One of Erika Ishii’s Favorite Games Helped Shape Their Career
In a recent interview with Game Rant, Ghost of Yotei star Erika Ishii shared their three all-time favorite games: The Last of Us, Return of the Obra Dinn, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Ghost of Yotei launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive on October 2, 2025. In the game, Ishii voices Atsu—a woman driven by an unrelenting quest for vengeance against those who murdered her family and left her for dead.
While Ishii is widely recognized in 2025 for their portrayal of Atsu, their extensive acting portfolio spans multiple acclaimed platforms. They are a recurring cast member on Dropout’s Game Changer and Dimension 20, and previously portrayed Dusk on Critical Role. Ishii’s career began in childhood with a guest appearance on the sitcom Full House. Beyond screen and voice work, Ishii holds a deep appreciation for interactive storytelling—particularly how video games deliver emotionally resonant, structurally unique experiences that no other medium can replicate.
Why The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Resonated Deeply
During Game Rant’s Character Select series, Ishii highlighted The Wind Waker for its bold artistic direction and profound emotional impact. Released in 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube, the game served as a formative experience—so much so that Ishii reflected, “I really needed it while I played it.” They specifically praised Nintendo’s “big swing” with its stylized visuals, underscoring how the aesthetic reinforced narrative and emotional tone in ways few games achieve.
The Narrative Innovation of Return of the Obra Dinn
Ishii also lauded Return of the Obra Dinn for its masterful use of interactivity as a storytelling engine. When discussing their personal Game of the Year for 2025—Blue Prince—they reaffirmed Obra Dinn’s distinction: its mystery-driven structure and player-led deduction rely intrinsically on the video game format. As Ishii noted, it’s an experience that simply *could not exist* in film, literature, or any non-interactive medium.
How The Last of Us Inspired a Lifelong Path
Of their three favorites, The Last of Us (2013) proved most transformative. Ishii stated unequivocally: “The Last of Us inspired me, and The Last of Us: Left Behind was very much a part of making me love narrative games—and decide that that was what I wanted to do with my life.” This sentiment carries significant weight given Ishii’s distinguished voice acting credits—including Destiny 2, Mortal Kombat 1, and Apex Legends—before landing the lead role in Ghost of Yotei. Indeed, The Last of Us redefined narrative ambition in gaming, earning critical acclaim, award-winning sequels, remasters, a full remake, and a critically lauded HBO adaptation—winning Best Adaptation at The Game Awards 2025.
Ghost of Yotei: A Category of Its Own
When listing their top three games, Ishii emphasized that Ghost of Yotei occupies “a separate category all its own.” Much like their earlier remarks about Blue Prince as their Game of the Year, Ishii hesitates to label Ghost of Yotei a “favorite” or “best”—not due to lack of affection, but because their direct involvement elevates its significance beyond objective comparison. Still, Ishii affirmed: “I think even if I wasn’t in it, it would be very meaningful to me as a fan of games, of samurai stories, westerns, and revenge films—of all these things that I love.” That resonance is unsurprising: Ishii has long been vocal about their admiration for Ghost of Tsushima. As their career continues to evolve, fans eagerly anticipate Ishii’s future roles across the industry’s most ambitious and narratively rich titles.
