Dynasty Warriors: Origins Marks the Series’ Most Impressive Debut

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a game that truly took me by surprise. If I could have, I would’ve sung its praises even more in a review. It stands out as my top choice in the series, setting its story amidst the historic Three Kingdoms era of China. You step into the shoes of a mysterious soldier whose fate is intertwined with shaping China’s future. But don’t just take my word for it.

This past weekend, the game nearly hit a remarkable 70,000 concurrent players, peaking at just shy of 69,483. To put that into perspective, the last four iterations of the series only managed a peak of 3,900 players together. That’s over 17 times fewer than Origins’ debut.

The buzz doesn’t stop there. Origins has also secured its spot as the second-largest launch for any Koei Tecmo game. Alejandro from Game Discover Co showcased this milestone with a compelling graph comparing these games side by side.

Now let’s dive deeper into the differences between Dynasty Warriors: Origins and another major title, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. While Wo Long holds the record for the company’s largest launch, Origins seems to be winning in fan satisfaction. On Steam, Wo Long sits at a rather lukewarm 47% approval rating. In stark contrast, Origins boasts a stunning 94%. This difference likely translates to stronger, sustained sales for Origins.

Despite having 6,000 fewer users, it’s hard to imagine Wo Long being financially steadier on Steam, considering its mixed reception and potential returns. But let’s not discount Wo Long’s impressive numbers, surpassing 3.8 million players in less than two months. However, Dynasty Warriors: Origins’ achievement is particularly noteworthy in a series that usually garners only niche interest.

But what do the players themselves say about Dynasty Warriors: Origins?

Lothair Mantelar shares, “It’s been quite a long while since I actually enjoyed Dynasty Warriors. This is an excellent step forward for the series and feels like a fresh start without abandoning everything that made the previous titles fun. Very interested to see how they build on this one.”

Ackman praises the game’s unique blend of combat, saying, “I’m not entirely sure how they made the officer fights feel like Ghost of Tsushima while the crowds feel like a Warriors game, but they pulled it off. Best Warriors game in years, as a fan of the genre.”

Enhasa adds to the accolades, “They could’ve easily crapped out another Dynasty Warriors game, and I still would’ve liked it, but instead, they opted to make a really, really good one. Definitely one of my favorite trends in gaming. From gameplay to voice acting, everything is just better. I do miss the days of Cow Cow, though. RIP Cow Cow, you were a real one.”

As much as I’ve already raved about this game, it’s worth repeating – Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a breath of fresh air for the series. Whether you’re captivated by rich storytelling or the exhilarating battle mechanics against thousands of enemies at once, this is a game worth experiencing. If you’ve enjoyed Warriors-style games before, I highly recommend you dive into what is now my top game of 2025.