The Dynasty Warriors series is one of the most prolific in the hack-and-slash genre, with devout fans that eat up every game. While some critics accuse the series of being repetitive with shallow gameplay mechanics, the series’ fans are more than happy to sink hours upon hours laying waste to thousands of enemies on the battlefield.
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From humble origins as a 1v1 fighter, Dynasty Warriors has grown into a huge franchise with a gigantic cast of characters.
There are very few games that can provide the same kind of power fantasy as the Warriors franchise. It’s the simplicity in its gameplay that appeals to fans of the genre as well as the power fantasy of feeling like an unstoppable warrior on the battlefield. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best games to play if you haven’t gotten enough Dynasty Warriors.
Updated on January 20, 2025, by Zackary Wiggs: Dynasty Warriors: Origins has now graced consoles and PCs with over-the-top dynamic combat with entire armies on screen at once. There are plenty of reasons why the Dynasty Warriors games have been alive for so long, and while there are plenty of entries in this series, they do unfortunately come to an end at some point.
But, here are some titles, new and old, that carry on the spirit of Dynasty Warriors, whether it be through waves of enemies, feeling powerful, or just exciting combat in general.
24
Ninja Gaiden
A Ninja With Style
- Genres
-
Action
, Adventure - Released
-
March 2, 2004
- Publisher(s)
-
Tecmo
While not a Musou game, the Ninja Gaiden series is great at over-the-top action. All of the games are well worth the time they take to beat, but the first game is the best place to start with a classic series.
Ryu Hayabusa, the protagonist and last surviving member of his family, must fight deadly enemies ranging from demons, all the way to giant robots. It doesn’t have the waves of enemies that Dynasty Warriors has, but it has plenty of hack-and-slash combat to keep you occupied.
23
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
You’ll Die More Than Twice
Getting a power trip for a game can come in many different forms. Destroying waves of enemies is one thing, but taking on a singular, challenging enemy can be a power trip of its own. A soulsborne game, Sekiro takes on many of the themes of Dynasty Warriors and brings you quite the twist.
Playing as a ninja out for vengeance, every enemy in the game is perfectly capable of sending you back to the game over screen, which means the power rush comes from learning each of their movesets and beating them. With every fight feeling like a boss battle, it can be easy to get hooked.
Sekiro may not be the easiest soulsborne game to hop into, but it does share some themes with Dynasty Warriors.
22
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
The Skaven Are Coming
- Released
-
March 8, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Fatshark
- Publisher(s)
-
Fatshark
A more European fantasy world, Vermintide 2 takes the previous entry on its shoulders and brings on all new enemies for you and your friends to face. There are big hordes of enemies just like in Dynasty Warriors, but in the form of ratmen and chaos barbarians.
You can pick one of the various fantasy humanoids that are trying to keep the world from falling apart, including a gunslinging witch hunter, a dwarf with a mighty big axe, and a temper to match it. If you want a bit more gore and grime to your waves of enemies, this is a great title to try.
21
Devil May Cry Series
Killing Demons Is A Full-Time Job
- Released
-
October 16, 2001
- Developer(s)
-
Capcom Production Studio 4
The Dynasty Warriors series has made a name for itself by including dynamic characters in wildly dramatic combat, something that it has in common with the Devil May Cry series. Now with multiple storylines and a reboot, there has never been a time to try one out.
The 2013 DMC Devil May Cry is a good place to start with some improved graphics and a grittier story. But, there’s nothing wrong with going back to the 2001 original and seeing how the demon hunter Dante goes about stopping evil. Hint: it’s with style.
20
Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
No Stranger To A Good Fight
Developed as a prequel to the original Final Fantasy, Stranger of Paradise is an action hack and slash game developed by Team Ninja. It has mechanics that are similar to the Dark Souls series and Team Ninja’s own Nioh franchise, but there’s enough chaotic action here to satisfy fans of the Warriors series too.
