Dynasty Warriors: Origins Review – A Fresh Reboot for Omega Force on Nintendo Switch 2
Dynasty Warriors: Origins launches on January 22, 2026, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, marking a significant return for the long-running hack-and-slash franchise by Omega Force and publisher Koei Tecmo.
Over the past three decades, the Dynasty Warriors series has established itself as a staple in the action genre, featuring large-scale battles and tactical depth.
However, in recent years, the Musou formula faced criticism for a lack of innovation, prompting Omega Force to rethink the series' direction.
With Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the development team has embraced a focused, story-driven approach, aiming to reinvigorate the franchise on Nintendo's latest hardware. A Streamlined Narrative with Player Agency In Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Omega Force revisits the central narrative of the classic Chinese epic, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Unlike prior entries that offered dozens of established historical warriors, Origins introduces a singular avatar protagonist—a formidable, amnesiac fighter whose fate is directly shaped by the player's choices.
This narrative framework allows for a personalized, branching storyline, where decisions influence alliances and outcomes, offering multiple endings and replayability. Speaking about the shift in direction, Omega Force representatives explained that their intent was to "refocus the gameplay experience and deepen player immersion by coupling strategic combat with meaningful narrative decisions." This marks a notable evolution from Dynasty Warriors 9’s sprawling open world, instead emphasizing a curated campaign with a more contained set of playable characters.
Players can control their protagonist and, occasionally, other generals, each equipped with unique skills.
Further customization is available through weapon mastery and gear upgrades, ensuring combat remains dynamic throughout the journey. Classic Musou Action with Modern Enhancements Core gameplay remains rooted in the signature Dynasty Warriors experience—defeating massive groups of enemy soldiers, capturing territories, and toppling enemy commanders across expansive battlefields.
The Nintendo Switch 2 handles the game seamlessly, with no major frame drops or technical hitches reported during both docked and handheld gameplay, even when the screen fills with enemy hordes.
The addition of post-battle playback allows players to review their actions and strategize future attempts, a thoughtful feature that enhances both accessibility and challenge. Origins offers three difficulty settings, including an accessible "historian" mode tailored for those more interested in experiencing the story than overcoming punishing battles.
Interactivity in the environment, from climbing ladders to breaking pots for health boosts, adds further tactical layers to each encounter. Hub Exploration and Technical Polish Players traverse a vibrant hub world based on ancient China, interacting with key figures and side stories from the comfort of a customizable inn.
Multiple languages and subtitle options are supported, featuring full English voice acting.
While the visuals are highly polished, minor drawbacks like extended loading times and occasional background pop-in were observed, though they do not detract significantly from the overall experience. A Resilient, Engaging Franchise Entry Dynasty Warriors: Origins stands out as a carefully refined installment, drawing on decades of franchise heritage while addressing long-standing player feedback.
By narrowing the focus and delivering a strong narrative foundation, Omega Force has crafted a compelling action title well-suited to the capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2.
For series veterans and newcomers alike, this entry demonstrates there’s still plenty of life in the Musou genre. Copy of Dynasty Warriors: Origins provided by Koei Tecmo for review purposes.
Over the past three decades, the Dynasty Warriors series has established itself as a staple in the action genre, featuring large-scale battles and tactical depth.
However, in recent years, the Musou formula faced criticism for a lack of innovation, prompting Omega Force to rethink the series' direction.
With Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the development team has embraced a focused, story-driven approach, aiming to reinvigorate the franchise on Nintendo's latest hardware. A Streamlined Narrative with Player Agency In Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Omega Force revisits the central narrative of the classic Chinese epic, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Unlike prior entries that offered dozens of established historical warriors, Origins introduces a singular avatar protagonist—a formidable, amnesiac fighter whose fate is directly shaped by the player's choices.
This narrative framework allows for a personalized, branching storyline, where decisions influence alliances and outcomes, offering multiple endings and replayability. Speaking about the shift in direction, Omega Force representatives explained that their intent was to "refocus the gameplay experience and deepen player immersion by coupling strategic combat with meaningful narrative decisions." This marks a notable evolution from Dynasty Warriors 9’s sprawling open world, instead emphasizing a curated campaign with a more contained set of playable characters.
Players can control their protagonist and, occasionally, other generals, each equipped with unique skills.
Further customization is available through weapon mastery and gear upgrades, ensuring combat remains dynamic throughout the journey. Classic Musou Action with Modern Enhancements Core gameplay remains rooted in the signature Dynasty Warriors experience—defeating massive groups of enemy soldiers, capturing territories, and toppling enemy commanders across expansive battlefields.
The Nintendo Switch 2 handles the game seamlessly, with no major frame drops or technical hitches reported during both docked and handheld gameplay, even when the screen fills with enemy hordes.
The addition of post-battle playback allows players to review their actions and strategize future attempts, a thoughtful feature that enhances both accessibility and challenge. Origins offers three difficulty settings, including an accessible "historian" mode tailored for those more interested in experiencing the story than overcoming punishing battles.
Interactivity in the environment, from climbing ladders to breaking pots for health boosts, adds further tactical layers to each encounter. Hub Exploration and Technical Polish Players traverse a vibrant hub world based on ancient China, interacting with key figures and side stories from the comfort of a customizable inn.
Multiple languages and subtitle options are supported, featuring full English voice acting.
While the visuals are highly polished, minor drawbacks like extended loading times and occasional background pop-in were observed, though they do not detract significantly from the overall experience. A Resilient, Engaging Franchise Entry Dynasty Warriors: Origins stands out as a carefully refined installment, drawing on decades of franchise heritage while addressing long-standing player feedback.
By narrowing the focus and delivering a strong narrative foundation, Omega Force has crafted a compelling action title well-suited to the capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2.
For series veterans and newcomers alike, this entry demonstrates there’s still plenty of life in the Musou genre. Copy of Dynasty Warriors: Origins provided by Koei Tecmo for review purposes.
