Quick Verdict: Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is the better pick if you want a cinematic, single-setting samurai story with stance-based stealth combat and one of the more decorated PC ports available. Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is the better pick if you want a larger frontier built around machine-hunting combat and deep crafting, and it’s currently included in PlayStation Plus Extra. Both cost $59.99 on Steam, and both already have their own “how to get it free” guide linked below.
Ghost of Tsushima and Horizon Forbidden West are both PlayStation Studios open-world showcases that made the jump to PC, but they couldn’t be further apart in setting. One drops you into 1274 feudal Japan as a samurai turned Ghost. The other sends you across a post-apocalyptic American frontier hunting robotic machines. This guide breaks down where each one wins.
Ghost of Tsushima vs Horizon Forbidden West at a Glance
| Category | Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition |
| Release Date | PC release May 16, 2024 (originally PS4, later enhanced for PS5) | Base game February 18, 2022 (PS5/PS4); PC Complete Edition March 21, 2024 |
| Price on Steam | $59.99 | $59.99 |
| Developer | Sucker Punch Productions | Guerrilla Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation PC | Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation PC |
| Genre | Open-world action-adventure, samurai, stealth | Open-world action RPG, machine-hunting combat |
| Included Content | Iki Island expansion, plus the free Legends co-op mode | Burning Shores story expansion |
| PS Plus Access | Not included in any subscription service | Currently included in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog |
| Best For | Players who want stealth-driven samurai combat with a cinematic Japanese setting | Players who want machine-hunting open-world RPG combat with deep crafting |
Setting and Tone
Ghost of Tsushima drops you into 1274 feudal Japan during the Mongol invasion, with bamboo forests, crimson maple groves, and fog-draped coastlines building one of the most cinematic, cohesive settings on Steam. Horizon Forbidden West spans a post-apocalyptic American frontier stretching from a ruined San Francisco to a jungle-covered Las Vegas, driven by a sci-fi mystery about a dying biosphere. Edge: Ghost of Tsushima, for a more cohesive, single-setting cinematic atmosphere throughout.
Combat System
Ghost of Tsushima’s stance-based samurai combat lets Jin Sakai choose between honorable standoffs and stealthier “Ghost” tactics depending on the encounter. Horizon Forbidden West centers on hunting massive mechanical creatures, studying weak points and exploiting elemental weaknesses with a wide arsenal of crafted bows, slings, and traps. Edge: Horizon Forbidden West, for deeper tactical variety against a wider range of enemy types.
World Design and Navigation
Ghost of Tsushima uses a minimal HUD, letting wind and golden birds guide exploration instead of traditional map markers, a distinctive environmental-storytelling approach. Horizon Forbidden West spans richly detailed, varied biomes, from coastal cities to underwater regions, using a more conventional open-world structure with clearer objective markers. Edge: Ghost of Tsushima, for its distinctive, HUD-minimal approach to guiding exploration.
Bundled Expansion Content
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut bundles in the Iki Island expansion, a separate island with its own multi-hour story about Jin’s father, plus the free Legends co-op mode built around supernatural Japanese folklore. Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition bundles in the Burning Shores expansion, continuing the story into a volcanic Los Angeles. Edge: Ghost of Tsushima, for bundling both a story expansion and a free multiplayer mode into the same price.
PC Port Quality
Ghost of Tsushima’s PC port, handled by Nixxes, includes DLSS, FSR, XeSS, NVIDIA Reflex, DLAA, full Steam Deck Verification, and support for ultrawide and triple-monitor displays. Horizon Forbidden West runs on Guerrilla’s proprietary Decima Engine and is a genuinely demanding open-world showcase, best suited to a modern mid-to-high-range PC. Edge: Ghost of Tsushima, for a more explicitly decorated PC port with broader upscaling and display support.
Access and Availability
Ghost of Tsushima isn’t included in any current subscription service. Horizon Forbidden West’s base game is currently included in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog on console, alongside other high-profile PlayStation titles. Edge: Horizon Forbidden West, for being accessible right now through an active PS Plus Extra subscription.
Which One Should You Play First?
- Want a cinematic, single-setting samurai story with stance-based stealth combat: start with Ghost of Tsushima.
- Want a larger frontier with deep machine-hunting combat and crafting: start with Horizon Forbidden West.
- Currently subscribe to PS Plus Extra: start with Horizon Forbidden West, already included at no extra cost.
- Want the more technically decorated PC port with broad upscaling support: start with Ghost of Tsushima.
Overall Verdict
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut delivers a more cohesive cinematic experience with a distinctive combat system and one of the more carefully built PC ports on Steam, backed by a free co-op mode on top of its story expansion. Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition trades that focus for a larger, more varied frontier and deeper crafting-driven combat, plus the advantage of being currently accessible through PS Plus Extra. If atmosphere and stealth-driven combat matter most, start with Ghost of Tsushima. If you want deep RPG crafting and already have PS Plus Extra, Horizon Forbidden West is the easier way in right now.
Get Both For Less
Both games already have their own dedicated guide on this site covering legitimate ways to get them below full Steam price. Read How To Get Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT Free and How To Get Horizon Forbidden West Free for the full breakdown of both routes.
FAQ
Which is better, Ghost of Tsushima or Horizon Forbidden West?
Ghost of Tsushima is the better pick for a cinematic, single-setting samurai story and a more decorated PC port. Horizon Forbidden West is the better pick for deep machine-hunting combat and crafting, plus current PS Plus Extra access. Neither is objectively better, they suit different tastes.
Is Horizon Forbidden West on PS Plus?
Yes. The base game is currently included in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog on console, alongside other high-profile PlayStation titles.
What expansion is included with Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut?
The Iki Island expansion, a separate island with its own multi-hour story about Jin Sakai’s father, plus the free Legends co-op mode.
Which has a better PC port, Ghost of Tsushima or Horizon Forbidden West?
Ghost of Tsushima’s PC port is more explicitly decorated, with DLSS, FSR, XeSS, NVIDIA Reflex, full Steam Deck Verification, and ultrawide and triple-monitor support all documented.
Are both games the same price?
Yes. Both Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition cost $59.99 on Steam.
