Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment managed to wow me in several ways and completely threw me off guard. Most notably, it was the performance that really struck me, and anyone who knows the history of Musou/Dynasty Warrior games on Nintendo platforms can relate.

Historically, Hyrule Warriors games haven’t really been up to par for their launches. They’re marred by technical issues and frequent framerate drops, which can become a big problem when there are armies of enemies on-screen. Age of Imprisonment, on the other hand, nails it on the first try.

Slick Performance Was Always The Dream

Age of Imprisonment Gives It To Us

For fans of the series (myself included), know about the troubled history of Hyrule Warriors (or many Warriors games in general) on Nintendo platforms. Ever since the original game on the Wii U, through its re-releases and sequels, and into the Fire Emblem Warriors series, the series has seen its share of technical issues.

When I first played Age of Imprisonment on Switch 2, I almost couldn’t believe that Koei Tecmo and Nintendo had finally gotten it right. The gameplay was smooth and stable, complemented by fantastic character animations and a wealth of personality.

In recent memory, Pokémon Legends Z-A had a similar renaissance. Although it might not be the Pokémon game everyone wants, I was similarly shocked to see how well it ran and how stable it was to roam around the open world. While the efficacy of the art direction is up for debate, the execution of the game’s performance was admirable.

Many fans had expected that this sort of equilibrium was possible, but now it has finally come to fruition.

Hopefully, This Is The New Normal On Switch 2

Apparently, Performance Is Possible

The major thing to note in all this is that it will be impossible to go back. If the next Pokémon or Hyrule Warriors entry isn’t as smooth, fans are sure to revolt.

It’s safe to say that probably won’t happen unless there’s a major pre-launch issuewith the next Warriors game on Switch 2, but the jury is always out on Pokémon.

In any case, we have Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment right now​​. If you’ve been turned off by the performance of the series in the past, this might be the perfect time to jump in. Additionally, it benefits from a self-contained narrative, which makes it even more beginner-friendly.

Released

November 6, 2025

ESRB

Teen / Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Koei Tecmo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Local Co-Op