Dynasty Warriors: Origins: Open World?

For much of its history, the Dynasty Warriors series has been a straightforward hack-and-slash experience. However, recent entries like Dynasty Warriors 9 experimented with an open world, raising the question: Does Dynasty Warriors: Origins follow suit?

Does Dynasty Warriors: Origins Have an Open World?

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

The recent trend in AAA games 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 experience. The expansive design made even large-scale battles feel sparse and underwhelming, highlighting how forcing a mechanic into a game where it doesn't belong can be detrimental.

Thankfully, Dynasty Warriors: Origins avoids this pitfall. Instead of an open world, it offers a condensed overworld map of ancient China. Players navigate this map to visit towns, purchase supplies, rest at inns, and interact with NPCs to trigger side quests, discover items (like Pyroxene and Old Coins), engage in optional battles to improve skills and recruit soldiers, and advance the story through cutscenes. While this overworld is functional, it's intentionally small—easily traversed in under a minute—and even includes a fast travel option (though rarely needed). This streamlined approach 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.