Best Musou Games Like Dynasty Warriors

Musou games are perfect for players seeking a sense of might, as the genre blends hack-and-slash elements in settings with a large number of enemies. Typically, the goal is to defeat this horde of adversaries while completing certain objectives to eventually access battles against even stronger bosses, in fights that usually feature unique mechanics.

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Samurai Warriors 5: 10 Best Characters For Newcomers To Musou Games

Players unfamiliar with Musou games should start with these characters in Koei Tecmo’s Samurai Warriors 5.

Although more niched, the genre boasts a large number of games, ranging from original stories to spin-offs of famous franchises, providing varied experiences for gamers. Thus, the best Musou titles are those that offer smooth combat and also engage players during the challenges presented.

10

Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe And The Blight Below

Frenetic Musou Combat Meets The Dragon Quest Franchise

Systems

Released

October 13, 2015

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

• Playable Characters: 13 (14 in Japanese and Switch versions)

Combining the fast-paced Musou gameplay with classic RPG elements, Dragon Quest Heroes is a spin-off that delivers a unique experience within the genre. Iconic characters from the franchise join forces in battles against hordes of enemies, while special abilities and spells add variety to the combat, providing gameplay that is both accessible and deep.

The colorful visuals inspired by Akira Toriyama and the engaging soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere for gamers. The story, although not a major production, drives characters to traverse diverse settings, defending the world against an evil force. Thus, the game stands out as an excellent entry for RPG fans looking to enter the Musou genre.

9

Fate/Samurai Remnant

Musou On A Smaller Scale And With Visual Novel Elements

Action RPG

Hack and Slash

Systems

Franchise

Fate

Released

September 28, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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• Playable Characters: 12 (Includes Iori as the protagonist and various Servants)

Although it doesn’t feature large-scale battles against huge hordes of enemies like other games in the genre, Fate/Samurai Remnant provides a lighter approach to Musou for players looking to get accustomed to the mechanics. Thus, the fights take place in smaller settings and don’t last as long as in other titles, but still offer some challenges.

Additionally, Fate/Samurai Remnant mixes in some Visual Novel events, a staple of the Fate franchise, to tell the story, while offering a non-linear progression of the narrative, also providing some side missions to complete. This helps the game maintain a different pacing, offering content for those who don’t want to just engage in battles and feel like a Samurai.

8

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

An Excellent What-If Scenario Of Three Houses

Set in an alternate timeline to the original Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes presents a unique approach by placing players in control of Shez, a new protagonist who faces the heroes of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. The plot reshapes the original events and gameplay, providing a narrative full of choices and twists compared to the original storyline.

The game blends real-time Musou-style combat with tactical elements from the franchise, such as unit management and character progression. This fusion provides dynamic battles without losing strategic depth. With impressive graphics and an engaging storyline, Three Hopes stands out as one of the best games in the genre, pleasing both old and new fans.

7

Persona 5 Strikers

Musou’s Frenetic Action With Persona’s Style

Systems

Released

February 3, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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Although recognized as one of the best JRPGs ever created, the most popular spin-off of Persona 5 doesn’t use the same game mechanics as the original version, opting instead for Musou gameplay. Thus, in Persona 5 Strikers, players set aside turn-based combat in favor of frenetic action, which works very well with the concept.

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These specific mechanics and features have become integral to the Persona series, and help it stand apart from other JRPGS.

In this way, Persona 5 Strikers manages to integrate traditional Musou mechanics with other series traditions, such as all-out attacks and the ability to use Personas’ own abilities during combat. This mix results in an extremely fun game, especially for fans of the characters, since its narrative takes place some time after the events of the original story.

6

Samurai Warriors 5

A Visual And Narrative Reboot In This Franchise

Considered a renaissance of the series, Samurai Warriors 5 bets on a visual style inspired by ink paintings to revive the Sengoku Era with even more intensity. Featuring Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akechi as protagonists, the narrative unfolds in cinematic cutscenes, involving the player in epic battles and decisive moments of this turbulent historical period.