The protagonist, Jack, is reminiscent of characters like Guts from the Berserk franchise. Jack and his two companions are tasked with fighting off waves of enemies from the Final Fantasy franchise and tapping into that power fantasy that the Warriors franchise is so renowned for. Moreover, Team Ninja helped co-develop several Warriors titles and Stranger of Paradise has that same unique style in everything from the voice acting to the action.
19
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4
Become King Of The Pirates
Another Omega Force title, One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 is a game that will feel familiar to fans of the Warriors franchise. It’s based on the popular anime series of the same name and even though it borrows elements from the Wano arc, it takes the story in a different direction so it will feel fresh, even for fans of the franchise.
There is a huge selection of characters to choose from in Pirate Warriors 4. These characters feel unique and the implementation of aerial combat allows the tie-in to fresh and interesting even for the more jaded Warriors fans.
18
Samurai Warriors 5
Ready Your Hyper Attack
- Released
-
July 27, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
Omega Force
If you are looking to play a game that’s similar to the Dynasty Warrior franchise then look no further than Omega Force’s Samurai Warriors series. The most recent title, Samurai Warriors 5 is one of their most polished titles to date and adds more gameplay elements like the new Hyper Attack mechanics.
Instead of the Three Kingdoms setting of the Dynasty Warriors franchise, Samurai Warriors is set during the Japanese Sengoku period. Samurai Warriors features significant figures from this time period, like Nobunaga Oda, with the events leading up to the Honnō-Ji Incident.
17
For Honor
Time To Duel
- Released
-
February 14, 2017
- Developer(s)
-
Ubisoft Montreal
First released in 2017 as a multiplayer sword combat game, For Honor has received several updates and patches to make it more appealing to new gamers. It eventually added more single-player modes that are designed to introduce players to the game’s combat mechanics.
While it’s not as large scale as the Dynasty Warriors series, players will still participate in large-scale battles and sieges. These are there to encourage new players to try out different warriors in various combat scenarios. The fighting system is one of the most technical in gaming and offers players of all tastes something different to experiment with.
16
Ghost Of Tsushima
Ninja Or Samurai
Ghost of Tsushima is a stunning PlayStation 4 exclusive with some of the best visuals in a generation. As a whole, the game has more in common with the Assassin’s Creed series and Horizon Zero Dawn than it does Dynasty Warriors.
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However, fans of Dynasty Warriors will be more than satisfied with a stunning historical setting, lightning-fast combat system, and a great storyline. Furthermore, there are several missions where the lead protagonist joins large-scale battles and destroys waves of enemies in the game’s Ghost state.
15
Arslan The Warriors Of Legend
Anime Meets Video Game
Arslan: The Warriors of Legend is a video game adaptation of the manga, The Heroic Legend of Arslan, and the anime TV series of the same name. It follows the classic fantasy trope of a chosen prince and his journey back to his rightful rule of the kingdom.
Arslan was developed by the Omega Force team and the mechanics are exactly what one would expect from a Musou Warriors game. The large-scale battles and the combat system function almost exactly the same as in the more recent Dynasty Warriors games.
14
Hyrule Warriors
The Missing Link
- Released
-
September 26, 2014
As one would expect in an Omega Force title, the gameplay in Hyrule Warriors should feel very familiar to fans of Dynasty Warriors.
However, thanks to the involvement of Team Ninja, the one-on-one combat was better than ever before and there was a lot of effort put into the game to make sure Link controlled as he does in the main series.
13
Fire Emblem Warriors
Fight Like A Team
- Released
-
September 29, 2017
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
Released for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS in 2017, Fire Emblem Warriors, like Hyrule Warriors before it, its a crossover title co-developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja. Of course, the staple Warriors-style gameplay is there, but it’s the addition of the Fire Emblem mechanics that make this title more unique.
Players are able to give strategic orders on the battlefield and make use of Fire Emblem’s Weapon Triangle. Additionally, Fire Emblem Warriors also includes character bonds that unlock support conversations just like the base Fire Emblem games.
12
The Drakengard Series
Dragons And Fighting Armies
Action RPG
JRPG
Fantasy
Science Fiction
- Released
-
September 11, 2003
The original Drakengard was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2003 and was developed with the intention of making it play like a hybrid between Ace Combat during aerial dragon combat sections and Dynasty Warriors on the ground.
