Rise of the Ronin is a combat-forward open-world action RPG whose most distinctive achievement is its demanding, layered swordplay. Its late-Edo Japan setting and faction choices give the adventure a strong frame, but reviewers also found repetitive activities and uneven presentation. The platform matters, too: TechRadar’s PS5 review and PC Gamer’s PC review describe different practical concerns, and neither should be treated as a controlled comparison.
What kind of game is Rise of the Ronin?
Developed by Team NINJA, Rise of the Ronin is an open-world action RPG set in Japan in 1863, during the upheaval that followed centuries of Tokugawa Shogunate rule. The arrival of Western “Black Ships” has destabilized the country, and you play a nameless ronin trying to navigate the conflict.
The story gives you choices about whether to protect or assassinate important figures and how to relate to people and factions. Historical figures include Ryoma Sakamoto and Shoin Yoshida. The setting is more than scenery: competing loyalties are part of the player character’s path through a changing Japan. Team NINJA head Fumihiko Yasuda described the goal as letting players “fully embody a Ronin during the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate.”
It is best understood as a combat-focused open-world RPG rather than a pure hack-and-slash or stealth game. Exploration and narrative choices broaden the experience, but the fighting is its clearest draw.
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- Haptic feedback: Feel the impact of combat as you clash blades and trade blows with haptic feedback through the DualSense wireless controller.
- Adaptive triggers: Experience the tension of your bow string and the click of your matchlock rifle’s trigger through the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers.
- Tempest 3D AudioTech: Become immersed in the sounds of Bakumatsu-era Japan – from the hustle and bustle of the capital’s streets to the tranquil sounds of nature as you traverse the landscape with 3D spatial audio.*
- Ultra high-speed SSD: Get straight to the heart of the action with the PlayStation5 console’s lightning-fast load times.
How does the combat work?
Combat mixes close-range weapons with period firearms. Swords, spears, and thrown weapons offer different ways to approach a fight; the broader toolset also includes a grappling rope and stealth tactics. The depth comes from reading opponents and managing resources, rather than simply attacking until an enemy falls.
Styles, ki, and counterspark
In PC Gamer’s description of the combat, Jin, Chi, and Ten are the three core styles. Ki functions as a stamina resource, so spending it carelessly can leave you vulnerable. Counterspark is the parry mechanic: a well-timed counter can interrupt an opponent and create an opening for a stance break or takedown. This is a review-level account of key systems, not an exhaustive official combat guide.
That combination of timing, stance choices, and resource management is why the combat stands out in the reviewed coverage. It asks for precision and adaptation, giving encounters more texture than a straightforward string of attacks.
Stealth is an option, not the main event
You can use stealth tactics, but the available reviews do not present stealth as a defining strength. TechRadar found it less memorable and less foregrounded than the combat, while PC Gamer criticized enemy awareness in the PC version it reviewed. Players looking primarily for a stealth game should temper their expectations.
Rank #2
- Japon, 1863. Dans le chaos d'un pays ravagé par la guerre, la maladie et les agitations politiques, un Ronin s'avance pour prendre en main le destin de la nation
- 1 joueur
- Jusqu'à 3 joueurs en ligne avec PS Plus
- Jeu en ligne facultatif
What is the open world like?
Late-Edo Japan provides a compelling backdrop for travel and exploration. The official materials describe journeys by horse and glider, alongside a world in which missions and character relationships connect to the period’s political upheaval. The range of activities gives the game room to satisfy players looking for a substantial open-world adventure.
That breadth comes with trade-offs. TechRadar praised the setting and its ability to scratch the open-world itch, but also reported repetition, rough edges, and graphical pop-in. Its review questioned how smoothly the game’s different design identities fit together. The result, as reflected in that coverage, is a world with an appealing premise but not uniformly polished exploration.
What did reviewers say about the PS5 and PC versions?
The platform-specific coverage points to distinct considerations, not a controlled head-to-head test. TechRadar reviewed the launch-model PS5 version; PC Gamer reviewed a PC build. Their observations should be read as findings from those reviews, not guarantees about every setup or the current patch state.
| Version reviewed | Review observations | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | TechRadar praised the historical setting and open-world appeal, while noting repetition, rough visual presentation, and pop-in. | Rob Dwiar disclosed just over 25 hours of play on a launch-model PS5, including about 15 hours for the main story in that playthrough. Those are his review durations, not a typical completion-time estimate. |
| PC | PC Gamer’s Joe Donnelly reported unpredictable performance, inconsistent frame rates, and slowdowns in populated areas. He also praised the combat and the setting when performance behaved. | These are findings from the PC build Donnelly reviewed. Hardware and later patches can affect performance; the review does not establish a universal or current result. |
For the official platform details, PlayStation’s product page lists the PS5 version and its features, while Team NINJA’s official site provides information about the PC version. The game is not currently PS5-exclusive: it also released on Steam. The supplied official PlayStation FAQ describes the PS5 product page’s platform context, not present-day exclusivity.
Can you play co-op, and can you change the difficulty?
PlayStation’s official FAQ says story missions support online co-op for up to three players, require PlayStation Plus, and do not include PVP. It also lists three difficulty settings, which can be changed at any time:
- Dawn: The easiest mode; it also unlocks additional assistance settings.
- Dusk: The standard difficulty option.
- Twilight: The most challenging of the three listed modes.
The FAQ also says the game supports character appearance customization. These details are from PlayStation’s official product FAQ.
Who is Rise of the Ronin for?
Rise of the Ronin is a better fit for players drawn to deliberate action combat, weapon and stance choices, and an open-world historical setting than for those seeking a uniformly polished world or a stealth-first adventure. Its combat systems are the most consistently praised part of the reviewed coverage; its exploration has appealing scope, but reviewers also identify repetition and presentation issues.
PS5 buyers can weigh the launch-review observations about visual roughness and pop-in. PC buyers should account for PC Gamer’s report of erratic performance in its reviewed build, while recognizing that it does not establish performance across all hardware or later patches. The available evidence supports those separate cautions, not a definitive platform-versus-platform verdict.
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