Rise of the Ronin is an RPG game that combines action with open-world exploration. You play a samurai in 19th-century Bakumatsu-era Japan. The graphics embody the country's cultural evolution, internal rebellions, political unrest, and overall modernization that's just around the corner.
You get into the role of a ronin, a samurai without a master, who needs to navigate these troubled times and make decisions that can influence not only his future but also that of Japan. Along the way, you'll get to combat opponents through sword fights and historical firearms, which makes the gameplay very dynamic and engaging. The game also has a deep storyline that unwinds as you progress through various missions and explore new areas on the map.
Through the freeform gameplay, you can pace your adventure how you want to and dive deep into busy city streets or roam the countryside, each location bringing you new adventures and quests, such as mercenary tasks or creating alliances. Anyone who enjoys games revolving around open-world exploration, stealth-based missions, and impressive battles should download Rise of the Ronin to their gaming console.
Why should I download Rise of the Ronin?
With Rise of the Ronin, you can discover a historically accurate setting of 19th-century Japan as a ronin who needs to navigate his own life and the country's fate. In the game, you travel through the vast regions of Yokohama, Kyoto, and Edo and their changing weather, time zones, and historical architecture.
You can customize your samurai's appearance and skills and select your preferred combat style. During the game, you'll face different factions like the Shogunate, imperial loyalists, and foreign powers with which you can form alliances. Whatever you choose will affect how the storyline develops later, as well as the relationship with other characters and which missions are available to you. This is because Rise of the Ronin, as the game, uses branching logic for its narrative.
Most players will appreciate the combat system that Rise of the Ronin delivers, where it merges sword fights with stance-based mechanics and stealth techniques. You will get to use those skills, as well as period-specific rifles and pistols, in one-on-one face-offs or when attacking enemy patrols.
The gameplay of Rise of the Ronin includes side quests, dialogue trees, and forming relationships with other characters, which can lead to multiple different outcomes, all of which make up the game's role-playing system. Whether you're looking for romance, trying to engage in politics, or recruiting allies, all those decisions allow you to shape the game however you like it. You can move through this open world by horse or by using gliders and grappling hooks so that you can jump and slide between the buildings and discover hidden shrines, artifacts, or missions.
When you download Rise of the Ronin on PlayStation 5 or Windows 11, you can see that the game was developed with modern consoles in mind, as it has stunning graphics. You can appreciate detailed character appearances, realistic lightning, well-recreated architecture, and the environment.
The sound design and DualSense support of haptic feedback make the game even more immersive. The game combines sophisticated gameplay mechanics, engaging narrative, dynamic graphics, historical fiction, open-world exploration, and satisfying combat.
Is Rise of the Ronin free?
As a premium AAA title from Sony, Rise of the Ronin is not a free game, so you need to purchase it to play it (for Windows or PlayStation 5). You can choose between different editions of this title, where the Standard option gives you the full game, both as a physical copy and a digital download. If you opt for the digital Deluxe pack, apart from the game itself, you also get an artbook, soundtrack files, more weapons, and character skins.
What operating systems are compatible with Rise of the Ronin?
For desktop users, Rise of the Ronin is available on the Steam platform. It is compatible with 64-bit systems, including Windows 10 and Windows 11 (or later). Note that it requires a modern computer with strong hardware.
For gaming consoles, since the game is an exclusive Sony Entertainment title, you can only download Rise of the Ronin on PlayStation 5. It's unavailable on older PlayStation versions or other gaming consoles or computers.
The benefit of the game being designed specifically for this platform is that it utilizes the maximum PlayStation 5 resources, meaning SSD architecture, ray tracing options, and DualSense feedback on the controllers.
What are the alternatives to Rise of the Ronin?
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows is a title that is also set in Japan and is a continuation of a cult series. The gameplay focuses on exploring the open world, accomplishing stealth missions, and engaging in political intrigues. You can choose between two different main characters - a samurai and a shinobi (ninja-like character)- which will change how your storyline develops. Unlike Rise of the Ronin, you can get Assassin's Creed Shadows on multiple different platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, as well as on Windows computers. It's a paid action RPG title, and you can get it in multiple editions that can include additional customization options and bonus missions.
Ghost of Tsushima is another action-adventure game set in feudal Japan, this time during Mongol invasions in the 13th century. The game is known for its deep storyline, stealth mechanics, and sword fighting, and was initially developed for PlayStation 4. It has been optimized for PS5, and you can also get a Director's Cut edition, which has improved graphics and a major gameplay expansion pack. While it is a title exclusive to PlayStation 4 and 5, it has a big fan community and is one of the most popular games on those consoles.
For a change of setting, you can also play Assassin's Creed Unity, which was set during the French Revolution in Paris. You progress the game by engaging in stealth missions and assassinations, parkouring through the locations, and you can also play it in a co-op multiplayer mode. The game is paid, and you can download it on Windows computers, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, as well as on newer console versions, thanks to backward compatibility.
