You are listening to Vacation in the Dungeon the podcast with your host(s) Charlton Smit and Muhammed Tahir .

In this episode of Vacation in the Dungeon the Podcast where we discuss travel and gaming.

Segment 1 Japan 

Japan is a dream destination for travelers and gamers , imagine you're walking in japan with neon streets Akihabara in Tokyo. The King for gaming and anime culture You can visit shops filled with the latest consoles, rare collectible figures, and arcades where games you’ve only played online come to life. It’s an entire world built around your favorite games and characters. Japan isn't just about gaming and anime. Just a short train ride away, you can explore unreal temples in Kyoto or stroll through the bamboo forests or soak in some hot springs while you're surrounded by beautiful views. The mix of modernized cities and ancient culture and it is a unique experience. You might be playing a game one moment then the next you're standing in ancient temples the next, it feels like you're traveling back in time between worlds. Many games are inspired by landscapes and traditions. Traveling to japan gives you a real feel of the world that inspires the awesomeness of the most popular games. You can see shrines, gardens, streets that look like scenes out of a video game.And it’s not just scenery. Japan celebrates gaming culture everywhere from themed cafes where you can sip coffee surrounded by your favorite characters, to arcades with classic and modern games, to festivals where cosplay brings characters to life. Experiencing this culture in person is so much more than just sightseeing; it’s stepping into the heart of the games themselves. So even if you're a traveler searching the world for its beauties or if you're a hardcore gamer, japan is the place for you it offers both worlds in one and it doesn't even seem like it. It all blends in together 

Segment 2:  cross over

 Muhammad: Now that we have explored real world magics of Japan from its temples to its neon lit cities, it's now time to cross over into its virtual side of that same world. Few games capture Japan's beauty, history and spirit better than the ghost of Tsushima.

 Set during the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, Ghost of Tsushima feels like stepping into a living painting of feudal Japan. The island of Tsushima is brought to life with stunning detailed fields of golden grass, misty bamboo forests, mountain shrines, and quiet villages that reflect the balance between nature and civilization 

that Japan is known for. Every frame feels cinematic, almost like a tribute to the samurai films that shaped Japan’s storytelling tradition.

Charlton:  But what makes it even more special is how the game connects to real Japanese culture. The way Jin Sakai, the main character, struggles between the samurai code of honor and the need to protect his people mirrors the real moral conflicts that defined Japan’s warrior history. Even the smallest details  like composing haiku, paying respects at shrines, or following a guiding fox  are drawn straight from Japanese customs. As we shift from travel to gaming, we’re not really leaving Japan behind, we're just seeing it through another view. Ghost of Tsushima lets you experience the country’s spirit in motion: the discipline of the samurai, the beauty of its landscapes, and the quiet strength of its people. It’s not just a game; it’s an artistic love letter to Japan’s past.

Segment 3:  Ghost of Tsushima  

You know when a game doesn’t just entertain you it makes you think about who you’d be if you were in that world? That’s Ghost of Tsushima. It’s not just a samurai action game; it’s a story about loyalty, sacrifice, and what it means to hold onto your humanity when the world forces you to change.

You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who’s been trained his entire life to fight with honor. When the Mongols invade his home, he does what he’s been taught he faces them head-on. But the problem is, honor gets you killed. The enemy doesn’t play by the same rules, and soon Jin realizes that if he keeps following tradition, everyone he loves will die.

That’s the heart of the game: Jin’s transformation. He’s torn between two sides of himself, the noble samurai who wants to protect his people the right way, and the desperate survivor who’ll do whatever it takes. The deeper you get, the more you feel that conflict. Every time you sneak behind someone or use poison, it’s not just a gameplay choice it’s Jin giving up another piece of who he used to be.

And that’s what makes it powerful. You start to feel the cost of survival. You see it in how his allies look at him, in how his uncle, Lord Shimura reacts to what he’s becoming. The story doesn’t glorify it. It hurts to watch, because you understand both sides. Jin is saving lives, but he’s also becoming something his ancestors would never recognize.

What I love is that Ghost of Tsushima never needs to lecture you about any of this. The storytelling is quiet but heavy. The looks characters give, the silences between words, the moments where you stand over fallen soldiers it all tells the story without needing a cutscene to spell it out. It’s restraint done right.

The combat reflects that same duality. When you fight as a samurai out in the open, blades drawn it feels clean and disciplined. It’s all about reading your opponent, timing your strikes, staying composed. But the moment you start using stealth, the tone changes. You move differently. The kills feel colder. You can sense Jin’s guilt, even if he never says it. The game builds that feeling not through dialogue, but through sound design, animation, and how the world reacts to you.