The games are notoriously repetitive but feature excellent combat on the ground, further resembling the Dynasty Warriors series even more. The Drakengard series is also part of the same universe as the critically acclaimed Nier and its sequel, Nier: Automata.
11
Attack On Titan 2
Giants Meets Rapid Movement
- Released
-
February 16, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Omega Force
Based on the popular manga and anime series. Developed by Omega Force, it is one of the more faithful licensed anime games out there, with plenty of gripping story moments and flying through city streets.
Instead of fighting off waves of enemies as is usually seen in the Warriors games, players have to defeat the gigantic Titans in an open-world environment, and they are every bit as terrifying and grotesque as they are on the show.
While for some the game’s mechanics of taking down the giants will take some getting used to it will quickly become second nature and delivers on its power fantasy the same way that Dynasty Warriors does.
It should be noted that Attack On Titan is one of the more adult games in the way of gore and themes on this list.
10
Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders
Join The Crusade
Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders is a hack and slash action RPG with elements of real-time tactical combat. The game shares a lot of similarities to the Dynasty Warriors series. Only it is set in a medieval high fantasy world.
Players are able to issue commands to their units and attack in unison, similar to Koei’s Kessen series. Once in close-quarters, the Warriors-style combat system comes into play and captures the visceral and violent clash of swords and shields in medieval warfare that can rival most modern titles. Kingdom Under Fire was remastered and released on the PC in early 2020.
9
Viking: Battle For Asgard
Mead And Axes
Hack and Slash
Action-Adventure
Viking: Battle For Asgard is a hack and slash action-adventure game developed by Creative Assembly. It’s a spiritual successor to Spartan: Total War and features many of the same visceral combat mechanics, only this time it uses Norse mythology instead of Greek mythology.
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Players have to participate in fairly standard missions to capture settlements and rescue allies. This will then increase the size of the army and at the end of each campaign, players will take part in full-scale wars Dynasty Warriors-style. The battles are epic, taking obvious inspiration from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, albeit with a more bloody and violent twist.
8
Berserk And The Band Of The Hawk
That’s A Big Sword
Developed by Omega Force and released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Berserk and the Band Of the Hawk is a hack and slash game in the style of Dynasty Warriors. It is based on the Berserk manga series while also taking visual inspiration from anime adaptations too.
The Berserk universe feels at home with the Warriors-style gameplay and will feel familiar to fans. Just like their Attack on Titan adaptations, Omega Force has done an amazing job with Berserk by covering the full story arcs of the manga in a suitably bloody fashion.
Anime games, in general, are a great segue from the Dynasty Warriors series due to their often over-the-top combat and graphics.
7
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity
Save The World
- Released
-
November 20, 2020
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- Platform(s)
-
Switch
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is both a follow-up to the original Hyrule Warriors that was originally released on the Nintendo Wii U and a prequel to The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild.
It’s mechanically similar to its predecessor and the Dynasty Warriors franchise as a whole, but the experience is one of the most polished Musou games ever released. Age of Calamity works so well as a companion story to the epic Breath of the Wild and helps bring many of the stories and epic battles told in that game to life.
6
Persona 5 Strikers
Get Your Morals Ready
Persona 5: Strikers is one of the Omega Force’s most well-received titles. It was co-developed with the Persona Studio and many of the elements of that series remained faithful in this action-based follow-up using a more technical spin on the Mosou fighting system.
In addition to the Musou fighting mechanics, Strikers also incorporates the story-based choices, stylized systems, menus, and the world that have become synonymous with Persona 5 and the franchise as a whole.
5
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate
So Many Enemies
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate was released in early 2020 as an expanded edition of the original game released in 2018. The Ultimate version was released on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC and included more characters from other games that were developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja.
As a crossover between Omega Force’s Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series, the Warriors Orochi series is the ultimate Warriors/Mousou experience. There are lots of content and challenges to keep fans busy for hours and the compelling story mode where the heroes are dragged into a war between the gods is an entertaining ride from start to finish.