Rise of the Ronin follows the resounding success of Senua’s Sacrifice: Hellblade and the iconic Devil May Cry franchise and marks the very first open-world game by acclaimed development studio, Ninja Theory. With titles such as Ghost of Tshushima, Sifu, and Nioh (1 and 2) to contend with, something special is going to have to be pulled from their seemingly bottomless bag of tricks.

Rise of the Ronin will Take Place Against a Backdrop Depicting the Political Turmoil of 19th-century Japan

Rise of the Ronin will transport you into 19th-century Japan as you step into the world of a samurai going – as the name suggests – by Ronin. With no allegiance to tie him down and keep him in one place, the protagonist wanders the lands as his country sits under a blanket of political unrest that marked the coming of the USA, way back in 1853, some 200 years after our first arrival.

The arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry’s Black Warships forced Japan to end their Feudal System and to be governed by Western leaders. The events of mid-nineteenth-century Japan let to political angst amongst the people of Japan.

Rise of the Ronin is set at the heart of the civil unrest and follows the three samurai factions that thought hard for their country during this harrowing conflict. I’m hoping that the game will not only be a narrative-driven adventure, but to also offer an education on some of the stories that were weaved during this time.

The Three Factions of Rise of the Ronin

At some point in the game you will be forced to make the difficult decision on what faction appeals to you the most. If you’re anything like me and can’t even decide what socks you want to wear in the morning, you’ll appreciate a little insight, a forewarning on the choices you will be called upon to make when it comes to it, so here’s a little information about each of the factions.

The Sabaku

Supporting the Tokugawa Shogunate’s Feudal System, The Sabaku have been active since the battle of Sekigahara in the year 1600. Perhaps the faction’s most notorious of members, iiNaosuke who assisted with Western trade and became known by his foes as “The Red Demon of Li”.

The Tokugawa

The Tokugawa are in direct opposition of the Tokugawa Shogunate and instead seek to restore political authority to the Emporor. The Tokugawa faction was home to Ryoma Sakamoto, a skilled swordman who strived to unify anti-Shogunate splinter cells.

The Obei

The Obei represented Western powers during the Bakumatsu era and aimed to end the isolation of Japan through trade. Crucial to this faction was Commodore Matthew Perry, who first initiated the conflict when he navigated his Black Ships to Japan under the orders of his president.

The World of Rise of the Ronin

Ninja Theory’s first open world game will take place across three of Japan’s major cities, alongside the country’s vibrant and beautiful countryside. Stretching across a huge 27 square kilometres, the game will include Edo, Kyoto and Yokohama, with each city being connected to one of the aforementioned factions.

To traverse both urban cities and rural landscapes, players will be gifted with some navigational tools: a birds-shaped glider (à la Link’s Awakening from the Zelda franchise), a grappling hook to ascend buildings and reach those tucked away areas and a horse on which to explore the sprawling countryside regions.

Rise of the Ronin – Combat

With the game’s premise surrounding the Samurai, it’s fair to assume that katanas, sai, spears and bows will be the order of the day, as Ninja Theory prepare to once again wow us with another of their famously fluid combat systems. With the storyline featuring the Western invasion, it’s also safe to say that Western weapons such as firearms will predominantly feature in Rise of the Ronin.

Rise of the Ronin will be a PlayStation Exclusive

After almost 8 years in development, Rise of the Ronin is set to release on March 22, 2024. Sadly, it has been confirmed that the game will be a PlayStation 5 exclusive, extinguishing any hope of it one day coming to Xbox Game Pass, or even made available to Xbox, PC and even PS4 owners.

Rise of the Ronin – Summary

I’ve always been a fan of narrative-driven games that offer an insight into some of history’s most notable events, so Rise of the Ronin was always going to appeal to me. However, it’s the fact that this is Ninja Theory’s first open world title that has both piqued my interest and stirred my curiosity.