Is Dynasty Warriors: Origins Open World? Explained

For much of its history, the Dynasty Warriors series has been defined by its linear, hack-and-slash gameplay. However, recent entries like Dynasty Warriors 9 experimented with an open world, prompting questions about whether this trend continued in Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

Does Dynasty Warriors: Origins Have an Open World?

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

The recent trend in AAA gaming suggests that an open world equates to high quality, but this isn't always true. Dynasty Warriors 9 serves as a prime example; its vast, empty open world was widely criticized for diluting the core gameplay experience. The expansive levels made even large-scale battles feel hollow and sparsely populated, demonstrating how a forced mechanic can negatively impact a franchise.

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 to visit towns, purchase items and weapons, and rest at inns. These maps are compact, easily traversed in under a minute. While a fast travel option exists, its necessity is minimal due to the map's size. This overworld serves as a hub for side quests, item discovery (Pyroxene and Old Coins), optional battles to improve proficiency and recruit soldiers, and story-advancing cutscenes. This streamlined approach, while perhaps unambitious, is a significant improvement over the emptiness of a sprawling, underutilized open world.

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