Ryse: Son of Rome is a single-player and multiplayer third-person action game with brawler/beat-em-up elements.

The story centres on the Roman centurion Marius Titus, who recounts his recent campaigns to Emperor Nero. It begins with the brutal murder of Marius’s family by barbarian raiders and his subsequent enlistment in the Roman army to avenge them. As the narrative unfolds, Marius leads his legion deep into enemy lands, uncovers a hidden conspiracy and strives to protect Rome from an internal and external threat.

In gameplay the player controls Marius from a third-person perspective while fighting barbarian, Egyptian, and Roman rebel enemies, often commanding squads of Roman soldiers alongside him. Combat emphasises melee swordplay and short bursts of violence rather than extended strategic engagements. A hallmark mechanic is the “Execution” system: when an enemy is staggered the player can initiate a cinematic finishing move that ends the foe instantly and often restores health or morale. Dodging at the right moment can trigger a “Mark of the Legion” command, allowing the player to rally nearby troops and direct them in mass attacks. As Marius gains experience he unlocks new weapons such as gladii, shields and exotic blades, each with unique attack patterns and perks.

Multiplayer is accessed via the “Colosseum: Blood Brothers” mode, where up to four players cooperate in waves of gladiatorial combat against AI opponents in specially-designed arenas. Players earn gold and XP which can be spent on customising their gladiator’s armour, weapons, elixirs and emblems. The multiplayer also features a challenge creator that permits users to assemble their own battle scenarios and share them online. The game also supports replay and highlights of key sequences, and while the single-player campaign is linear the multiplayer maps allow more open arena layouts and varying degrees of mission complexity.

The game’s presentation emphasizes cinematic realism, with large-scale battles, dynamic lighting, rain, and blood effects contributing to an immersive Roman warzone. Though most of the story is told through cinematic cut-scenes, optional conversations with commanders and legion-roster interactions provide additional narrative depth.