10 Biggest Differences Between Rise Of The Ronin & Ghost Of Tsushima

From the moment Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin was announced in 2022, the comparisons to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima were inevitable. Although both of these games are set in Japan, there are far more differences than similarities between them. There’s plenty of fun to be had in Rise of the Ronin for those that enjoyed Ghost of Tsushima, but going in expecting an identical experience will only lead to disappointment.

Comparing the two games, especially with such irrefutable, surface-level parallels, is ultimately unsurprising. Yes, Rise of the Ronin and Ghost of Tsushima are two samurai RPGs, but the similarities stop there. It doesn’t take long after playing Rise of the Ronin to realize just how different it is from Ghost of Tsushima, and as the game progresses, more discrepancies become glaringly obvious.

10

The Armor Systems Are Incomparable

Era And Setting: From Samurai To Ronin

One of the most immediately noticeable differences between Rise of the Ronin and Ghost of Tsushima is the armor and gear system. In Ghost of Tsushima, there are 11 armor sets in total, not including the new armor in the Iki Island expansion. Most sets of armor offer distinct, active abilities to improve either stealth, exploration, or combat that can be upgraded three times, and all headgear such as masks and hats are purely cosmetic.

Gear in Rise of the Ronin offers more passive abilities, like increased damage and health, and pieces such as headgear and boots can also be mixed and matched to create more aesthetic combinations. There are also considerably more sets of armor and outfits in Rise of the Ronin than Ghost of Tsushima – more than 50 in the former compared to 11 in the latter. Overall, Ghost of Tsushima prioritizes quality over quantity, with fewer pieces of gear but each one able to accompany entirely different play styles.

9

Rise Of The Ronin Has Bonds And Factions

Character Creation: Forge Your Own Ronin

Ghost of Tsushima‘s main story is compelling but largely straightforward, featuring only one major choice at the end of the game. However, in Rise of the Ronin, there are two factions which influence the story through different characters loyal to each faction. Spending time with these characters improves bonds and yields rewards such as skill points and gear.

This is one element where Rise of the Ronin shines in comparison to Ghost of Tsushima. The ability to make choices and side with different factions increases replayability by ensuring no two playthroughs are the same. Players must be cautious and thorough when making faction-related decisions in Rise of the Ronin; these choices have the potential to either alienate some characters and make allies out of others.

8

Rise Of The Ronin Is Set During A Different Era

Factions and Bonds: Choose Your Allegiance

This is the most important thing to note for those going into Rise of the Ronin expecting something similar to Ghost of Tsushima: there is roughly a 600-year gap between when these two games are set, with RotR taking place in the late 1800s and GoT set during 1274. This is a direct causality for many of the game’s other large differences, such as weapon diversity and map discrepancies.

During the period in which Ghost of Tsushima is set, there’s only one goal: work with the people of Tsushima island to drive away the invading Mongol forces. Rise of the Ronin‘s story is much more layered and complex, detailing major political shifts in Japan as the country began to look upon the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate less favorably. Strictly speaking in terms of time frames, Rise of the Ronin feels more comparable to Red Dead Redemption 2 than Ghost of Tsushima.

7

Rise Of The Ronin Has A Character Creator

Combat Evolved: A Different Dance of Death

A character creator isn’t new to Team Ninja games, but it’s both a blessing and a curse. In Ghost of Tsushima, the main character is Jin Sakai, a samurai who lost his parents at a young age and was taken under his uncle, Lord Shimura’s, wing. There is no way to change Jin’s physical appearance, even with basic features like beard and hair customization, something Jedi: Survivor‘s Cal Kestis inherited in his most recent game.

In Rise of the Ronin, players have the choice to customize every part of their character from facial structure to tattoos. It’s undeniably cool to have so much agency over the main character’s appearance, but it does affect the ability to attach and resonate with them on a personal level. The main character in Rise of the Ronin doesn’t really have an identity, outside of being a Veiled Edge Twin, making it tough to stack up to Ghost of Tsushima‘s beloved protagonist, Jin Sakai.

6

The Main Character Doesn’t Speak In Rise Of The Ronin

Weapon Variety: Expanding Your Arsenal

Another feature that makes it difficult to relate to the main character in Rise of the Ronin is the fact that they rarely speak, neither in integral story cutscenes nor less important side quests. This isn’t some conscious choice to have the primary protagonist be overtly stoic and never speak for the sake of the story. The main character has plenty of conversations, but similar to Skyrim, the dialogue model has the player selecting their character’s words from text options.

