Rise of the Rōnin
A third collaboration between Sony and Team Ninja set in Bakumatsu-era Japan.
Rise of the Rōnin is a 2024 action-role playing game from Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja, published on PlayStation 5 by Sony Interactive Entertainment and on Windows by Koei Tecmo. It marks the third joint project between Sony and Koei Tecmo, following the two *Nioh* titles. Critics gave the game generally positive reviews at launch.
Players begin by designing a custom character. Combat draws on a range of weapons from the Boshin war era, including katanas and period firearms. Key story moments let players choose sides—allying with or fighting against certain non-player characters—which alters the narrative. The game world includes the historic cities of Yokohama, Kyoto, and Edo, plus rural areas. Travel options include a horse, a grappling hook, and a glider. Three difficulty levels are available, along with a cooperative multiplayer mode for up to three players.
The story takes place in Yokohama, Edo, and Kyoto during the Bakumatsu period—the final years of the Edo period in the mid-19th century. It depicts the lead-up to the Boshin war, a conflict between the Tokugawa Shogunate and anti-shogunate factions angered by Western influence after Japan's forced reopening following the Sakoku isolation policy.
Players control the Blade Twins, whose genders are chosen by the player. They belong to the Veiled Edge resistance group after their family, the Kurozuku clan, was murdered by shogunate oniwaban for holding anti-shogunate views. Trained by the Veiled Edge's leader, the Bladesmith, the twins set out to overthrow the Shogunate.
In 1853, the Bladesmith sends the twins to assassinate Commodore Matthew Perry and steal a secret message. They get the message but fail to kill Perry when another assassin, the Blue Demon, intervenes. One twin escapes while the other sacrifices themselves to cover the getaway, leaving the survivor as the Protagonist. After shogunate oniwaban attack the Veiled Edge's village, the Protagonist believes their partner is still alive and deserts the group to search for them. The Bladesmith forces a duel to the death; the Protagonist wins, and the Bladesmith dies wishing them luck.
In 1858, the Protagonist reaches Yokohama and befriends the wandering ronin Ryoma Sakamoto. Japan's social order is in chaos from the Perry Expedition and growing Western influence.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Rise of the Rōnin
- Developer
- Team NinjaAdditional work by PlayStation Studios XDev
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment · Koei Tecmo (Windows)
- Director
- Fumihiko Yasuda
- Producer
- Fumihiko Yasuda · Edward Saito
- Programmer
- Tetsuya Nagayama · Yutaro Takahashi
- Writer
- Jesse Noble
- Composer
- Inon Zur
- Artist
- Soma Yokoi · Nozomi Furuta · Hiroyuki Kato
- Engine
- Katana Engine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows
- Released
- PlayStation 5 · 22 March 2024 · Windows · 11 March 2025
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Rise of the Rōnin is set in Yokohama, Edo and Kyoto during the mid-19th century Bakumatsu period, the final years of the Edo period. The game depicts the leadup to the Boshin war between the Tokugawa Shogunate and various anti-shogunate factions displeased with Western influence after Japan's forced reopening following the Sakoku period. The story follows the Blade Twins, whose genders are selected by the player, and their involvement in the Veiled Edge resistance group after their family, the Kurozuku clan, was murdered by oniwaban working for the Shogunate due to the clan's anti-shogunate ideology. Trained by the Veiled Edge's leader, the Bladesmith, the Blade Twins begin their mission to overthrow the Shogunate.
Development on Rise of the Rōnin started in 2015, with PlayStation Studios' XDev assisting. Team Ninja president Fumihiko Yasuda stated they wanted to create a game depicting Japan in its darkest times, citing the Bakumatsu period as an era video games would 'shy away from'. The setting lent itself to their expertise due to their experience with ninja and samurai games such as Ninja Gaiden and Nioh. Yasuda called Rise of the Rōnin the most ambitious project Team Ninja has developed, noting that developing an open world title was a particular challenge as they had only developed linear, level-based games until then. Film director Keishi Ōtomo, known for his work on the Rurouni Kenshin film series, served as the Opening and Real-Time Cinematics director.
Reader's Guide
Rise of the Rōnin represents Team Ninja's most ambitious project, marking their first open-world title after a history of linear, level-based games. The game allows players to create a custom character and features a wide array of weapons common during the Boshin war, such as katanas and various firearms. Story choices at key moments allow players to side with or fight against various non-player characters, affecting the narrative. The player can explore historic cities Yokohama, Kyoto and Edo, as well as countryside areas, traversing by horse, grappling hook, or glider. The game includes the ability to swap between three difficulties and a three-player cooperative multiplayer mode.
The plot follows the surviving Blade Twin after their partner sacrifices themselves during an assassination attempt on Commodore Matthew Perry. The protagonist deserts the Veiled Edge to search for their partner, now known as the Demonclaw Samurai, and becomes entangled in the political turmoil of the Bakumatsu period, interacting with historical figures such as Ryoma Sakamoto, Shoin Yoshida, Naosuke Ii, and Yoshinobu Tokugawa. The story culminates in the Boshin War, with the protagonist ultimately confronting the Blade Twin and choosing to spare or execute them. A post-credits cutscene shows the two running into each other in New York City if the player saves Ryoma and spares the Blade Twin. The game received generally positive reviews from critics upon release.
Did You Know?
- The game is the third collaboration between Sony and Koei Tecmo after Nioh and its sequel.
- The game features a three-player cooperative multiplayer mode.
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