Every Rise Of The Ronin Romance Option, Ranked Worst To Best

Summary Romance options in Rise of the Ronin vary from sweet to lackluster, with some characters offering more depth and chemistry than others.

Not all characters make for ideal romantic partners in the game, as some relationships feel forced or lack the necessary emotional connection.

Characters like Matthew Perry feel a bit forced as Veiled Vow options, while others, such as Taka Murayama, have a natural connection with the main character.

Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin is one of the most expansive RPGs of 2024. The game features a complex combat system, a detailed skill tree, important story choices, and bonds that can lead to romance, otherwise known as Veiled Vows. There are several ways to develop bonds with characters in Rise of the Ronin, including bringing them on missions, giving them gifts, and agreeing with them in conversation.

There are 13 characters in total to romance in Rise of the Ronin, from integral story characters like Ryoma Sakamoto to less consequential figures like Matthew Perry. Most romances can coexist with one another, but there are a few that will give the player an ultimatum if they become involved with another character. It can be tricky to decide which Veiled Vow is best to pursue in Rise of the Ronin, but there are a few that are worth doing much more than others.

Related Rise of the Ronin Review: "An Immersive Open-World Historical Epic That Values Its Players' Time" Rise of the Ronin is an immersive open-world title that does a lot of work to value the time of its players, making for a rewarding journey.

13 Matthew Perry Is A Bland & Uninteresting Romance

Matthew Perry being a love interest in Rise of the Ronin is a perfect example of what happens when developers choose quantity over quality. There is no discernible chemistry between Perry and the main character, they never feel like anything more than work colleagues, and this is after defeating him in the game's first boss fight. This is a completely random addition which doesn't serve the story or any of its characters at all. It would've been better to thoroughly develop a couple of love interests than make 13 characters available for a Veiled Vow.

12 Ernest Satow Is A Terrible Partner

High on the list of characters who do not deserve to be a romance option in Rise of the Ronin is Ernest Satow. He is, at best, a minor character in the overarching story, particularly if the player sides with the anti-shogunate faction. He is one of the more difficult boss fights in Rise of the Ronin, appearing in the Act 3 mission "The Last Shogun." Satow flies around in the air leaving a blazing trail of fire in his wake, but there isn't so much as a spark when the player tells him they have feelings for him.

11 Genzui Kusaka Is Not A Real Romance

It is technically possible to romance, or forge a Veiled Vow with Genzui Kusaka, but it isn't a romantic connection. Once he learns that the main character desires to be more than just comrades with him, his only response is that he's willing to enter a bond of kinship. He makes it abundantly clear to both male and female characters that he is not interested in anything more than kinship. However, it's still better to become even closer friends with someone like Genzui Kusaka than to form a romantic connection with Matthew Perry or Ernest Satow in Rise of the Ronin.

10 Sana Chiba Shouldn't Be A Love Interest

There is no reason for Sana Chiba to be a love interest in Rise of the Ronin. From the moment she's first introduced, it's obvious that she and one of the game's main characters, Ryoma Sakamoto, have a complicated past. It would be one thing if this was an old fling from years ago, but it's painstakingly clear she is still interested in Ryoma, who is the player's best friend throughout the game. Sana Chiba is best left alone for those looking to create a new Veiled Vow.

Sana Chiba does not tolerate the player romancing multiple characters, forcing the main character to choose between her and the other partner.

9 Shinsaku Takasugi Is Taken Aback By A Love Confession

There is no shortage of off-the-wall romances in Rise of the Ronin, and Shinsaku Takasugi is one of them. He is another character who is a great companion throughout the story – despite a few minor disagreements – but doesn't feel like a natural love interest. Shinsaku is stunned to learn the player has feelings for him, saying "I knew you were hard to predict, but this is wild..." While he ultimately agrees to enter into a relationship with the main character, there is no romantic spark between the two that leads to this being a satisfying Veiled Vow.

8 The Ine Kusumoto Veiled Vow Comes Out Of Nowhere

The Ine Kusumoto romance in Rise of the Ronin is one of the more underwhelming options out of all the characters that allow for Veiled Vows. Confessing love to her is so sudden and unnatural that even she is caught off guard, and while she ultimately admits she shares those same feelings, it still feels strange. Her immediate response is that, after all this time, she can't bring herself to admit that she loves the main character back. This is likely because there is no obvious romantic connection between the two until achieving the prerequisite requirements to form a Veiled Vow.

