Hot on the heels of January’s Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Koei Tecmo surprised fans with the reveal and shadow drop of the Dynasty Warriors spin-off Warriors: Abyss at Sony’s recent State of Play showcase. An action roguelike set in the Dynasty Warriors universe, Warriors: Abyss blends the traditional musou gameplay that the franchise is known for with the real-time combat of Hades and “bullet heaven” elements of Vampire Survivors to create a compelling package. More than that, though, Warriors: Abyss sets a strong example of how experimental genre spin-offs should play to their parent series’ strengths.
The combination of Dynasty Warriors and Vampire Survivors is a concept that, on paper, makes so much sense it’s a wonder that no one has attempted it before, and Koei Tecmo’s first attempt is already showing plenty of promise if Steam user reviews are a reliable metric. Large, tentpole franchises are no stranger to spin-offs that experiment with other genres. But for every one of these left-field experiments that stick the landing, many others lose sight of what makes their parent franchises a hit in the first place. Aside from being a strong action roguelike, Warriors: Abyss paints a picture of how other popular series should approach future spin-offs.
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Warriors: Abyss is More Than Just Another Musou Spin-Off
Outside its place as a well-timed follow-up to Dynasty Warriors: Origins‘ substantial success, Warriors: Abyss marks an important turning point for spin-offs from the mainline Dynasty Warriors franchise. While there are far more spin-off Dynasty Warriors games than there are mainline entries, most of these titles still adhere closely to the musou gameplay that’s the franchise’s trademark, rarely ever experimenting with different genres or mechanics. The last titles to truly step outside familiar genre territory were the Dynasty Tactics games on PlayStation 2, which are both more than 20 years old at this point.
Warriors: Abyss‘ accomplishments for the Dynasty Warriors franchise are twofold. One, mixing musou gameplay within the structure of an action roguelike is something new for the series that still honors the elements of the Dynasty Warriors franchise that have endeared it to fans for decades. Two, Warriors: Abyss is arriving at a time when the bullet heaven/survivor-like subgenre of action roguelikes — games following in the footsteps of Vampire Survivors — are arguably more popular than ever. More than just another game in a legacy franchise with dozens of spin-offs, Warriors: Abyss mixes the classic with the contemporary to potentially reach a broader audience.
Other Franchises Could Benefit From the Warriors: Abyss Approach for Their Spin-Offs
Creating spin-off games that take place in the same universe or use familiar characters from legacy franchises is a common practice in gaming, but the results are often just as mixed as the genre conventions and mechanics included in their design. Warriors: Abyss makes a strong case for other legacy franchises to play to their series’ core strengths while also embracing smaller experiences that can afford to experiment without worrying about recouping a massive budget. The game also features an MSRP more in line with an indie title, which entices risk-averse players to jump in and give it a shot where they might not have otherwise.
It’s an example that franchises like Resident Evil could stand to follow, especially given how lukewarm most players are to most of that series’ spin-offs in comparison to the mainline entries. The same goes for several other major AAA franchises that, for one reason or another, have failed to capture lightning in a bottle with their spin-offs in the way that their mainline entries do. The best spin-offs take familiar characters and settings and transport them into different gameplay loops that still appeal to their core fanbase, and Warriors: Abyss is a great example of how it can, and should, be done.
- Released
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February 12, 2025
- ESRB
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T For Teen: Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Alcohol Reference