Fans of Nintendo’sZeldaseries might fondly remember the breathtaking open world ofBreath of the Wild. However, players who want a more action-packed take on Link’s adventures in Hyrule might appreciateHyrule WarriorsandAge of Calamity. Unlike a conventional action game,Hyrule Warriorsplays like a Musou title.
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Made popular by Koei Tecmo’sWarriorsseries (e.g.,Dynasty Warriors), Musou games differentiate themselves from typical hack and slash titles due to their semi open-world nature. They have a prevalent Musou gauge feature that, once filled up, can unleash over-the-top combos that wreak havoc on the map. What are some other hack and slash games similar toHyrule Warriors?
10Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires
In essence,Dynasty Warriorsacts as a fantastical adaptation of the popular “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” novel. Instead of simply showcasing the power struggle between ancient China’s Eastern Wu, Cao Wei, and Shu Han kingdoms,Dynasty Warriorsadds an action-packed twist.
Players can choose from more than 30+ characters across the three factions and tear through hundreds of soldiers in vast combat scenarios. However,Dynasty Warriors 8: Empiresups the ante with improved graphics and an immersive Empire Mode. In the latter, players don’t just play through various scenarios, but their chosen character will head a province in ancient China andexpand it through various strategic mechanisms.
9Samurai Warriors 4: Empires
Players who want to take theirDynasty Warriorsexperience to Feudal Japan will enjoySamurai Warriors. These games take place during Japan’s Warring States period.Samurai Warriorstakes cues from theDynasty Warriorsline, including unique character movesets, waves of enemy soldiers to demolish using awesome techniques, and a straightforward story. However,Samurai Warriors 4: EmpiresincorporatesDynasty Warriors' Empires Mode.
UnlikeDynasty Warriors,Samurai Warriors 4: Empiresintroducesa more complex allegiance system, policies that affect personal conflicts, and a 4X-like territory management systemthat fans might like more thanDynasty Warriors'.
8Warriors Orochi 4: Ultimate
Fans of theWarriorsseries might end up trying to compare the power levels of their favorite characters. Thankfully,Warriors Orochibridges this gap by bringing everyone together in one massive brawl. In essence, the Serpent King Orochi escapes from his prison and uses space-time manipulation to bring the heroes of the Three Kingdoms and Warring States Era together. In the end, the Warriors manage to defeat Orochi and his minions. Unfortunately, the Serpent King manages to come back sequel after sequel.
ForWarriors Orochi 4: Ultimate’s gameplay, Koei Tecmo and Omega Force merge the best mechanics from the two series to make a more cohesivetitle.
7Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn
Players who always wanted to obliterate hundreds of Mobile Suits with their favorite Gundam can finally do so,Warriorsstyle. InDynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn, Koei andOmega Forceteam up to bring Mobile Suits from over 20Gundammedia in a single game. UnlikeWarriors,Gundam Reborndoesn’t have a shared storyline between the media featured. Instead, the game features iconic moments where players need to use various Gundam from different series.
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The game’s various missions allow players to do battle with various Gundam of their choosing. Additionally, the game features space battles and the possibility to use Mobile Armor as units or even request support fire from popular starships.
6One Piece: Pirate Warriors Series
Fans who want a more action-packedOne Piecegame will appreciateOne Piece: Pirate Warriors. Despite being a Musou series, thePirate Warriorsgames also have lengthy Story Modes that cover various arcs of the manga. The only exception is the second game, as that has an original story. The devs also tried replicating the characters' iconic mannerisms and visual cues as much as possible.
These games adopt the hack and slash formula synonymous with theWarriorsbrand. However,Pirate Warriorsalso has unique elements such as Super Techniques, Comrade Strikes, and even dashes.One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4is the most recent entry in this series.
5Fire Emblem Warriors
Players ofFire Emblemwhowant a break from the game’s intense strategic mindsetmight appreciateFire Emblem Warriors. Unlike the main title,Fire Emblem Warriorstakes on the Musou formula of hack and slash. The game featuresFire Emblem’s most popular characters as they tear through opponents in various areas.
Unlike other Musou titles,Fire Emblem Warriorsthrows ina fewFire Emblemmechanics. For instance, players can still issue commands to units. Furthermore, the game still follows the Weapon Triangle, enabling players to have different results when fighting with swords, axes, lances, tomes, bows, and dragonstones.
4Attack On Titan 2
Attack on Titandelivers a seat-gripping narrative and over-the-top action. After all, despite how awesome Captain Levi and the other Scouts are in their 3D Maneuver Gear, anyone can die against the hulking Titans. Thankfully, players can attempt to turn the tide of battle to humanity’s side inAttack on Titan 2. In this game, players play through the first two seasons of theAttack on Titananime.
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This title allows players to create their own character who will become a member of the Scout Regiment. In turn, events of the first two seasons of the anime take place from their point of view. In terms of gameplay, players navigate cityscapes while zooming past various buildings with the 3D Maneuver Gear, like what the heroes do in the anime.
3Berserk And The Band Of The Hawk
Berserkis knownfor its high-octane actionin a brutal and unfair world. Koei and Omega Force translate these elements perfectly inBerserk and the Band of the Hawk(orBerserk Musou). InBerserk Musou, players follow Guts from the Golden Age Arc to the Hawk of the Millennium Empire Arc, which are substantial parts of the story.
The game represents popular battles in the story in an engaging way. InBerserk Musou, characters can unleash powerful attacks with the Frenzy Mode, or even have Transformations featuring Guts' Berserker Armor or Griffith’s God Hand Femto.
2Drakengard 3
Players who want a unique take on their RPG experience should check out theDrakengardseries. This dark fantasy title lets players experience a story in Medieval Europe-esque Midgard where humans coexist with dragons and other creatures. Central to the game’s plot are “pacts” humans can form with beasts, and the series boasts some ofthe most complicated plotsin video game history. Despite sharing a setting, theDrakengardgames generally tell their own stories.
InDrakengard 3, players take on the role of Zero and her dragon Mikhail. The game introduces Zero as an Intoner, a powerful being who can use song to perform magic. However, Zero needs to kill her fellow Intoners who may bring chaos to the world. Despite this dark premise,Drakengard 3grabs players with its flashy fight-scenes as well as rather intense RPG mechanics. For instance, Zero can alternate between five weapons and has epic aerial battles with Mikhail.
1Naruto Shippudden: Ultimate Ninja Impact
Fans ofNarutohave more than 20 games to take them through Naruto Uzumaki’s journey. However,Naruto Shippudden: Ultimate Ninja Impactamps up the action to 100 and lets players tear through wave after wave of enemy shinobi.Unlike otherNarutogames,Ultimate Ninja Impactfocuses more on area-based attacks. In turn, characters have techniques that let them obliterate multiple targets in thisWarriors-style game.
ThePlaystation Portabletitle comes packed with content. In terms of story, the game takes place between the Kazekage Retrieval Mission and the Five Kage Summit, covering more than half ofShippudden’s storyline.
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