RONIN

Be a vengeance-fuelled, motorcycle-riding, katana-wielding, physics-defying badass.

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"RONIN" is a single-player thriller platformer game with outstanding gameplay, delightful graphics, and an excellent soundtrack, despite some bugs. As a vengeful heroine, players must carefully plan and execute strikes to take down five powerful corporation figures across fifteen complex missions, utilizing turn-based action, decisive strikes, and various gadgets. With its distinctive atmosphere and blend of humor, "RONIN" promises a unique and thrilling experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,850 reviews

gameplay276 positive mentions

stability76 negative mentions

Unique blend of turn-based combat and platforming mechanics that feels fresh and engaging.
Stylish visuals and a great soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
Satisfying gameplay that rewards strategic planning and execution, making players feel like a badass ninja.

Controls can be frustratingly imprecise, leading to unexpected deaths and a reliance on trial and error.
The game lacks a compelling story, with minimal narrative elements that fail to engage players.
The final level has no checkpoints, making it unnecessarily punishing and frustrating for players.

gameplay
829 mentions
33 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Ronin" is a mixed bag, featuring a unique blend of turn-based combat and stealth mechanics that can be both rewarding and frustrating. While the core mechanics are innovative and can lead to satisfying moments of strategy and action, many players report issues with clunky controls, inconsistent mechanics, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential, the game often feels unrefined, leading to a gameplay experience that can be enjoyable but is frequently marred by technical flaws and design choices.
- “It has an amazing soundtrack and gameplay that feels rewarding no matter if you choose the stealthy assassin gameplay or go in guns blazing.”
- “The gameplay concept was interesting and the aesthetic embodied some of my favorite clichés of the genre.”
- “Fun and challenging gameplay.”
- “It makes some questionable choices when it comes to the core game loop, sacrificing parts of it in favor of less exciting mechanics.”
- “The gameplay has numerous issues with poor signaling in a 1-shot kill game (jumps don't go where they say they will, blurry lines about whether a shot will hit you or not, etc), while also failing to provide enough tools for the player to effectively find their own solution in combat.”
- “The game feels shabbily thrown together, where the main movement and fighting mechanics left me guessing whether my character was going to decide if they wanted to actually jump through a platform, or stand completely still, get gunned down, and force me to restart the fight I'd been spending 10 minutes on.”
story
535 mentions
15 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimalistic and largely serves as a backdrop for gameplay, focusing on a straightforward revenge narrative with little character development or depth. Many players noted that the plot is poorly presented, often consisting of brief text snippets before missions, leaving them feeling disconnected from the protagonist's motivations. While some appreciated the simplicity and found it sufficient for the gameplay experience, others criticized the lack of a compelling narrative, suggesting that it detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The story is simple but well-told for what it is, and the gameplay has just enough variation to keep you learning throughout the whole playthrough.”
- “The story in Ronin is a straightforward revenge mission with not a lot new to say, and I like that the game really owns that.”
- “A brilliant concept that shines confidence and precision in every aspect - the minimal storytelling puts you into the action immediately while still making the stakes clear.”
- “The story is minimal and practically nonexistent, serving as a pretense to the levels and progression in the game.”
- “Story is horrendous, there's absolutely no build-up as to why the protagonist is fighting these bosses.”
- “I can't help but feel like the game is unfinished; both endings are literally just a picture with no story or flavor text to go with them.”
music
246 mentions
46 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and standout tracks that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay, others criticize it for being repetitive and forgettable at times. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its ambiance and enjoyment.
- “The strongest part of this game is easily the soundtrack.”
- “I actually really like Ronin's soundtrack and the overall atmosphere of the game, and there is definitely a rewarding sense of satisfaction that shines through when the mechanics operate in harmony.”
- “The music found within Ronin fits with the style of the game perfectly and really adds to the atmosphere within the game!”
- “The music is too minimal, and gets old in less than an hour.”
- “Music, like most games, bores you quickly.”
- “On a similar note, the soundtrack suffers from this repetition.”
graphics
206 mentions
