While the streamlined combat is functional given how many people you can end up controlling, things can get pretty fiddly when you’re managing inventories, transferring items between 10 or more people, and trying to get your settlement running as efficiently as possible. Movement, meanwhile, is mouse-based, with the WSAD keys controlling the camera. Combat is automated, though you can make minor tweaks like defensive postures, ranged attacks and play around with squad formations.

Kenshi’s mechanics and UIs have an arcane MMO feel, which can get cumbersome as your group’s numbers grow. Settlements present their own dangers: out in the wilderness you’ll face bandit and animal attacks, while settling near cities may subject you to strict taxation and other regional rules (one theocratic faction actually makes it a punishable offence not to pray regularly). At this point, Kenshi becomes a surprisingly effective management game as you research technologies, construct buildings, and assign people long lists of automated tasks like mining, farming and construction. You can have several squads in different parts of the world if you wish, or train new members as farmers and labourers so that you can build a self-sustaining settlement. Through bar-crawling and chance encounters with escaped slaves and other vagabonds, you can recruit new people, who you then take control of just like your original characters. Beyond that? Perhaps you search the wilderness for artefacts or lore titbits, hunt down bounties for the myriad factions, join up with anti-slavers, or just set up shop on a busy trade route and try to make an honest living.

Ronnin kenshi review