The first Dynasty Warriors game in seven years is arriving in early 2025. Yep, it’s been a while. But Dynasty Warriors: Origins looks like it’ll be well worth the wait. With its next-level graphics and epic story set during ancient China's turbulent Three Kingdoms period.

You’ll experience a huge world through the eyes of a nameless hero who’s mysteriously forgotten his previous life. Guide him across the vast war-torn lands on a quest to restore peace and his memories, teaming up with powerful allies while piecing together his past.

Let's find out more about the latest title in the long-running hack-and-slash series from Koei Tecmo. Including its release date, price, and brand-new battlefield tactics.

What is Dynasty Warriors: Origins' release date?

Dynasty Warriors: Origins will be marching its way onto ninth-gen gaming consoles and PC on 17 January 2025. While tactical thinking plays a bigger role in the new game, there’ll still be plenty of button mashing in store as you take down those enemy hordes. You’ve got just over a month to get your thumbs in fighting form!

How much will Dynasty Warriors: Origins cost?

This will depend on which version of the game you go for. The standard edition of Dynasty Warriors: Origins will cost around £64.99 on consoles and PC (via Steam). But if you opt for the Digital Deluxe Edition at £79.99, you’ll get access to the game 72 hours early. Plus, a bunch of extras like the official book, soundtrack, and in-game letters that’ll help you buy weapons and items on your journey.

Can I pre-order Dynasty Warriors: Origins?

You’ll be able to pre-order your copy of Dynasty Warriors: Origins from Currys soon. Just bookmark our upcoming games page or this article to stay in the loop.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins platforms

Dynasty Warriors: Origins will be playable on PS5, Xbox Series X/Series S and PC. Sorry Nintendo Switch players! But for a similar experience on your console, you can always try a title from the iconic The Legend of Zelda series. These games feature massive fantasy worlds to explore with plenty of sword-swinging fun throughout.

Or just get yourself a new console that can run the latest Dynasty Warriors game instead. Like the recently-released PS5 Pro, with its enhanced features that are sure to make Origins look even more incredible on your screen.

How to play Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Dynasty Warriors Origins is a massive tactical action game. You’ll traverse between battles on a new overworld map representing the Three Kingdoms, which will eventually reveal a path towards peace as you progress. But you can never take a breather on the battlefield. That’s because the sheer size and scale of opposing armies means you can quickly get overwhelmed!

This is why you must unite with a powerful general and their forces. A strategy will be presented at a war council before each fight, where you can check the positions of the various armies and plan your route to victory. Stick to your strategy and step into battle alongside your NPC allies — hacking through hundreds of enemy warriors stretching as far as the eye can see. Or if you’re feeling brave, launch a daredevil one-man assault instead.

During a battle, you must keep an eye on the morale of your allies and foes before beginning an attack. Higher morale means increased abilities and a greater chance of winning, which you can raise by capturing nearby enemy strongholds. But if you’re up against it and surrounded? Unleash a special ‘Musou Attack’ to turn the tide in a tough battle. It’ll give you extra power and range so you can wipe out dozens of enemies in one fell swoop.

Just make sure your ‘Musou Gauge’ is always full before facing off against a powerful officer. You’ll need it to inflict max damage and break down their defensive ‘Fortitude’, especially as your normal attacks will be far less effective in these encounters. You’ll also have to react fast and use evasion tactics to avoid their devastating special moves.

How many hours of gameplay will Dynasty Warriors: Origins have?

There’s no official news on the estimated length of Dynasty Warriors: Origins just yet. But according to How Long to Beat, the main story in 2018’s Dynasty Warriors 9 (the previous game) took around 28 hours to complete. And as it looks like you can side with one of three factions to complete the game, you should be able to replay the story as part of a different army. That way, you’ll get to experience new conflicts and storylines.

While those large-scale battles will take up most of the playtime, it has been confirmed that there will be additional missions and skirmishes too. They should add a few more hours on top of the central campaign.

Who are the main characters in Dynasty Warriors: Origins?

Dynasty Warriors: Origins features a huge cast of legendary heroes who fought during the Three Kingdoms era in historic China. Many of these names will be familiar to fans of the franchise. But don’t worry if you’re a newcomer — you’ll learn them quickly!

As the shadowy protagonist, you must side with one of three generals and help them realise their vision of a new world after the chaos:

• Cao Cao: A clean-cut and cunning warlord with a bold plan for the future.

• Sun Jian: A calm and courageous warrior who shows the utmost respect to his followers.

• Liu Bei: A virtuous leader who fights for the common man, and the nemesis of Cao Cao.

Once you’ve made up your mind, you can then select one of the general’s three powerful officers to join you in combat. Each of these companions will have a different starting point on the map, so choose wisely in order to execute the best strategy. And for a limited time, you’ll even get to switch to your companion and use their powers to get the upper hand in difficult tangles.

Guards will be allocated to you as subordinates as the story progresses too. By activating their ‘Tactics’ at the right moment, you can really give the opposition a hard time. Form a defensive blockade to stop a charging wave of enemy soldiers. Perform a cavalry charge to push them back. Or fire a devastating hail of arrows to take out an entire battalion in seconds.

You’ll also cross paths with plenty of characters from other forces. Including the formidable Lu Bu and the “Long-Haired Man”, a sympathetic figure who helps the suffering. Sometimes you’ll form powerful bonds with them, and at other times you’ll cross swords. A few characters connected to the protagonist’s past will crop up too, who will help him uncover the truth behind his memory loss.

What Dynasty Warriors: Origins features are player-customisable?

Customisation and growth are big parts of this game. You must visit different areas of the continent and interact with various people to gather new items and weapons. There are nine different weapon types in total, ranging from razor-sharp swords and crescent blades to pulverising gauntlets.

Each weapon possesses different characteristics and strengths, with several variations and ‘Arts’ you can select to suit your battle style. You’ll always get the chance to change up your character’s weapon and armour before each battle, so you can easily experiment. And the protagonist will reach higher ranks and increase their abilities as they master each weapon type.

What are the different Dynasty Warriors: Origins game mode options?

As Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a single-player game, it will heavily revolve around its main story mode. But there will be plenty of side quests to take on, and you can ramp up the difficulty level if you want a bigger challenge.

Any more questions?

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