Many gamers may not realise that the Dynasty Warriors franchise didn’t begin as the large-scale, hack-and-slash Musou experience it’s known for today. The iconic formula of mowing down thousands of enemies in a single battle only became a franchise staple with the advent of the PlayStation 2, which could finally support such ambitious gameplay. Believe it or not, Dynasty Warriors originally debuted as a 3D fighting game, one with relatively modest visuals by the standards of its time. And in 2025, the franchise is making a surprising return to those origins.
Following the positive reception of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, which embraced the traditional Musou format, the legendary tale of the Three Kingdoms is now re-emerging in a far more classic form, with a modern twist.
Unveiled via its first gameplay trailer, the new title, Heroes of the Three Kingdoms: Fighting Edition, is not a Musou game, but rather a one-on-one fighting game. Developed using Unreal Engine 5 by Taiwanese studio UserJoy Technology, the project aims to recapture the spirit of the franchise’s earliest days while embracing modern visuals and competitive gameplay mechanics.
What is Heroes of the Three Kingdoms: Fighting Edition?
This isn’t just a casual brawler. The developers are promising a truly competitive experience, one that emphasises thoughtful decision-making and strategic timing over reckless button-mashing. Players will also have access to powerful Ultimate moves that can turn the tide of battle, especially when their health is critically low.
For now, the confirmed roster of Heroes of the Three Kingdoms: Fighting Edition includes eight classic Three Kingdoms characters: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Sun Shang Xiang, Xiahou Dun, Diao Chan, Xun Yu, Dong Zhuo, and, of course, Lu Bu, all designed with familiar aesthetics that will resonate with longtime fans. However, it remains unclear whether Koei Tecmo or Omega Force, the original creators of the Dynasty Warriors franchise, are involved in any capacity.
Heroes of the Three Kingdoms: Fighting Edition is currently planned for release on mobile devices and PC via Steam, though no official release date has been announced. It’s also unknown whether the game will see an international release or remain exclusive to the Chinese market.
What is confirmed, however, is that a playable demo will be available at the upcoming Comic Expo Games Con 2025 in Taiwan, providing fans with their first hands-on experience of this unexpected revival.
