Cozy Violence: Animal Companions, Self-Care, and Nationalist Ideology in Rise of the Rōnin

This essay explores the interactions of violence, self-care, and nationalistic ideology in Rise of the Rōnin (2024), a historical action RPG set in Bakumatsu Japan (1853–1868). The study examines how elements of “cozy games” appear in gameplay through animal interactions and human relationships, emphasizing the contrast between brutal samurai combat and moments of peace. Findings build on model of “situational coziness” given by Waskiewicz and Bakun to examine the cozy elements distributed throughout the open-world game environment. Analyzing game mechanics, narrative design, and player agency, the research highlights how the game crafts an emotional engagement that both softens and legitimizes its ideological stance, positioning self-care and loyalty as virtues aligned with Japan's turbulent path to modernization. The inclusion of nationalist ideologue Yoshida Shōin (1830–1859) as a central figure in the narrative limits the game in terms of global distribution, most notably in South Korea.