Rise of the Ronin
Rise of the Rōnin is a combat focused open-world action RPG that takes place in Japan at a time of great change. It is the very end of a 300-year long Edo Period, commonly known as “Bakumatsu”. Set in the late 19th century, Japan is facing the darkest of times as it struggles with its oppressive rulers and deadly diseases while western influence permeates as civil war continues to rage between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Anti-Shogunate factions.
What it feels like
Darkest of times with oppression, deadly disease, and unfolding civil war create a harsh, unflinching tone.
What it's about
Grounded in the real historical Bakumatsu period of late 19th-century Japan, a defining setting. Civil war and its human toll on Japan as it struggles with oppression, disease, and western influence. Conflict between Tokugawa Shogunate and Anti-Shogunate factions drives factional standing and branching paths.
How it plays
Combat-focused action RPG centered on close-quarters weapon and sword combat as the primary interaction. From Team NINJA (Nioh studio), deliberate stamina-gated melee combat rewarding spacing, timing, and punishment of openings is definitional. RPG stat, skill, and gear combinations allow theorycrafted builds typical of action RPGs from this developer.
How it looks and sounds
Third-person camera following the character, standard for this developer's action games and noted in Steam tags. War-torn 19th-century Japan with oppression, disease, and civil war creates a worn, high-detail grimy aesthetic. Modern 2024 action game from Team NINJA with high-fidelity rendering of historical Japan.
How it's structured
A large continuous 19th-century Japan is explorable in a largely non-linear, player-chosen order, central to the experience. The game is designed as a complete single-player experience, though multiplayer options are available. A bounded historical narrative arc during the Bakumatsu period with a defined story beginning, middle, and end.
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