Dynasty Warriors: Origins Explores Vast Open World

The Dynasty Warriors series has largely been a linear hack-and-slash experience, but recent entries like Dynasty Warriors 9 experimented with an open world. This raises the question: Is Dynasty Warriors: Origins also open-world?

Does Dynasty Warriors: Origins Feature an Open World?

No, Dynasty Warriors: Origins does not have an open world.

The recent trend in AAA games suggests that an open world equates to higher quality, but this isn't always true. Dynasty Warriors 9 serves as a prime example; its vast, empty open world was widely criticized. The expansive design diluted the impact of large-scale battles. It was a clear case of forced mechanics.

Concerns arose whether Dynasty Warriors: Origins, given its experimental nature, would follow suit. Thankfully, it retains a more traditional structure. Instead of an open world, it features a condensed overworld map of ancient China.

Between missions, players navigate this smaller map, visiting towns to acquire weapons and items, and inns to rest. The map's compact size allows traversal in under a minute. While fast travel is available, it's largely unnecessary. The overworld facilitates interaction with NPCs for side quests, item discovery (Pyroxene and Old Coins), optional battles for skill improvement and troop recruitment, and story progression via cutscenes. This streamlined approach, while perhaps uninspired, is a significant improvement over Dynasty Warriors 9's empty expanse.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.