Rise of the Ronin

Japan in upheaval

Released on 22 March 2024 on PS5, then in March 2025 on PC (10 March 2025 according to Steam), Rise of the Ronin is set during the Bakumatsu, at the end of the Edo period, as Japan opens up to Western powers. Players take on the role of a ronin in an open world, with the demanding combat the Nioh studio is known for.

What the press says

Reviews are mixed on PS5. Push Square (6/10) likes a deep combat system, the Bonds system, the culture clash and the difficulty and accessibility options, but finds the open world dated, the story uninteresting, the visuals poor and the frame rate unstable. GamesRadar+ (3.5/5) praises the varied combat and plenty to explore, while regretting repetition and rough visuals. VGC (3/5) highlights Team Ninja's combat and the unique Bakumatsu setting, but criticises pointless open-world fluff, poor visuals and a derivative design.

Editions and prices

Checked on 12 November 2026: on the PlayStation Store the PS5 game is on sale at €39.99 instead of €79.99 until 21 November 2026, and the Special Digital Edition costs €89.99. On Steam, the PC version costs €49.99. It is also included in PlayStation Plus, which is not counted here.

Who is it for?

Fans of Team Ninja combat and historical Japan who can accept a conventional open world. Players expecting a polished, cinematic adventure may be disappointed.

Press average

The score block above shows the press average calculated from original reviews of the PS5 version, checked on 12 November 2026: Push Square 6/10, GamesRadar+ 3.5/5 and VGC 3/5. Each score is converted to /20 and averaged with equal weight. The PC version is not covered. This summary is not a hands-on review.