Ine Kusumoto will also demand the player either break up with her or the other person after developing another Veiled Vow.

7 Usugumo Dayu Is A Weaker Romance Option

Of all the romances available in Rise of the Ronin, Usugumo Dayu is far from the most compelling option. When players make a move on Usugumo, she remarks on how many other people have told her those words, but admits to feelings for the player as well. Upon seeing her later, after this confession, she says she had hoped to cross paths again, which isn't the most romantic way to address a new lover. While she isn't the most satisfying partner, it's worth developing a relationship with Usugumo Dayu by finding her cats to unlock the Dayu Kimono, one of the best outfits in Rise of the Ronin.

6 Fumi Sugi Is Sweet But Feels Wrong

Fumi Sugi is a delightful character in Rise of the Ronin who has some clear chemistry with the main character, but forming a Veiled Vow with her is complicated. She is the former wife of Genzui Kusaka, one of the allies in Rise of the Ronin who works with the player often. Genzui eventually dies, leaving Fumi Sugi available for a romance. This isn't a Sana Chiba situation where Fumi shouldn't be an option as a love interest, but it still feels somewhat slimy to establish a relationship with Genzui's widow so quickly after his death.

5 Soji Okita Longs To Make The Player Happy

Soji Okita is a young master who has been mentored by the legendary Isami Kondo since losing his parents when he was young. He isn't prominently featured in Rise of the Ronin's main story, but can usually be found hanging around as a side character in several missions. His response to the player's admission of feelings is tender and sweet; he admits he's new to this sort of thing and doesn't know if he'd be a great partner, but is eager to try. He is also a skillful companion in combat and provides stat bonuses to Dexterity and Charm.

4 Kogoro Katsura's Romance Is Anxious And Shy

As far as romance options in Rise of the Ronin, Kogoro Katsura isn't the best, but he's far from the worst. He is a great companion for missions throughout the main game, especially if the main character decides to side with him as an anti-shogunate faction member instead of siding with the shogunate. He admits he's shocked that the player is open about their feelings for him, but says he's been thinking the same thing and has even been working out how to broach the subject himself. Many of his best moments feel more aligned with friendship than romantic companionship, but he's still a solid option for a Veiled Vow.

3 Princess Atsuko's Romance Is Full Of Passionate Innocence

The relationship with Princess Atsuko in Rise of the Ronin is similar to that of a Romeo and Juliet story. As a former member of the Satsuma clan, Atsuko was married off to the Tokugawa shogunate and is now a princess with higher duties. She is surprised when the player confesses their feelings to her, asking if they know the implications of what they're saying and are aware of the potential consequences for turmoil among both factions. The two lovebirds understand that this relationship complicates both political and social matters, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

2 Taka Murayama's Romance Is A Story Of Tragedy

The main character is first introduced to Taka Murayama as a geisha in Rise of the Ronin's first chapter, but it is possible to develop a romantic relationship with her. After the player confesses their love to her, she says that it's her job to sell dreams to customers, but with the main character, she never wants that dream to end. She says she wants to continue seeing the player, even if it is forbidden. Taka and the main character have great chemistry in Rise of the Ronin, and despite her untimely death, she's still one of the best characters to invest in a relationship with early on.

1 Ryoma Sakamoto Is The Perfect Partner

There is no better character to form a Veiled Vow with in Rise of the Ronin than Ryoma Sakamoto. He is integral in both the main campaign and many side missions, always beside the main character in battle and conversation. The two get along remarkably well, and upon admitting feelings for him, he says that working to change the country together has made him realize who he wants to be on this journey with. He is far and away the best choice for romance in Rise of the Ronin, and forging a bond with him feels more natural than any other character.

As with many RPGs trying to accomplish many things at once, romance in Rise of the Ronin is largely hit or miss. While there are plenty of options, most appear to have been added just for the sake of expanding the pool, not to provide a meaningful relationship for the main character. Overall, it's much better to invest in characters like Ryoma Sakamoto and Taka Murayama than Matthew Perry and Ernest Satow.