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 open worlds. This raises 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 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, making even large-scale battles feel sparse and underwhelming. It highlighted how forcing a mechanic into a game that doesn't need it can be detrimental.

Thankfully, Dynasty Warriors: Origins avoids this pitfall. Instead of an open world, it offers a concise overworld map.

Between missions, players navigate a condensed representation of ancient China, traveling between towns to shop for weapons and items, and rest at inns. These maps are small enough to traverse in under a minute. While a fast travel option exists, its utility is minimal given the map's size. This overworld facilitates interactions with NPCs for side quests, item discovery (Pyroxene and Old Coins), optional battles for proficiency boosts and recruiting soldiers, and cutscenes to advance the storyline. This streamlined approach, while perhaps uninspired, 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.