Combat options gain strength with mechanics like Hyper Attack, which allows clearing hordes of enemies quickly, and Ultimate Skills, capable of changing the course of the fight with devastating effects. Combined with modes like Story Mode and Citadel Mode, the title offers enough variety to make it one of the best Musou games ever produced, both for new fans and veterans.

5

Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate

Meeting Between Characters From Two Famous Musou Series

One of the most fun aspects of Warriors Orochi 4 is that the game is an ode to genre fans, bringing together well-known characters and villains from Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors in one place, along with some new ones inspired by both Greek and Norse mythology. The title follows the essence of Musou, offering battles against hundreds of enemies, providing a great sense of might when defeating hordes with a single blow.

It’s also possible to switch characters during combat, allowing players to adapt to challenges in real-time, using complementary abilities to handle enemies or even create different combos. Thus, the gameplay remains dynamic and always frenetic, making it a great game for Musou fans, thanks to the variety of characters.

4

Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity

Essential Musou For The Legend Of Zelda Fans

Systems

Released

November 20, 2020

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Although players can revisit some events of the Great Calamity – the events that destroyed Hyrule in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – through Link’s memories, these events always lingered in players’ minds. However, in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, it was possible to learn a bit more about this story while still playing with iconic characters from the series.

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These Legend of Zelda games are ideal for players who love games that feature extensive exploration and adventures.

While gameplay is a strong point of the game, allowing players to destroy huge hordes of enemies with different characters, each with unique gameplay, the strong point of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity lies in its story. Through well-made cutscenes, it’s possible to learn more about the universe’s mythology and gain insight into the events that led to Hyrule’s destruction.

3

Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends

An Expansion That Heightens The Chaos Of The Three Kingdoms

Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition

Systems

Franchise

Dynasty Warriors

Released

February 28, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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Recognized as one of the most extensive expansions of the franchise, this game significantly expands the cast of characters and the narrative of the Romance of Three Kingdoms. The game offers new campaigns, challenges, and legendary characters, enhancing the original experience with additions that deepen the story while maintaining the series’ characteristic frenetic combat.

At the same time, combat mechanics gain extra layers with the Switch Counter, essential for countering powerful enemy attacks, and the weapon affinity system, which creates strategic situations on the battlefield. Additional modes, such as Ambition and Challenge Mode, add varied challenges, offering twists to the routine of slaughtering hordes of enemies and motivating hours of intense gameplay.

2

One Piece Pirate Warriors 4

Good Experience Even For Those Who Don’t Like One Piece

Whether for fans of the genre or the series, One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 is one of the best Musous ever created, offering players epic battles and frenetic gameplay that captures the essence of the original work. The game also features a vast cast of characters, allowing players to play as the entire Straw Hat crew as well as other known names like Big Mom and Smoker.

Additionally, the game allows players to relive iconic moments of the series while still featuring some very good mechanics, such as fighting against giant enemies. One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 also allows the creation of devastating combos against enemies, all with amazing visual effects, making the game essential for all fans of the series.

1

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

The Game Is The Triumphant Rebirth Of The Franchise In The Musou Genre

Systems

Franchise

Dynasty Warriors

Released

January 17, 2025

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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• Playable Characters: 10 (Includes the Protagonist and temporary summons)

The history of the Three Kingdoms is one of the most popular in China, and Dynasty Warriors: Origins uses all this mythology for the game, redefining the Musou genre in a modern and cinematic way. Thus, the narrative allows players to learn more about this military conflict and be an active character in various moments of the war.

The most impressive aspect of the game is the combat, which is more refined compared to previous entries in the series, making battles against hordes of enemies in Dynasty Warriors: Origins something fun and frenetic. Additionally, the title is capable of providing an interesting experience for both newcomers and veterans of the series, becoming one of the best Musou games ever produced.

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Any hack n’ slash fans who are looking for their next challenge needs to try out these games from the beloved Dynasty Warriors series.