Meanwhile, Jin Sakai actor Daisuke Tsuji delivers some poignant and powerful lines in Ghost of Tsushima, particularly in the game’s third act. What makes this choice in Rise of the Ronin even more head-scratching is that there is an entire portion of the character creator dedicated to adjusting the voice. It’s a bit counterproductive to be able to change the main character’s voice, even to the level of altering the pitch, just for grunting in fights.

5

There Are More Weapons In Rise Of The Ronin

Co-Op Samurai: Fight Alongside Allies

Where Ghost of Tsushima features only two weapons, the katana and tanto, Rise of the Ronin has 10. Even so, the tanto in Ghost of Tsushima isn’t used for anything besides stealth assassinations and doesn’t offer a different play style. There is also an entirely new arsenal of ranged combat in Rise of the Ronin, which is largely thanks to the 600-year time jump.

Rise of the Ronin has 10 different weapon styles: Katana, Spear, Paired Swords, Odachi, Saber, Polearm, Bayonet, Greatsword, Oxtail Blade, and Fists. There are also revolvers and rifles, which aren’t nearly as effective as the classic bow and arrow, but are still fun to use. Weapon types also feature progression of up to 25 levels, which unlock new stances and passive bonuses at each level.

4

Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Has A Different Feel

Traversal Revolution: Glide, Grapple, And Explore

Even when using the same weapon, such as a katana in Rise of the Ronin, the combat still has a distinctly different flow. Ghost of Tsushima is much more forgiving, even on higher difficulties; enemies are easier to parry and weaknesses open up more frequently. Ghost of Tsushima also has standoffs, which are a way to open a fight by taking out several enemies each with a swing swipe of the blade.

Combat in Rise of the Ronin is much more challenging to grasp. It revolves around carefully timed Countersparks, or parries, in quick succession to deplete an enemy’s Ki, or stamina. Depleting an enemy’s Ki will open them up for a critical hit, similar to the Perfect Parry in Ghost of Tsushima. Many enemies in Ghost of Tsushima can often be killed with a single parry and strike, a foreign concept in Rise of the Ronin.

3

Rise Of The Ronin Has Co-Op Story

A World Apart: Unique Map Design

Ghost of Tsushima does have Legends mode, which has changed a lot since launch and offers “a cooperative multiplayer experience inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology,” according to its official description. However, this mode is entirely separate from the main story, which must be experienced alone. In Rise of the Ronin, players can tackle campaign missions with up to three other players.

Moving the same character in and out of single-player and co-op is an appealing feature. Rise of the Ronin‘s missions are much easier to wrangle with different play styles on the team, whether in the form of bonded allies or online friends. Another interesting feature of note is that players can switch to the other characters to experience their move set and weapon when playing missions solo but with computer characters as allies.

2

Rise Of The Ronin’s Map Plays Differently

Silent Protagonist: A Story Through Actions

Similar to the addition of firearms, the differences between Rise of the Ronin and Ghost of Tsushima‘s map can be traced back to the gap in eras. Rise of the Ronin‘s map is much more urban, largely thanks to the many advancements made in the 600 years between games. There are even several massive, densely populated cities in Team Ninja’s newest game, compared to just a few heavily inhabited castles and estates in Ghost of Tsushima.

The three portions of Ghost of Tsushima‘s map, Izuhara, Toyotama, and Kamiagata, are all directly connected; it’s possible to cross from one side of the island to another without fast travel. Rise of the Ronin has three areas in Yokohama, Edo, and Kyoto, but these are separate. Where Rise of the Ronin leans more into cities and urban developments, Ghost of Tsushima opts for a more nature-heavy environment with beautiful colors and biomes.

1

Rise Of The Ronin Has A Glider

Armored Up: A Shift In Defense

Another technological advancement that isn’t quite realistic for the times, but is still a blast to use, is the Glider. Rise of the Ronin is a very vertical map; there are many areas which require the player to climb to the top of a building elsewhere, and glide off to reach a treasure chest or other valuables. It’s also a useful tool in combat, as enemies can be assassinated directly from above.

There is no traversal method comparable to the Glider in Ghost of Tsushima. The only means of expediting transport is a horse, which is helpful, but throws a wet towel over the best parts of the game. The Ghost of Tsushima experience is defined by taking plenty of time to travel and enjoying the game’s many stunning landscapes.

Those who enjoy samurai content have plenty to be excited about in 2024, with Rise of the Ronin releasing around the same time the highly acclaimed series, Shōgun. It’s easy to compare Team Ninja’s latest effort to Ghost of Tsushima, but both games should be appreciated for their originality. At the end of the day, there’s plenty to love in Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin, despite the many differences between them.