Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

If you enjoyed Koei Tecmo’s previous collaborations with Nintendo, you will likely love this installment. Koei Tecmo has brought its Musou “Warriors” style to Nintendo properties five times now—twice with Fire Emblem and three times with The Legend of Zelda.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment might be the most cohesive and well-integrated entry yet. It showcases how Koei Tecmo has refined its approach to balancing intense, large-scale action with a deeper narrative experience.

Previously, Warriors games featured brief cutscenes framing extended beat-em-up gameplay. Now, the story is more seamlessly woven in, with key battles incorporating cutscenes, shifting characters and perspectives, and more narrative elements flowing directly into the gameplay.

This change may seem minor, but it unifies the experience, making it feel less like isolated arcade-style levels and more like a connected adventure. The story itself adds a respectable layer to the Zelda universe.

Set during the same arc as Tears of the Kingdom, the game begins with Zelda falling into a magical sinkhole, waking up at the dawn of Hyrule’s history, where she meets the very first king and queen of the kingdom.

This blend of history and new storytelling invites players to explore the origins of Hyrule while enjoying the signature Warriors gameplay.

Author's summary: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment masterfully fuses engaging Musou gameplay with an immersive, well-integrated narrative that enriches the Zelda lore.

Digitally Downloaded — 2025-11-06

Review: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

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