Dynasty Warriors: Origins Launches January 17th

Much to the delight of Three Kingdoms fans everywhere, Koei Tecmo Games and Omega Force have announced that Dynasty Warriors: Origins is launching worldwide on January 17th, 2025. The latest entry in the long-running Dynasty Warriors series also got a trailer (below) at the recent State of Play.

Now, we know what you’re thinking. “Hold your War Horses! Dynasty Warriors isn’t an RPG!” Well, hear us out.

Whether it’s Dragon Quest Heroes or Persona 5 Strikers, Warriors (or Musou) games have been trending the way of the RPG for some time now. So much so, that resident Musou superfan Wes Iliff wrote about this very topic a few years ago. Couple that with the fact that Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the first mainline game where an original character will be featured in a more focused storyline.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins introduces a nameless hero to the Warriors series’ classic “1 vs. 1,000” gameplay. This new protagonist has a classic “mysterious traveling martial artist with amnesia” origin story and arrives during a time of tremendous upheaval in the Three Kingdoms. The goal is to give players a more active, first-hand role in this dramatic tale of ancient China. Throughout the journey, players will make various choices as the protagonist, who carries a secret of his own that will impact the Three Kingdoms.

So while the hack-and-slash gameplay appears to be among the most detailed ever, it’s this new potential influence over the story that has longtime veterans eagerly anticipating the turn of the calendar to 2025.

Unfamiliar with the Dynasty Warriors franchise? The series draws upon the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, spans games and consoles over the last 20 years, and has shipped over 21 million units worldwide. Traditionally, players step into the shoes of an officer from one of the Three Kingdoms and spend their hours battling hordes of soldiers with the occasional tough officer looming at key points on the map.

From the sounds of things, Dynasty Warriors: Origins looks to build on this formula, as there will be many well-known and powerful officers (such as the infamous “Lu Bu”) waiting to test the young martial artist’s skill. Developers are hoping that battles against these officers result in combat that is both highly action-oriented and challenging while keeping players on the edge of their seats throughout every encounter. This power also seemingly thrives within the player’s allies, as a companion officer that accompanies the protagonist can become temporarily playable if certain conditions are met during battle.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Screenshots

With what is shaping up to be an absolutely action-packed fall release window, Dynasty Warriors fans will have much to keep them occupied until their January 17th, 2025 release window. The game will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam).

For more Musou news, and for everything else RPG, keep it locked onto the RPGFan main page!