WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate

The best game in the Warriors franchise to date, and a perfect starting platform for any new fan to the series.

85%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, stability

92% User Score Based on 788 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 18 reviews

Platforms

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About

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game. It was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. and was released on September 2, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition" is the ultimate version of the musou-style game featuring a massive roster of characters from the Dynasty and Samurai Warriors series. This edition includes special costumes and all previous DLCs, allowing players to change text language and choose from over 170 playable characters. However, changing the text language may clear some wallpaper settings and require re-entering saved Musou Battlefields and party names for Gauntlet Mode.

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 788 reviews

story54 positive mentions

grinding44 negative mentions

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate is considered the best game in the Orochi series, featuring a massive roster of over 140 characters and a wealth of content including all DLCs.
The game offers engaging gameplay with strategic elements, allowing for team building, switch combos, and special abilities that enhance the combat experience.
The story is well-received, featuring a time-traveling plot with multiple endings, and the game is praised for its nostalgic value and fun factor.

The PC port has several technical issues, including graphical glitches during certain musou attacks and a lack of autosave, which can lead to lost progress.
Some players have reported input lag and controller support issues, making gameplay less smooth than expected.
The game can be grindy, requiring significant time investment to unlock all characters and complete achievements, which may deter some players.

story
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
74%
1%
The story of the game is generally praised for being engaging and straightforward, featuring a time-traveling plot with multiple endings that intertwines mythology and characters from previous series. While some players find the narrative cheesy or repetitive, many appreciate its depth and the character dynamics, making it a standout aspect of the game. Overall, the story contributes significantly to the game's replayability and enjoyment, especially for fans of the musou genre.
- “The story is engaging and more straightforward than its sequel, featuring a time-traveling plot with multiple endings.”
- “The engaging story, the huge amount of content and the variety in terms of characters' playstyles make this one of the best, if not the ultimate musou game out there.”
- “The story is very anime, and the characters honestly have very fun dynamics, I find myself really enjoying the side battle where you just play as 3 characters getting into wacky battles, not trying to save anyone just solving issues or they heard rumors of someone and they investigate it.”
- “I have very little to say about the story.”
- “It's a musou game made by Koei Tecmo, so expect a cheesy storyline, sometimes with interactions that can make you cringe - this isn't a negative per se, it's just not my cup of tea so I tend to skip most of the dialogue.”
- “-too many repeat maps (which makes sense considering that it's tied to the story mode) which make the gameplay feel more repetitive as all hell.”
graphics
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
84%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reminiscent of the PS3 era, with many users noting issues such as graphical glitches, framerate drops, and missing effects. While some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and the game's overall presentation, they express a desire for improved graphics and performance. Overall, the visuals hold up decently for their time, but technical flaws can detract from the experience, particularly at higher refresh rates.
- “The graphics have aged fairly well, and scale nicely to 4k resolution, and I haven't experienced any glitches, lag, or crashes thus far.”
- “This game is just like how I remembered the older versions being; I'm not sure if this is an HD version that was released on Steam, but I greatly appreciate its graphics and game handling.”
- “Now add everything mentioned above to an epic soundtrack with cool visuals and you'll have an almost perfect action game - if you're into this kind of genre, of course.”
- “The game runs at a hard 60fps cap on release, which in itself could be tolerable but the longstanding 'black-boxes' and missing effects glitch rages to this day with no official patch rectifying this issue, with the only solution being to lower your monitor's refresh rate back to a hard 60hz every time you load the game to get the full particle and graphical effects within.”
- “My complaint is that it seems like this game has gone backward in a few ways, such as graphics, presentation, and the game engine.”
- “That was 10 years ago, and the graphics in this game, while better, are still PS3 era.”
gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The gameplay of Warriors Orochi 3 is praised for its engaging hack-and-slash mechanics and a vast array of content, including a large character roster and multiple modes that promise extensive replayability. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and addictive, others note issues such as repetitiveness in maps and technical flaws that detract from the experience. Overall, it stands out in the musou genre, offering a blend of fun mechanics and a rich story, though it may not appeal to those seeking more complex gameplay.
- “Warriors Orochi 3 is a standout in the musou genre, offering a perfect blend of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun, there's boatloads of content, a surprisingly decent story, and a massive character roster with all the DLC stages and skins.”
- “The main story mode and secondary gauntlet mode are very deep and promise hundreds of hours of gameplay, with nearly 150 characters and 4 difficulty levels in the story, providing almost limitless replay value.”
- “Gameplay may seem rote and repetitive for those who have gotten into more sophisticated and challenging musou-like games in the meantime.”
- “I don't know if newer games are just more polished or if Koei didn't care about polishing this port, but it really is a letdown and right now I cannot recommend it over Warriors Orochi 4, whose gameplay is just much better and more polished.”
- “Too many repeat maps (which makes sense considering that it's tied to the story mode) which make the gameplay feel more repetitive as all hell.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it rewarding and enjoyable, especially in the context of musou games, others feel it can become tedious and overly time-consuming. Many reviews highlight the need for extensive grinding to achieve certain goals, which can detract from the overall experience, though the diverse cast of characters and leveling systems provide some incentive to engage in it. Overall, the game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding, which may appeal to dedicated fans but can frustrate those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Sadly, some achievements need insane grinding, which I don't like because it's so boring pretty fast.”
- “The game has built-in ways to stop you from grinding and it's annoying as hell.”
- “Don't waste your precious time grinding in this game.”
stability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is notably inconsistent, with many users reporting various graphical glitches, framerate drops, and issues with special attacks, particularly when not played at a refresh rate of 60 Hz. While some players have experienced a smooth performance without significant problems, others have encountered persistent visual artifacts and gameplay bugs that can detract from the experience. Overall, adjusting settings may mitigate some issues, but the port is generally considered buggy.
- “I assume the game wasn't made for super high refresh rates, but still, other than that, it runs great.”
- “Very buggy port, does not generate save data file.”
- “Constant framerate drops, graphical glitches, and attacks not working properly.”
- “Loads of graphical glitches, unregistered musou attack hits, framerate issues, and level-breaking bugs (rare).”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised as a standout feature, blending rock, techno, and classical Asian elements, with particularly noted flute and piccolo solos that enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of previous titles like Dynasty Warriors 8 XL, the variety and quality of the soundtrack, along with its ability to elevate key moments in the game, solidify its status as one of the best in the Warriors franchise. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's epic atmosphere and engaging gameplay.
- “The soundtrack once again is a strength as it has been throughout the Warriors franchise - the music is a fantastic mix of rock, techno, and fusion or rock/metal with classical Asian elements (the flute/piccolo solos throughout are brilliant and a real treat for the ears).”
- “The character themes and music in this game are some of the best composed in the Warriors franchise.”
- “Now add everything mentioned above to an epic soundtrack with cool visuals and you'll have an almost perfect action game - if you're into this kind of genre, of course.”
- “The soundtrack once again is a strength as it has been throughout the Warriors franchise - the music is a fantastic mix of rock, techno, and fusion or rock/metal with classical Asian elements. The flute/piccolo solos throughout are brilliant and a real treat for the ears.”
- “Warriors Orochi's OST is full of bangers.”
- “I turned up the music volume and turned down the SFX volume.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback. While many players report smooth performance at 60 fps on modern hardware, some have noted occasional crashes and the need for additional tweaks, such as adjusting compatibility settings, to enhance visual performance. Additionally, there are calls for more graphics options to improve customizability and overall optimization.
- “To be honest, I'm just shocked how optimized this port runs on PC, as Koei has been known to be lacking in the port department.”
- “Optimization is good.”
- “Port is great performance-wise on my end and all the previously paid DLC (except Japanese retailer exclusives) is included.”
- “The things you have to do to make the game visually work every launch shows it isn't optimized.”
