9 best games to play like Rise of the Ronin
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Last updated
10th May 2024 15:22
Rise of the Ronin transports players to 19th-century Japan to explore an open world, and if you've already finished the game, you may be on the lookout for another dose of open-world fun.
Team Ninja is renowned for making challenging games with a focus on exciting combat, and this time around, traversal too. The games listed below, at the very least, capture some of the essence of what makes Rise of the Ronin the great game that it is.
How I chose the best games like Rise of the Ronin
When choosing these games, I've considered what's present in Team Ninja's previous titles, which is that they often feature a satisfying challenge, otherwordly bosses, and environments that are worth exploring.
On top of this, after putting some serious time into Rise of the Ronin, there are a few games I was reminded of during my playthrough.
Best games like Rise of the Ronin
9 - Trek to Yomi
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Subscription Service: N/A
- Release date: 2022
- Key features:
- Black and white visuals inspired by Kurosawa
- A learning curve to the combat
- A bite-size experience
Trek to Yomi is likely the most different game on this list with its side-scrolling perspective, but for fans of the Japanese setting in video games, it has everything you'd want in spades. Its black and white visuals, film grain, and stage-like scenes give it the air of a classic Samurai film - and sucks you in very quickly.
The combat has a learning curve that means it can take some getting used to, but eventually you'll understand the fluidity of how it all works. It's a fantastic smaller experience if you don't have the time to invest in some of the other games here. Check out our review if you still need convincing.
8 - Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Subscription Service: Xbox Game Pass
- Release date: 2023
- Key features:
- Mythological Chinese setting
- Tough boss encounters
- Focus on parry and counters
Team Ninja clearly fell in love with Soulslikes, as it has a fair few titles that take obvious inspiration from the genre. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is one of these that takes place during a fictionalised version of the Han Dynasty, where demonic qi has corrupted the people and creatures of the lands.
If you've played Nioh you can get an idea of what the game is like, but its combat feels closer to Sekiro than anything else, with a bigger focus on parrying, counters, and deflecting attacks until you can hit the perfect strike.
7- Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Subscription Service: Xbox Game Pass
- Release date: 2017
- Key features:
- Ghost powers are very fun
- The brilliant Nemesis System
- Arguably one of the few good Lord of the Rings games
The similarities with Middle Earth: Shadow of War are largely structural, particularly in how the open world is laid out and they way you interact with it. But if you're looking for an open world to explore with interesting lore, then look no further than Shadow of War. Also, the Nemesis System is still one of the very best things in games.
6 - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Subscription Service: EA Play Ultimate
- Release date: 2023
- Key features:
- One of the best Star Wars stories in years
- Rich worlds to explore
- Variety of combat stances
Both Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - and its predecessor Fallen Order, if you’ve not played it - may feel a bit out of place on this list, but you’d be surprised at the similarities. Rise of the Ronin focuses on detailed combat, using different stances for different jobs, much like Survivor does.
Unsurprisingly, it works incredibly well - with lightsaber combat suited perfectly to the conscious action of the Soulslike genre that Team Ninja has continued to iterate on.
5 - Nioh 2
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
- Subscription Service: N/A
- Release date: 2020
- Key features:
- Satisfying gameplay
- Varied stance-based combat
- Unique Japanese settings, aesthetics and bosses
Bringing the Ninja Gaiden flair to the Dark Souls formula, Nioh 2 is easily a top pick to play after finishing Rise of the Ronin because each game's combat shares some similarities.
You'll have to balance three different stances and the unique Ki pulse system to overcome Nioh 2's toughest challenges, and it's certainly not for the faint of heart or mind. What helps the game stand out, on top of the aforementioned stances, is the environments you explore along the way.
4 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Subscription Service: N/A
- Release date: 2019
- Key features:
- Enjoyable traversal and stealth
- Fast, enjoyable combat
- Some of the best boss designs you will see anywhere
As is to be expected, there's plenty of challenge in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but featuring a more straightforward narrative than you can expect from other games in the genre. Unlike Rise of the Ronin, Sekiro does not feature an open world, but still has huge areas to explore utilising the expertly designed traversal and punishing combat.
3 - Elden Ring
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Subscription Service: N/A
- Release date: 2022
- Key features:
- Challenging boss fights
- Deep lore and world to explore
- Varied combat with weapons, spells and more
Elden Ring truly feels like everything FromSofware has been working towards is encapsulated within a single game, with the move to an open world at the heart of its success. Rise of the Ronin was also a move to an open world for Team Ninja much like Elden Ring was for the developers, so there are plenty of similarities here.
There are more bosses than you can shake a stick at, a rich world to get lost in, and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on the horizon. Despite the challenge, it'll keep you coming back for more, and is FromSoftware’s magnum opus.
2 - Assassin's Creed Origins
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Subscription Service: PlayStation Plus Extra, Xbox Game Pass, Ubisoft Plus Premium
- Release date: 2017
- Key features:
- Fascinating setting
- Assassin's Creed's first game in this style
- Shows the origin of the Assassin's
Rise of the Ronin is very similar to the most recent, more RPG-style Assassin's Creed games. So it comes down to which one takes your fancy. Your choices are Egypt, Greece, or sunny old England. The reason why I've chosen Origins for this list is because, out of the three, this game is by far the most manageable and, in my opinion, boasts the strongest story out of the three.
What is the best game like Rise of the Ronin?
1- Ghost of Tsushima
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
- Subscription Service: N/A
- Release date: 2020
- Key features:
- Brutal combat
- Enjoyable blend of stealth and combat
- One of the prettiest open-worlds in games
Ghost of Tsushima does an amazing job of creating an open world that is not only incredibly moreish to explore but also unbelievably atmospheric. It has some of the same verticality we've seen in Rise of the Ronin and looks amazing too.
Placing stealth at the forefront of your exploration in its in-depth open world will have you exploring in unique ways, whilst trying to sneak past the different enemies. Ghost also delivers a detailed version of Japan but in a much earlier setting than Rise of the Ronin.
Check out our lists homepage for more game recommendations. We've also covered the best Xbox Game Pass games, the best Steam Deck games, the best games like Elden Ring, and the best games like Baldur's Gate 3.
