The Dynasty Warriors series, traditionally a linear hack-and-slash experience, saw a departure with Dynasty Warriors 9's open world. This raised questions about whether Dynasty Warriors: Origins would follow suit. The answer is no. Dynasty Warriors: Origins does not feature an open world.
The recent trend in AAA gaming towards open worlds doesn't always equate to quality. Dynasty Warriors 9's open world is a prime example; its vast, empty spaces detracted from the experience, making even large-scale battles feel sparse and underwhelming. The open world was a poorly implemented feature.
Thankfully, Dynasty Warriors: Origins avoids this pitfall. Instead of an open world, it offers a condensed overworld map of ancient China. Players navigate this smaller map, visiting towns to acquire weapons and items, rest at inns, and interact with NPCs to initiate side quests, discover collectibles (like Pyroxene and Old Coins), participate in optional battles, and trigger story cutscenes. While this overworld is functional, it's intentionally compact, easily traversed in under a minute, and even includes a fast travel option (though largely unnecessary due to the map's size). This streamlined approach is a significant improvement over the expansive emptiness of Dynasty Warriors 9.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
