Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review
Zelda's journey into Hyrule's ancient past delivers what feels like the best Hyrule Warriors game to date. Playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, I couldn’t help but think of Tears of the Kingdom, especially how it told its story, much like how Age of Calamity expanded on Breath of the Wild's origins.
While Zelda games have always involved story, recent releases seemed to stumble narratively, despite strong potential. I appreciated the idea of a behind-the-scenes tale set after Breath of the Wild in Tears of the Kingdom, but it left some important gaps. On paper, Age of Imprisonment promised to address those gaps with a narrative that could finally fulfill that emotional depth.
As with Tears of the Kingdom, the success hinged entirely on execution—and it also needed to be a solid Warriors game. Fortunately, it turned out to be a surprising standout and a personal favorite this year.
Before diving in, if you're reading this, you likely know the basics of Dynasty Warriors, since that knowledge helps in appreciating Age of Imprisonment.
"It's all well and good then that it's a sleeper hit for my personal game of the year."
Author's summary:
This game bridges narrative gaps in the Zelda timeline with strong execution, making it a shining entry in the Warriors series and a top contender of the year.