Inside Ghost of Yōtei’s Spider Lily General – how Sucker Punch built its creepiest Mythic Tale

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Ghost of Yōtei’s side-quest “The Spider Lily General” has quickly become a standout Mythic-style tale, and the studio has now explained how it came together. Creative Directors Nate Fox and Jason Connell outlined the quest’s early origins, its tragic narrative core, and the ways its horror mood was engineered to feel distinct from the main adventure. The team also unpacked the real-world symbolism behind spider lilies and why the flowers double as a navigation tool. According to Sucker Punch, the mission didn’t just resonate with players – it also helped set the creative bar for the rest of the project.

Where this myth began

Connell says the quest was one of the earliest missions the team built and among the first Mythic Tales crafted for Yōtei. It originated from a designer–writer pitch, then became a testbed for what a “Mythic” mission should look and feel like in this new setting. The idea evolved into a focused, folkloric narrative that blends combat, atmosphere, and exploration.

“The Spider Lily General was actually one of the earliest missions in the game and one of the first Mythic Tales we created,” said Jason Connell.

Story and symbolism: why spider lilies

The tale centers on a feared general whose legendary armor drew looters long after he retired. A sparring accident with his daughter leads to her death, leaving him consumed by grief and haunting the surrounding forest. As the myth tells it, spider lilies bloom wherever he spills blood, binding the tragedy to the landscape.

Fox points to the flowers’ real-world meaning: spider lilies are toxic flowers planted in graveyards to deter animals, symbolically linked to death and family bonds. They also serve a practical function in-game – their crimson trail helps guide exploration through the mist across a large, disorienting area.

“They’re actually toxic, and in real life they’re planted in graveyards,” noted Nate Fox, adding that the lilies also clarify how to move through the mission’s fog.

Building a horror mood

Sucker Punch leaned into a restrained, uncanny tone rather than jump scares. The team designed the level to feel unfamiliar – a small maze, audio stingers, distant wails, and sequences where enemies are discovered slaughtered after the mist rolls in. Crucially, they used negative space – long, quiet walks past corpses and up staircases – to let the dread sink in before combat erupts.

• Prototype camera angles borrowed from survival horror informed the vibe, even when not used in the final.
• Lighting and color grading shifted – a larger, eerier moon and adjusted black levels – to shape the scene’s mood.
• Sound design carried much of the weight, including a special music track for the duel.

“The atmosphere is one of the biggest tools we have,” said Connell, describing how lighting, color, and audio unify the quest’s mood.

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Setting the tone for the wider game

Because it arrived early in development, the mission helped establish standards for presentation and exploration across Ghost of Yōtei. Connell says it set a high bar for staging, readability, and visual “attractors” – the elements that pull players toward intriguing locations. Fox adds that the forest’s mist and an eye-catching pagoda rising above the trees are deliberate cues that invite players to follow curiosity rather than waypoint markers.

“The player discovers the story under their own power,” said Nate Fox, calling that autonomy a powerful experience.

Why it resonated with players – and the studio

The directors link the quest’s reception to Sucker Punch’s renewed focus on Mythic Tales after Ghost of Tsushima. Their goal was to bring the format back “in its own new way” for Yōtei, retaining the core appeal while adapting tone and mechanics. The result is a self-contained short story with clear emotional stakes – tragedy, guilt, and release – that sits comfortably inside a broader anthology built for wandering and discovery.

“We knew that we wanted to build [Mythics] again in their own new way for Ghost of Yōtei,” said Connell. “Everyone in the team is very proud of how it came together,” added Fox.

Fact note: Ghost of Yōtei is available on PlayStation 5.

Final takeaway – why this mission matters

“The Spider Lily General” shows how Sucker Punch blends folklore, level design, and audiovisual craft into a focused horror tale. For players, it signals what Ghost of Yōtei does best – inviting you to wander, notice a detail in the distance, and step into a story that unfolds at your pace.