The Iki Island expansion in Ghost of Tsushima introduces players to numerous hidden challenges that enrich the exploration of Jin Sakai's emotional journey. Among these secrets is an unlisted objective known to the community as the Monkey See quest, which rewards players with a unique hidden trophy upon successful completion. Navigating the rocky cliffs of the southern terrain requires a keen eye for environmental clues and a firm understanding of traditional samurai gestures.
Locating the Hidden Monkey Sanctuary
To begin this hidden challenge, players must navigate to the far southwestern point of Iki Island, specifically targeting the steep cliffs surrounding Saruiwa. Scaling this treacherous mountain requires precise grappling hook inputs and careful observation of the vertical pathways. As you ascend toward the summit, look closely for distinct openings in the rock face that lead to hidden ledges.
Along the perilous path up the mountain, adventurers will encounter three distinct primate statues carved into the stone walls. These monuments represent the classic wise monkeys, each embodying a different sensory restriction. Reaching each individual statue safely is paramount, as the environment features multiple steep drops that can instantly prove fatal if a jump is mistimed.
Deciphering the Visual Riddles
Interacting with the statues requires players to perform specific mechanical actions that match the theme of each carving. For the first monument, which depicts a monkey covering its ears, Jin must play a soothing melody on his flute to trigger the secret acknowledgement. This action prompts a glowing particle effect, confirming that the initial phase of the hidden trial has been successfully recorded.
The second statue showcases a primate covering its eyes, demanding a completely different response from the player. Standing directly in front of this carving and throwing a smoke bomb will satisfy the riddle's hidden parameters. The sudden cloud of smoke perfectly mirrors the visual theme of blindness, causing the stone monument to react instantly.
Completing the Final Emote Ritual
The third and final carving features a monkey covering its mouth, located near the absolute summit of the challenging mountain climb. To complete this last segment, players must stand close to the structure and swipe the touchpad downwards to make Jin bow respectfully. Understanding these distinct emotional prompts ensures that players can progress through the environmental puzzles smoothly without experiencing unnecessary progression resets.
It is important to note that the final interaction will not trigger a grand cinematic sequence or an explicit mission completed notification on your screen. Instead, the game quietly awards the hidden bronze trophy directly to your account profile once the final gesture is performed. Many players initially mistake this subtle transition for a software glitch, but it is simply the intended design of this atmospheric island secret.
Reaping Your Completion Rewards
Beyond the digital trophy recognition, completing this secret mountain trek offers a profound sense of world immersion that defines the expansion experience. Players can wear any armor set of their choosing during this sequence, as the mechanics are completely independent of specific gear requirements. Exploring these remote corners allows you to fully appreciate the intricate world-building details that the developers integrated into the rugged terrain.
Once the task is finished, players can comfortably descend the cliffs or use the fast travel system to return to the main storyline. Taking the time to master these subtle environmental riddles adds significant depth to your overall completion rate on Iki Island. This rewarding excursion stands out as a prime example of organic open-world design done exceptionally well.
