7 best games to play like Rise of the Ronin
Rise of the Ronin is here, transporting players to 19th-century Japan to explore an open world. 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 I've listed below, at the very least, capture some of the essence of what makes Rise of the Ronin the game it is.
How I chose the best games like Rise of the Ronin
When choosing these games, I considered what I know from 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
7- Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Click to enlargeMiddle Earth: Shadow of War details & key features:
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One PC
- Subscription Service: N/A
- Release date: 2017
- Key features:
- Ghost powers are very fun
- Nemesis System
- One of the few good Lord of the Rings games
The similarities here are largely structural with how the open world is laid out and how you interact with it. However, 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 enlargeStar Wars Jedi: Survivor details & key features:
- 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.
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 enlargeNioh 2 details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC (Steam)
- 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 one of the best games you can play after finishing Rise of the Ronin because the combat shares similarities.
You'll have to balance three different stances and the unique Ki pulse system to overcome Nioh 2's toughest challenges, and it is 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, 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 is plenty of challenge here but 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 enlargeElden Ring details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, 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 have 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.
There are more bosses than you can shake a stick at, a rich world to get lost in and despite the challenge, it will keep you coming back for more. It is FromSoftware’s magnum opus.
2 - Assassin's Creed Origins
Click to enlargeAssassin's Creed Origins details & key features
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Subscription Service: PlayStation Plus | Xbox Game Pass
- Release date: 2017
- Key features:
- Fascinating setting
- 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 also boasts the strongest story of the three.
What is the best game like Rise of the Ronin?
1- Ghost of Tsushima
Click to enlargeGhost of Tsushima details & key features
- Platforms: PS5, PS4
- Subscription Service: PlayStation Plus
- 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.
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