Skip to main content

'Dynasty Warriors 9' promises an open-world brawler for the modern era

Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors series is due for a massive overhaul with its next sequel, which its creators are pitching as a “rebirth” for the long-running franchise.

Among other new features, Dynasty Warriors 9 boasts open-world gameplay, abandoning the level-based progression structure common to previous series entries.

Recommended Videos

According to a Siliconera report, Dynasty Warriors 9 will attempt to recreate the entirety of China’s map as it existed during the Three Kingdoms period. Gameplay unfolds in an open-world format and players will encounter new missions and challenges as they explore its miles of simulated landscape on foot or on horseback.

Over the course of their journey, players will stumble upon villages that can be explored for clues and supplies. The upcoming sequel will also introduce Zhou Cang as a playable character, who arrives alongside a cast of 83 returning fighters from Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires. Additional starring characters will be announced as the game approaches its retail release.

Following up on a one-on-one fighting game from 1997, 2000’s Dynasty Warriors 2 introduced a style of gameplay that served as the formula for dozens of Koei Tecmo titles released in the years afterward. Taking inspiration from arcade beat-’em-ups, the series put players in control of Three Kingdoms-era warlords who can level entire battlefields using flashy melee combos and special moves.

The Dynasty Warriors series later spawned the Sengoku-era Samurai Warriors franchise, along with a multitude of spinoff games based on anime and manga licenses like Gundam, One Piece, and Fist of the North Star. An upcoming crossover game, Musou Stars, will see Dynasty Warriors’ starring cast fighting alongside characters from Ninja Gaiden and the Dead or Alive series.

Target platforms and a release date for Dynasty Warriors 9 are not yet known.

Danny Cowan
Former Contributor
Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…
Sonic Frontiers’ open-world pivot is exactly what the series needs
Sonic looks surprised as he stares at an open world.

If you spend a lot of time with Sonic fans, you've probably heard the same few takes over and over. "Sonic had a rough time transitioning into 3D." "Sega needs to stop with the boost formula." "Sonic needs a new Adventure game to come back."

Well, now the new Sonic go-to line among Blue Blur loyalists is "Open world design is the best next step for the Sonic franchise." And as a Sonic fan since the 1991 original, I am fully on board on board with that take. Sonic Frontiers has me excited because it's exactly what the series needs to keep up with the times.
Open zone
Throughout the years, the Sonic the Hedgehog series has become known for its tendency to evolve. We've seen everything from your standard 2D platforming of the original title to more exploration-based games like Sonic Adventure. Sonic Unleashed experimented with speed-boost hallway levels, while Secret of the Rings failed to nail the "auto-runner." Sonic The series has never been one to stick to a playstyle. While the results of these changes have greatly varied from game to game, Sonic Team hasn't stopped searching for the perfect formula, and that exploration is now taking it to Sonic Frontiers.

Read more
3 new Game Pass games to play this weekend (July 11-13)
tony-hawks-pro-skater-3-4-rio-nora-zion

We're officially in the throes of summer and, depending on where you live, suffering through the incredible heat. While I always think it's good to get out and enjoy the summer, there's a limit on how much sun we can take and need to head inside to relax with some cool Game Pass games. I'm especially excited for this weekend because there's one game here that not only screams summer, but also tickles that nostalgic part of my brain. I think even newcomers will love that pick, but I always throw in two other options just in case you're looking for something a bit different. Make sure you check out my last pick because I know you've never heard of it, and it might just be your weekend obsession.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4

Read more
The best budget gaming headset is even more affordable for Prime Day — hurry!
HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 sitting on a countertop.

If you need a new gaming headset for Prime Day but you've already spent a lot on gaming PC deals or gaming laptop deals, the good news is that the budget-friendly HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is on sale for an even lower price for the shopping event. From $50 originally, it's down to just $37 following a 26% discount. We're not sure if the $13 in savings will hold until the final minutes of Prime Day, but if you want to make sure that you're able to take advantage of this bargain, you should proceed with the purchase right now.

$37 at Amazon

Read more