties reduce puzzle clue frequency; the launch update tuned this to avoid overbearing guidance on tougher settings. Choose the difficulty that matches how much “pointing” you want.
- Cinematic modes are optional: Kurosawa‑style black‑and‑white (and newer director‑inspired modes) are stylish but can slightly reduce stealth readability. Consider using them for exploration/story beats and switching back for dense combat or infiltration.
- Follow the wind (and the ginkgo): The navigation design is intentionally diegetic—if you’re lost, mark the golden ginkgo and ride the wind rather than chasing a minimap. It pairs beautifully with free‑roam stops at shrines, dens, and bamboo strikes for incremental power.
The Missables & No‑Return Checklist (quick reference)
Permanent missables:
- [ ] None. No collectibles, side quests, or trophies are permanently missable.
Temporary lock (finale):
- [ ] When prompted to proceed to the final confrontation with Lord Saito, you’ll be locked into endgame until credits.
- [ ] After credits, you’re safely rewound to continue cleanup.
Do these before accepting the finale prompt:
- [ ] Complete any Sensei lines you want (Yari, Bombs, Ōdachi, Kusarigama, Firearms).
- [ ] Grab “The Undying Samurai” Mythic armor (great safety net) if you haven’t already.
- [ ] Spend currencies, finalize upgrades, and restock ammo/tools.
FAQ (spoiler‑light)
Q: Can I mainline the story without side content?
A: Yes, but the difficulty curve is friendlier if you pick up a few Sensei unlocks and one early Mythic armor. The time investment is small, the payoff is big.
Q: Do dialogue choices or playstyle lock me out of anything?
A: No. Choices don’t lock quests, collectibles, or trophies. Play your role.
Q: When exactly should I stop before the finale?
A: When the game directly asks you to proceed to the final encounter with Saito—that’s your cue to finalize prep. If you go ahead, you can still finish everything after credits thanks to the rewind.
TL;DR route card
Prologue: The Snake →
Ch.1: Old Inn → Way of Dual Katana → Saito → Yōtei Six → Oni (Ishikari) → Kitsune (Teshio) → Saito Brothers (Pt. 1) →
Ch.2: Saito Brothers (Pt. 2) →
Ch.3: Call of the Hunt → Final Hunt of the Onryō (finale prompt here; prep first).
Optional power picks along the way:
- Ishikari: Way of the Yari; Bomb Maker; Mythic “Undying Samurai” (armor).
- Tokachi: Path/Redemption of the Ōdachi.
- Teshio: Way/Path of the Kusarigama.
- Oshima: Guns and Consequences; Mythic “Storm Blade.”
