Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires

If you can laser focus on the strategy elements, and maybe favor diplomacy over direct conflict, there is a playable though still rough experience here. But if you’re looking for satisfying Warriors combat, there are plenty of better options already on Switch.

Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires adds a satisfying strategic element to the Musou formula, helping to make each strike on the battlefield more meaningful. However, poor performance and a hefty price tag make it difficult to recommend on Switch hardware.

Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires had everything to correct the main issues from the non-Empires version, however, it has not only failed at that but also managed to come packed with new issues. Whether you are a musou or a Dynasty Warriors fan, there are better options available on the Nintendo Switch.

Combine the game itself feeling somewhat undercooked in terms of modes and features and the atrocious technical performance, and you have a rather bitter pill for any Switch-owning Dynasty Warriors fans that choose to swallow it. I won’t say you can’t mine some enjoyment out of this version of the game, but you’re going to have to be more forgiving than you’ve had to be with any prior Warriors game on the platform.

Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires is a poor Switch port of a disappointing entry in the long-running spin-off series. This is a hugely downgraded version of the game, with seriously dialled-back visuals failing to put a stop to consistent frame rate issues during the heat of battle. With a lack of gameplay modes, zero multiplayer options, terrible AI and cosmetic customisation options gone AWOL at launch — Koei Tecmo choosing instead to go the DLC route — this is a truly lacklustre package, a bargain bin affair with a premium price tag, and a Dynasty Warriors game you can feel quite comfortable skipping entirely.