The dark fantasy universe created by Sui Ishida has captivated anime and gaming fans worldwide. When Bandai Namco released Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist, players were given the opportunity to jump directly into the brutal, flesh-eating conflict between human investigators and supernatural monsters. However, because the game condenses a massive, multi-season anime and manga saga into fast-paced action stages, grasping the full narrative can be challenging.
This comprehensive guide explains the complete story of Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist, breaking down the plot, major character transformations, faction dynamics, and pivotal moments that define this tragic story.
Understanding the World of Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist
To understand the narrative of Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist, one must first comprehend its dark setting. The game is set in an alternate modern-day Tokyo inhabited by two primary opposing forces:
- Ghouls: Creatures that look human but can only survive by consuming human flesh. They possess supernatural strength, rapid regeneration, and a predatory weapon organ called a Kagune.
- The CCG (Commission of Counter Ghoul): A federal agency dedicated to hunting and exterminating Ghouls. CCG Investigators, known as Doves, fight using Quinque—weapons fashioned from harvested Ghoul Kagunes.
The story presented in Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist spans across the two main eras of the franchise: the original story following Ken Kaneki and the sequel timeline centered around Haise Sasaki.
Part 1: The Descent into Darkness – Ken Kaneki's Story
The story campaign in Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist opens with the origin of Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student whose life changes forever after a date with a woman named Rize Kamishiro. Rize turns out to be a powerful Ghoul who attempts to eat him. Following a fatal accident during her attack, doctors transplant Rize's organs into Kaneki to save his life, inadvertently transforming him into the world's first known artificial half-ghoul.
Life at Anteiku
Unable to digest normal human food, Kaneki is taken in by the staff of Anteiku, a neighborhood coffee shop run by peaceful Ghouls who aim to coexist with humans without killing. Here, Kaneki learns to accept his identity while trying to maintain his humanity alongside friends like Touka Kirishima.
The Tragedy at the Anteiku Raid
As tensions escalate in Tokyo, the extremist Ghoul organization known as Aogiri Tree causes chaos, forcing the CCG to launch a massive military assault on Anteiku. Kaneki fights fiercely to protect his loved ones. However, the raid ends in disaster. Kaneki confronts the legendary CCG Investigator Kishou Arima, known as the "Reaper." Kaneki suffers a overwhelming defeat, suffering severe head trauma that completely wipes away his memories.
Part 2: A New Identity – The Rise of Haise Sasaki
The game transitions into the events of the sequel series. Rather than executing Kaneki, the CCG takes him in. Suffering from total amnesia, Kaneki is given a new identity by Kishou Arima: Haise Sasaki.
The Quinx Squad
Under the guidance of the CCG, Sasaki becomes a Rank 1 Ghoul Investigator and the mentor of the Quinx Squad. The Quinx are human CCG agents surgically implanted with a regulated Ghoul organ, granting them Kagune abilities while keeping them human. Sasaki treats his squad members—Kuki Urie, Ginshi Shirazu, Tooru Mutsuki, and Saiko Yonebayashi—like family.
The Inner Conflict
Despite living a peaceful life as an investigator, Sasaki is constantly tormented by hallucinations of his past self—the white-haired Ken Kaneki. Kaneki's subconscious urges Sasaki to accept his true nature and regain his lost memories. Throughout missions in Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist, players experience Sasaki's internal struggle between his duty to the CCG and his buried Ghoul identity.
Part 3: The Climax and Awakening
The narrative reaches its peak during major CCG operations featured in the game, most notably the Auction Raid and the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation.
The Tsukiyama Raid and Kaneki's Return
When the CCG targets the wealthy Tsukiyama clan, Sasaki faces off against powerful Ghouls, including his former friend Shu Tsukiyama's servant, Kanae, and the deadly Owl (Eto Yoshimura). During this brutal encounter, Sasaki is forced to accept his past memories to survive. The persona of Haise Sasaki fades away, and Ken Kaneki awakens fully once again.
Reclaiming his identity, Kaneki severs ties with the CCG's corrupt hierarchy. Recognizing that true peace cannot be achieved under the current system, he positions himself as the One-Eyed King—a figure meant to unite Ghouls and humans into a balanced world.
Faction Mechanics: How the Story Shapes Gameplay
In Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist, the narrative directly impacts how the gameplay is structured. The game splits its perspectives to reflect both sides of the war:
| Faction | Key Playable Characters | Primary Weaponry | Narrative Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghouls | Ken Kaneki, Touka Kirishima, Shu Tsukiyama, Ayato Kirishima | Kagune (Rinkaku, Ukaku, Koukaku, Bikaku) | Survival, protecting loved ones, fighting against CCG oppression. |
| CCG / Quinx | Haise Sasaki, Juuzou Suzuya, Kotaro Amon, Akira Mado | Quinque weapons & Quinx implants | Hunting dangerous threats, enforcing order, investigating Ghoul outbreaks. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist a original story?
No. The game directly adapts key narrative arcs from both the original Tokyo Ghoul and Tokyo Ghoul: re manga and anime series written by Sui Ishida.
Does the game cover the entire anime storyline?
The game covers the most significant battle arcs up through the early-to-mid sections of Tokyo Ghoul: re. It focuses heavily on action-heavy encounters such as the Anteiku Raid, the Auction Raid, and the Tsukiyama Extermination.
Why does Ken Kaneki have two names in the game?
Ken Kaneki lost his memories after fighting CCG Investigator Kishou Arima. He was renamed Haise Sasaki by the CCG and served as an investigator until his original memories returned during the Tsukiyama raid.
Final Thoughts on the Story of Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist
Tokyo Ghoul: re Call to Exist provides fans with a fast-paced way to relive one of anime's most tragic tales. At its core, the narrative explores themes of identity, loss, and the morally gray nature of war. Whether playing as a Ghoul fighting for survival or an Investigator seeking justice, the game emphasizes that neither side is entirely innocent in the tragic struggle for Tokyo's streets.