46 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simple yet appealing art style reminiscent of early 2000s indie games, with influences from titles like Gunpoint and Mark of the Ninja. While many players appreciate the clean, comic book-like visuals and atmospheric design, some report technical issues and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received, contributing positively to the game's ambiance, despite some criticisms regarding depth and execution.
- “They remind me a lot of the cell-shaded Newgrounds-era art style that a lot of indie games in the 2000s used, and it's pulled off exceptionally well here.”
- “Ronin is an action game with elegant stylized graphics and a somber revenge theme, which, to be played successfully, does not require the tedious honing of your mouse-clicking skills, but simple yet challenging strategical thought.”
- “The graphics are simple but fun, and well executed.”
- “Within the first hour of playtime, it managed to crash my graphics card (which made me restart the computer) and after a while forced the entire system to reboot.”
- “The aesthetic of a biker slaughtering goons with a katana is awesome, but the paper cutout look doesn't look good no matter what you do with it.”
- “Graphics won't dazzle you with any glorious details, but this is more like a feature for this kind of game.”
stability
78 mentions
4 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, including inconsistent movement mechanics and unreliable jump trajectories. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, many report frustrating moments where glitches hinder progress, making the game feel clunky and unpolished. Frequent checkpoints help mitigate the frustration, but overall, the stability of the game remains a major concern for players.
- “Even though it is in early access, this game feels like a finished product that is as bug-free as they come nowadays.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive, making it a reliable experience despite being in early access.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the game is; it runs smoothly without any major issues.”
- “A buggy and frustrating mess.”
- “The gameplay leaves little room for error, and buggy controls make for a bittersweet experience that relies a bit more on luck than on skill, and it's upsetting when that happens.”
- “It starts well enough but as soon as the gameplay systems are put to the test after the first few levels you'll find yourself completely stonewalled by buggy and inconsistent visual feedback and behavior until you wish the game had been released on disc, so you could break it properly.”
humor
40 mentions
90 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it amusing, particularly in the context of clunky mechanics and unexpected moments, while others feel it falls flat and becomes annoying, especially with repetitive hints that detract from the experience. Many comparisons are made to the game "Gunpoint," with critiques suggesting that it lacks the same level of wit and polish. Overall, while there are moments of humor, they are often overshadowed by frustrations with gameplay mechanics.
- “The game's humorous hint, "this is not a stealth game."”
- “While the gameplay might be very reminiscent of Gunpoint (which the game humorously points out through one of its hints), the main character has made peace with killing everyone involved, so go nuts.”
- “Jump next to the window, then jump away and watch him hilariously throw himself out of the building to fall to his death after hitting some electrified wires.”
- “And constantly popping up 'hint: you can't turn off these hints' is not funny, it's just annoying.”
- “Another unfunny hint screen: 'the jump arc is a lie.'”
atmosphere
38 mentions
74 % positive mentions
16 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Ronin is generally praised for its strong soundtrack and stylish graphics, which effectively create a captivating and immersive experience. However, some players feel that technical issues, such as poor checkpointing and controls, can detract from the overall ambiance. Despite these criticisms, many reviewers appreciate the game's unique aesthetic and the way its music enhances the gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, and the Samurai Jack-style art suits the game perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack does some real heavy lifting as well, making a fantastic atmosphere!”
- “A rather unique game along the lines of Gunpoint, it's incredibly atmospheric and has a really standout soundtrack.”
- “For example, the atmosphere is ruined several times due to bad checkpointing and needing to wait about 5-7 seconds for the game to re-load after you die.”
- “Ronin has little to no story and no atmosphere as it bets on good gameplay, and it's not a bad bet... gameplay has some good ideas and I would have really enjoyed it... if it weren't completely ruined by horrific controls.”
- “I actually really like Ronin's soundtrack and the overall atmosphere of the game, and there is definitely a rewarding sense of satisfaction that shines through when the mechanics operate in harmony.”
replayability
38 mentions
