Ghostwire Tokyo: Exploration Ghostwire Tokyo guide, walkthrough
This page of the guide to Ghostwire Tokyo contains advice on exploring the world map - fog, fast travel, stores, finds, quests, scanning the area.
Last update: 01 April 2022
On this page of the Ghostwire Tokyo guide, you will find tips and tricks for exploring the game world. The hints and tips provided concern, e.g. getting rid of fog from the world map, using spectral vision, using fast travel or finding unique treasures, locations and quests.
- Fog and limitations of the open world
- Icons and attractions on the world map
- Spirits, collectibles and standard loot
- Undergrounds and insides of buildings
- Tengu and reaching roofs
- Encounters with the Visitors
- Corruption
Fog and limitations of the open world
Ghostwire Tokyo is an open world game, but you can't look everywhere right away. Discovering new areas on the world map is slow and is related to the progress of the main storyline.
Free travel on the world map is prevented by the deadly fog, which by default covers almost all of Tokyo. Touching fog leads to quick death - you have to limit yourself to the areas where there is none. You can gradually get rid of the fog and this is done by visiting and cleansing the torii gates near to the shrines. The game will reveal the locations of other shrines as you play through the next main quests. More about the fog, shrines and torii gates can be found on the Fog - how to get rid of? page.
Unlocked shrines become fast travel points and can help you shorten the journey between distant locations. More about fast travel on the Fast travel - how to unlock? page.
Icons and attractions on the world map
As you explore the world map, you can make new markers may appear on it that symbolize different things. You should learn their meaning. The most important ones are:
- Side quests - Icons for optional quests are automatically added after meeting their requirements. You may have to, for example, make enough progress in the main storyline or take over a specific shrine to reveal a new fragment of the map. Optional quests usually offer valuable rewards.
- Shrines - At certain points in the game, you can get quests for taking over specific shrines. The ones that you have already cleansed will be visible all the time.
- Merchants - These can be shops, stalls or nekomata (cat traders) where you can fulfil orders for delivering unique artifacts. These merchants also sell unique items. Try to regularly replenish arrows or talismans supplies on a regular basis, and also buy unique items (e.g. katashiro or collectibles).
- Telephone booths - Their primary use is to transfer spirits. You will be rewarded with meika (local currency) and XP. The booths are also useful in some quests.
- Tengu - As a reminder, the main use of these flying creatures is to pull towards them with the grapple (more about them later on the page).
- Collectibles and optional activities - Icons can indicate, among other things, locations of Jizo statues, relics or yokai. All this will help you complete the game in 100%.
Additional note - You can hide things on the world map that you have already acquired or completed. This will allow you to cleare the map from unnecessary icons. You have to open the map legend on the screen and select the option at the bottom of the list of icons (Hide Completed Icons).
Spirits, collectibles and standard loot
One of the most important mechanics for exploration is spectral vision - the area scanning mode. It is available from the beginning of the game and its use is free. Spectral vision, e.g. marks enemies, unique objects (including secrets) and spirits that you can absorb with katashiro. You can also purchase abilities or use prayer beads that increase the effectiveness of spectral vision (e.g. by extending its scanning area).
In addition to using spectral vision, try to carefully examine all newly visited locations - check all rooms and all containers. In addition to important items, you will also find a lot smaller loot this way, including food or meika.
Undergrounds and insides of buildings
An important information in terms of exploring the game world in 100% is that the dungeons and the interiors of some buildings are separate locations with loading screens (when using a passage).
You will visit the subway tunnels for the first time in The Buried Life main quest, and the interiors of buildings (e.g. hospital, single-family houses, bathhouse) are visited in various main and side quests. There can be spirits and collectibles in the dungeons and closed locations, so it is advisable to investigate them thoroughly and scan the surroundings.
Fortunately, you can return to these locations by finding the entrance icons on the world map. Nevertheless, you should explore them right away, so as not to forget which locations you have already searched in 100%.
Tengu and reaching roofs
An important element of exploring the entire map is examining the roofs of buildings and high shelves. There, you can very often find clusters of spirits. There can also be secrets or loot.
Flying tengu creatures help in reaching the roofs. They are not hostile - after locating a tengu (they are marked on the map), you can pull yourself to it by using the grapple. If you can't see a tengu anywhere near a tall building, look around for alternative climbing routes, such as outdoor lifts or staircases.
Roofs are also a good place to start gliding onto nearby buildings or other hard-to-reach ledges. You can extend the length of gliding with certain abilities. There is also no risk of dying after falling from a great height, so you should use this mechanic as often as possible.
Encounters with the Visitors
An integral part of traversing the game world are encounters with the Visitors who can, for example, patrol a neighborhood or "guard" groups of spirits. Fighting opponents is not obligatory in most cases, but you shouldn't avoid them - defeating Visitors will give you XP.
Hyakki Yako are unique fights. These clusters of Visitors may appear at some large intersections in the city. Getting closer to Hyakki Yako will transport Akito to a large arena. However, we don't recommend avoiding Hyakki Yako, as in addition to the XP you get for defeating the Visitors, you will also be able to absorb spirits once the battle is over. Just remember to be prepared - Akito should have full health and energy for powers.
More about fighting Visitors on the Combat and stealth page.
Corruption
In addition to the Visitors, you can also encounter another threat - Corruption. Visiting these contaminated locations can cost you a lot of health points.
You don't always need to avoid corruption. You can scan them to discover the weak point of each cluster. You can then use a bow or, for example, Wind Weaving to hit that weak point and get rid of the corruption. This can, e.g. unlock a new passage and/or spawn new spirits that can be absorbed.