Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review – Nintendo Switch 2 Gets a Strong Sequel With Improved Performance

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Launches November 6, 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have teamed up once more to release Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment on the newly launched Nintendo Switch 2.

Building on the remarkable success of previous entries in the Hyrule Warriors series, this latest title continues the tradition of blending the expansive lore of The Legend of Zelda with the crowd-clearing action synonymous with the Warriors franchise.

Age of Imprisonment arrives as the next major step forward following the well-received but performance-challenged Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity for Nintendo Switch. The Hyrule Warriors series is recognized as The Legend of Zelda's most significant and successful spin-off, earning its following through engaging hack-and-slash gameplay and a faithful integration of Zelda mythos.

Released on November 6, 2025, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, Age of Imprisonment is developed by Koei Tecmo and published by Nintendo.

This sequel embraces the series’ signature style: large-scale battles, countless enemies on screen, unique character abilities, and a customizable approach to combat.

Like its predecessors, Age of Imprisonment caters to both genre veterans and newcomers, with gameplay ranging from accessible button-mashing fun to intricate tactical challenges. In Age of Imprisonment, each mission tasks players with moving across the map, defeating waves of enemies and powerful bosses.

The game introduces new mechanics that elevate combat depth, including Sync Strikes—dynamic, visually impressive moves activated when two playable characters coordinate attacks while standing close together.

These powerful sequences demand strategic character placement and offer impressive crowd control, adding a layer of tactical consideration to classic Warriors-style gameplay.

The inclusion of equipable Zonai devices provides players with options to exploit enemy elemental weaknesses, further deepening combat variety and combo potential. The narrative focus is also more aligned with series tradition.

Unlike Age of Calamity, which diverged from established Zelda canon, Age of Imprisonment delivers a straightforward retelling of the Imprisoning War, bridging gaps between Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and other foundational Zelda titles.

Players get unprecedented, playable access to key story moments previously left to legend, with rich cutscenes and context that flesh out this pivotal chapter in Hyrule's timeline. A major highlight of Age of Imprisonment is its technical performance improvement.

While not flawless, the experience on Nintendo Switch 2 is a marked upgrade over its predecessor.

The single-player mode targets a smooth 60 frames per second, though heavy action may periodically dip framerates into the 50s.

Handheld mode sees moderate resolution increases compared to Age of Calamity, ranging between 468p and 648p.

However, for cutscenes, the game maintains a lower 30 frames per second, which stands out against the high-action gameplay.

Notably, these visual and performance quirks are partially attributed to the game’s development beginning on the original Nintendo Switch before transitioning to Switch 2 hardware. For those who enjoyed the previous Warriors collaboration, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a clear recommendation.

Its robust content, improved performance, and commitment to Zelda canon make it a standout release for both series fans and newcomers.

Players should be aware that the game occupies a sizable 44 GB on the Nintendo Switch 2, making the physical version a practical option for those with limited storage; the full experience is available on the cartridge, with no additional downloads required. With its November 6, 2025 launch, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment sets a new standard for the franchise on Nintendo Switch 2, delivering an action-packed adventure worthy of the Zelda and Warriors legacies.

Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Nintendo Switch Nintendo Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment The Legend of Zelda Switch 2 Legend of Zelda Switch Hyrule Warriors Hyrule Legend Warriors Koei Tecmo Age of Imprisonment Age of Calamity