- “Just could use some optimization, and could work better with monitor settings beyond 60hz, still strongly recommended.”
- “-needs more graphics options for customizability and optimization”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The game offers exceptional replayability through various modes such as gauntlet, duel, and musou battlefields, catering to different playstyles and preferences. With a vast character roster of nearly 150 and multiple difficulty levels, players can enjoy hundreds of hours of gameplay, especially when pursuing achievements. Overall, it stands out as one of the most feature-rich musou titles, providing a compelling mix of story and content that encourages repeated play.
- “The main story mode and secondary gauntlet mode are very deep and, if you're going to grind for all the achievements, promise hundreds of hours of gameplay—I'm at nearly 200 hours playtime as of this review just trying to finish all the gauntlet mode achievements—and with nearly 150 characters and 4 difficulty levels in the story, there's almost limitless replay value.”
- “Good story, tons of content with a lot of replayability; yeah, you got me, Koei.”
- “Modes like gauntlet mode, duel, and musou battlefields extend replayability, with gauntlet mode offering the most intense challenges.”
- “Top it off with more than enough modes to fit how you feel like playing the game any given day (quick mission completion, randomly beat some stuff up, slaughter thousands of peons, etc.) and the sheer character roster, and you get a lot of replay value.”
- “The main story mode and secondary gauntlet mode are very deep and, if you're going to grind for all the achievements, promise hundreds of hours of gameplay. I'm at nearly 200 hours playtime as of this review just trying to finish all the gauntlet mode achievements, and with nearly 150 characters and 4 difficulty levels in the story, there's almost limitless replay value.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as it features no microtransactions and allows for offline play, which many players appreciate. However, some users feel the game is a rushed port, suggesting that the quality may have been compromised in pursuit of profit. Overall, it is seen as a welcome departure from typical cash grab practices.
- “Thank you for once Koei, between the US and Fatal Frame, this is your best no cash grab gift to us.”
- “Full of different characters, nice stages, no microtransactions, offline playing, good controls.”
- “The game feels like a barebones port, rushed out for a cash grab, with numerous black artifacts and bad animations that made me think my video card was malfunctioning until I read other reviews.”
- “The monetization strategy is clearly designed to exploit players, making it feel like a cash grab rather than a genuine gaming experience.”
- “It's disappointing to see such a lack of effort in the game's development, as it seems more focused on monetization than delivering quality content.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to characters and their aesthetics, with some feeling disappointment when beloved elements, like specific outfits, are missing from the game. While not all games aim for deep emotional narratives, the attachment to character design can evoke significant feelings among fans.
- “I am a huge fan of Soulcalibur; Sophitia was one of the main reasons I bought this game, so the fact that my favorite outfit for her isn't in the game is heartbreaking.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Koei's game is noted for being strong and engaging, providing players with plenty of entertaining content. However, some users express a desire for online co-op features to enhance the comedic experience with friends or other players.
- “Koei's sense of humor is strong, and this game gives you quite a lot to chew on.”
- “I know it is niche, but I wish they would implement the online co-op in these games again so if my buddy or even a random player wanted to blast through a map for some funny times, we could.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in this game is considered less complex compared to Warriors Orochi 4, with players needing to progress through the game to unlock everything rather than relying on additional DLC. The focus is more on accessible gameplay rather than intricate character growth.
- “Character development is not nearly as complex as in Warriors Orochi 4.”
- “The gameplay is more suited to pick-up-and-play, but the character development lacks depth.”

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 18 critic reviews

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66h Median play time

84h Average play time

2-168h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate is a hack and slash game.

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 84 hours playing WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate.

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate was released on September 2, 2014.

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD..

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include WARRIORS OROCHI 4, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends, SAMURAI WARRIORS 4-II, DYNASTY WARRIORS 7: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition, Samurai Warriors 4 DX and others.

WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate

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