Stuff Verdict

Maybe not an open-world game changer, but Rise of the Ronin is a fun blend of accessible action and ancient history

Pros

Breathtaking visuals

Solid combat with different ways to approach and tweaking difficulty

Great cast of bond characters

Cons

Design limitations around traversing open world

Very limited online co-op

When it comes to samurai action games, PlayStation gamers are spoiled for choice. Rise of the Ronin is the most expansive yet. It’s not a Ghost of Tsushima sequel – and don’t mistake it for Ubisoft’s upcoming Japan-set Assassin’s Creed entry, despite it also offering a slice of historical tourism set during the country’s mid-to-late 19th century period of political upheaval.

It’s arguably something better, as Team Ninja has delivered the sort of open-world scale and attention to detail usually reserved for Western-developed blockbusters. The excellent but tough-as-nails combat seen in the Japanese developer’s Nioh series has also been given a more approachable spin, for those who found themselves hopeless against those games’ hardcore demands.