Ranking Every Dynasty Warriors Game Worst To Best

Since the release of Dynasty Warriors in 1997, this legendary hack and slash series has spanned nine mainline games, dozens of spinoffs, crossovers, and adaptions of the Warriors formula to storied franchises such as Gundam, One Piece, and Dragon Quest. It is the benchmark by which all other hack and slash, "1 vs. 1000" games are judged, and with recent successful collaborations with Nintendo (Fire Emblem Warriors and Hyrule Warriors) and Atlus (Persona 5 Strikers), this series shows no signs of stopping.

Even so, not all games are created equal. As with all long-lived, popular franchises, there's no doubt that Dynasty Warriors has experienced its own ups and downs over the course of its 23-year history. Looking back to the original, mainline series, with ancient Chinese warlords fighting it out on such famous battlefields as Hu Lao Gate, Wuzhang Plains, and Chi Bi, the debate rages on as fiercely as the wars upon which the games are based. Which games deserve to be recognized as True Heroes of the 3 Kingdoms, and which are better left in the past?

For those familiar with the sprawling battlefield combat that the Dynasty Warriors series is known for, returning to the original 1997 title may prove quite a shock. Rather than a war simulator, with hordes of nameless soldiers to mow down in your quest, the first Dynasty Warriors game is actually a weapons-based fighting game that has more in common with Soulcalibur and Samurai Shodown than its own sequels. A defensive game, Dynasty Warriors' mechanical selling point was its unique parry system; rather than an all-purpose block or guard button, an opponent's moves were countered by executing one's own attack at the same height, allowing a player to execute a devastating counterattack.

Even so, the lack of kick attacks hamstrung the game's offensive potential, making fights shallower and less dynamic than its contemporaries. With regards to its placement on this list, however, the simple fact is that Dynasty Warriors has so little to do with the Dynasty Warriors series. The characters and designs are similar, but in an entirely different genre. The original Dynasty Warriors is an interesting curiosity for diehard fans to revisit, but it does little to sate the appetites of fans hungry for the now-famous Dynasty Warriors gameplay.