Get to Know Ghostwire: Tokyo's Visitors & Yokai

In Ghostwire: Tokyo, players awake amidst a mass vanishing of Tokyo’s human population, leaving room for beings inspired by real-life folklore, yokai and even urban legends to take to the streets.

With the help of a gruff, ghostly detective named KK, you will fight to get to the bottom of Tokyo’s supernatural disappearance and save the city from disaster.

While skills like Ethereal Weaving are essential in Ghostwire: Tokyo, knowledge is also crucial. To aid your ghost hunting, we’ve included a quick brief on some of the city’s newfound populace. Some are dangerous and should be avoided, while others can become key allies if you play your cards right, so read on for more details from our own paranormal investigations.

FOES

TOKYO’S ROVING RAIN WALKERS

One of the more common Visitors you’ll encounter in Tokyo following the mass vanishing, Rain Walkers resemble faceless salarymen in work attire and umbrellas. Made manifest from negative emotions – primarily exhaustion from overwork – Rain Walkers come in a few varieties and can cause considerable complications when encountered in large numbers.

Able to block attacks with its umbrella and close short distances for a melee strike, keeping a safe (ideally flanking) distance from Rain Walker groups is wise. Charging your Ethereal Weaving yields greater damage output, with the charged Fire skill offering a nice explosive form of crowd control.

BEWARE THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN

Based on a frightening legend, this vicious Visitor takes the form of a masked woman wielding a massive pair of scissors. In the original folklore, the Kuchisake bears a disfigured grin and is infamous for granting similar scars to victims unfortunate enough to cross her path…if she doesn’t kill them outright.

As you can imagine, a Visitor based on such a nasty character can’t be good news. Keep a safe distance away from her blades and prepare for a well-timed Perfect Block to parry her attacks when she closes in. We’ve also received reports of a variant of the Kuchisake, clothed in red, wandering the streets of Tokyo. Be on your guard, as “Crimson Kuchisake” is believed to be even more dangerous than its white-clad counterpart.

EYES TO THE SKIES FOR THE ERRANT SHINE DANCER

Traditional paper dolls commonly crafted as adorable charms wishing for good weather, teru teru bōzu seem like the furthest thing from a threatening Visitor. However, these spirits can hover high above its prey and attack from above or even lie in wait disguised as a sheet of fabric, so stay vigilant!

Thankfully, so long as a Shine Dancer doesn’t get the jump on you, they can be easily managed. Blocking and sidestepping are effective for dodging its projectiles, though we recommend timing your own Ethereal Weaving volleys for when the Shine Dancer stays still to ensure your attacks hit and conserve Ether.

FRIENDS

REACH NEW HEIGHTS WITH LOCAL TENGU

While some Visitors are out for blood, not every supernatural being you’ll come across is a foe. For example, flying Tengu found hovering above Tokyo’s skyline can make for a quite an asset to your adventure!

Look near the tops of buildings (or use your Spectral Vision ability) to locate airborne Tengu and whisk yourself up onto Tokyo’s rooftops with your Grapple ability! Not only does grappling onto buildings help with traversal, but the city’s skyline also hosts tons of things to uncover, from quests and collectibles to vantage points for getting the drop on your enemies.

BRING THE LOST TANUKIS HOME

An adorable, if not also mischievous, staple of traditional Japanese folklore, Tanukis are playful, shapeshifting little pranksters. Sadly, these mythical raccoon dogs have gotten lost in the sprawling streets and alleys of Tokyo and need your help!

You’ll be rewarded for locating Tokyo’s hidden Tanukis, but don’t expect to find them so easily! Able to transform their appearance, Tanukis can blend into the environment disguised as everyday objects. That said, the spell isn’t perfect. There are rumors that a Tanuki’s tail is still visible when looking at a disguise through Spectral Vision, so give it a shot when you think one is nearby!

CUCUMBERS CREATE CAREFUL CONDITIONS TO CLEVERLY CAPTURE KAPPA

Kappas are amphibious yokai found near bodies of water across Tokyo. They can offer you Magatama to unlock powerful new skills to learn, but that’s if you can get your hands on one. They’re fairly slippery customers, but they do have a weakness you can exploit: cucumbers.

Just like their folklore counterparts, Kappa love them some cucumbers and would likely fall for a trap if you set down a couple as bait. Now you’ll just need to find a place in town that’s open and still selling them…

NEKOMATA HAS WARES IF YOU HAVE RELICS

What a coincidence! One of Tokyo’s newest denizens can be found operating kiosks and convenience stores across the city. Nekomata are yokai resembling a two-tailed cat, but don’t let their fuzzy lil’ faces fool you: these guys are powerful and more than happy to hook you up with rare goods…for the right price.

From wearable clothing and consumables to music tracks, Tokyo’s Nekomata have quite the stock of goods available, but you’ll need to pay for it first with Meika gained from completing missions and exploring the city. Occasionally, you’ll hear a Nekomata meow as you traverse Tokyo. When this happens, stop and look around as this means you may be close to a Relic – rare objects or random curios that certain Nekomata will handsomely reward you for. Sure, nothing comes for free with these feline shopkeepers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t pay for a job well done.

MORE GHOSTWIRE: TOKYO

• FREE VISUAL NOVEL PREQUEL GHOSTWIRE: TOKYO PRELUDE IS OUT NOW

• INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR BEGINNER’S TIPS & TRICKS

• GET TO KNOW GHOSTWIRE’S KEY PLAYERS