21 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it fun and addictive enough to return to, many criticize its limited depth and short length, resulting in minimal replay value. Although there are multiple ways to approach levels and a New Game+ mode, the lack of content and variety in gameplay options detracts from its overall replayability. A level editor could enhance this aspect significantly, but as it stands, the game offers only decent replayability.
- “The game has a lot of potential regarding replayability, with every level containing multiple ways to finish, different approaches regarding combat and abilities you can unlock; there are a lot of options to explore.”
- “The levels are well laid out, and while the game is short, the new game plus and good and bad endings offer a lot of replayability.”
- “It has a lot of replay value; I replayed it three times.”
- “I enjoyed it the first time around; I felt great and enjoyed the art, but it has very little replayability. New Game+ is all RNG and the lines don't represent machine gun spread.”
- “I loved this game and finished everything I could in it, but there isn't much replayability in it.”
- “Cons - level design is too simple, the game is way too short, the detection system is just facepalm, the turn-based mechanic may seem cool but I find it weird and not fun to play, replay value is close to zero.”
grinding
32 mentions
3 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many citing a lack of meaningful checkpoints that force them to repeat monotonous sections. The difficulty spikes early on, compounded by inconsistent combat mechanics and a poorly designed UI, leading to a gameplay experience that feels like a slog rather than an engaging challenge. Overall, the game’s potential is overshadowed by its repetitive and tiresome grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I realize that I am writing from 2022, with all the hindsight entitled to that, but having just 100% this game, I think I am fully qualified to talk about what a frustrating, broken, and tedious mess this game is.”
- “The late levels ramp up difficulty by giving you fewer checkpoints so you have to repeat the tedious parts before you can retry the challenging parts, and that is, well, tedious.”
- “There is nothing in this but tedious and tiresome levels featuring more enemy spam with a terrible save system and no story at all.”
optimization
14 mentions
57 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues that hinder gameplay, such as long loading times and a lack of effective checkpoints. While the turn-based combat system is praised for its design and smoothness on various platforms, the lack of controller support and the prevalence of luck over skill detract from the overall experience. Despite its unique concept, these optimization flaws have rendered the game unplayable for some users.
- “The game is great and runs smoothly on almost everything.”
- “Very good idea behind the game and for the most part it works very well; not really a platformer by any means but the turn-based combat is very well thought out and runs smoothly.”
- “The game's concept is unique and interesting, but performance issues, long loading times between quick deaths, and a lack of checkpoints that can be loaded after you quit the game all bog it down.”
- “The developer just dropped a game with rampant performance issues, rendering it unplayable and ruining an otherwise really fun combat system and concept.”
- “The game concept is great; I would really love to play this game with a controller from my sofa, watching it on the TV, but the controller doesn't seem to be optimized, making it impossible to play with.”
- “The suggestions can't be deactivated, and the developer even made a joke about it, living off games that are more performance-friendly and actually playable, like Gunpoint (yes, he made a joke about it too).”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting a mix of cleverness and satisfaction in gameplay, particularly in combat scenarios. However, some also note frustration in the latter part of the game, which dampens their overall experience despite an impactful emotional twist at the end. Overall, the game elicits a range of feelings, from joy and cleverness to regret and frustration.
- “It has an emotional twist at the end which I will not spoil.”
- “I wholesomely regret having not played it before the refund window closed.”
- “This game made me feel clever for taking out enemies before a fight, talented for balancing my position amid the crossfire, and cool for being a ninja.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in "Ronin" draws strong inspiration from Tarantino's "Kill Bill," with users praising the cool character design and rough concept. However, there is no mention of deeper character arcs or growth, suggesting a focus primarily on aesthetics rather than narrative depth.
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the monetization model, noting that the character leveling system is challenging yet rewarding, evoking nostalgia for older games while being a preferable alternative to microtransactions.
- “The unlocks to level up your character can be demanding, but it's reminiscent of older games and 100 times better than microtransactions.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I find the constant push for in-game purchases frustrating; it detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The game is fun, but the monetization tactics are a major turn-off, as they seem designed to exploit players.”