Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment pushes Musou combat to new heights on the Nintendo Switch 2, my full review.

I’ve been a die-hard Zelda fan ever since first discovering The Legend of Zelda on the NES. Ocarina of Time on the N64 remains one of my all-time favourites, and Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom only deepened my appreciation for the series. So when Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment arrived on the Nintendo Switch 2, I dove in with high expectations. Could it deliver the rich narrative and ancient-Hyrule lore I always hope for?

"...this is a gameplay-first focused adventure, and it’s the best the series has ever felt on the battlefield."

The answer is: partially. Age of Imprisonment continues threads from the mainline series, but it doesn’t significantly expand the mythology. The trade-off, though, is unmistakable: this is a gameplay-first focused adventure, and it’s the best the series has ever felt on the battlefield.

Let’s explore why Age of Imprisonment may not push Hyrule’s lore forward, but still stands out as a thrilling, must-play action experience.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Details

Platform: Nintendo Switch 2

Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2

Developer: Koei Tecmo Games

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Action / Hack-and-Slash / Musou

Available game modes: Single-player, two-player local split-screen co-op

ESRB Rating: Teen

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Story - Echoes of Ancient Hyrule

The campaign in Age of Imprisonment takes place during the legendary Imprisoning War, the ancient conflict referenced in Tears of the Kingdom. You get to see this war play out firsthand through characters like Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and Mineru. It’s genuinely exciting to witness such a pivotal slice of Zelda history brought to life, and as a longtime fan, I loved seeing these mythic moments become playable. The campaign runs about 15 to 20 hours, depending on how many side missions you tackle. It delivers some great cutscenes, but it never digs as deeply into the lore as I hoped. I wanted more world-building and more revelations about ancient Hyrule. Still, what’s there is enjoyable, and it does a good job of supporting the action-packed gameplay.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Gameplay

The gameplay here is simply the best the series has ever offered. It’s fast, fluid, explosive, and endlessly satisfying. Controls are streamlined, making combos easy to learn but incredibly rewarding to master. Every hit feels powerful, every dodge and counter has weight, and the animations make combat shine with chaotic beauty. There are moments where the action becomes a genuine visual feast: elemental explosions, impeccably timed abilities, massive enemy swarms, and slick finishers all blending into a consistent rhythm of high-energy fun. It’s the best Musou action the series has seen yet, and it was hard to put down.

Gameplay Continues to Evolve Through the Experience

As you play, you unlock new combos for each character, and this progression becomes one of the game’s strongest hooks. I found myself constantly wanting to try out new moves, remix strategies, and push each hero to their limit. There are small UI issues, such as an expanding “long menu,” that can be hard to navigate in the heat of battle.

"The real-time character swapping is another big plus, adding terrific variety to each battle."

Thankfully, there is a quick-menu item remapping system that helps keep your most used items easily accessible. The real-time character swapping is another big plus, adding terrific variety to each battle. The evolving mechanics and character diversity kept me locked in and genuinely excited for each new encounter. If you are looking for fast-paced, strategic action, Age of Imprisonment feels incredible.

Zonai Devices Add Variety and Strategy to Combat

I absolutely loved the implementation of Zonai devices in this game. These tools aren’t just gimmicks; they add meaningful layers to the combat. Each device runs on limited battery power, and managing that resource becomes a fun little meta-strategy. Do you burn battery early on a big attack combo, or save it for a clutch moment? Every choice feels impactful, especially against tougher bosses in big showdowns.

Different characters use Zonai devices in different ways, creating an exciting variety of playstyles.

"Different characters use Zonai devices in different ways, creating an exciting variety of playstyles."

Launching enemies into the air, blasting through crowds, creating elemental zones, it all offers a ton of variety to keep things fresh. I found myself constantly experimenting with combinations of abilities and devices because the moment-to-moment payoff is so satisfying. The Zonai mechanics keep things fresh and creative even after hours of play and in the endgame.

Sync Strike Gauge: A High-Powered Pay-Off

The Sync Strike Gauge is another standout mechanic in Age of Imprisonment. As you fight, the gauge builds up, eventually allowing you to unleash a devastating co-attack between paired characters. Each pairing has a unique look and feel, giving these strikes a sense of personality and intentionality.

What I love most is how these Sync Strikes feel like a reward. You’ve fought hard, built up momentum, and now you get to unleash this visually spectacular attack that turns the tide of battle. It reinforces the theme of teamwork, and it makes experimenting with different character pairings genuinely worthwhile.

Graphics and Performance in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Visually, this is one of the slickest and most impressive Warriors games ever released. On the Switch 2, the game often runs at a near-flawless 60 fps during intense battles, even when dozens upon dozens of enemies crowd the screen. The improvement over Age of Calamity on the original Switch is dramatic; this feels smooth, responsive, and incredibly stable. In terms of how many enemies appear on screen and all the visual effects, this is a technical showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2.

"In terms of how many enemies appear on screen and all the visual effects, this is a technical showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2."

I did notice the occasional frame drop or two during extremely effect-heavy moments, but these were infrequent and never broke the flow of the action. Two-player split-screen co-op drops the framerate down to 30 fps to manage performance, but it remains stable and fun to play with a partner. Overall, the crisp animations, rich particle effects, and improved processor power of the Switch 2 make this one of the most technically polished musou titles out there.

Audio and Sound Design

The audio experience in Age of Imprisonment is excellent across the board. The soundtrack blends classic Zelda themes with intense battle rhythms, creating a mood that fits both the action and the legendary setting. The music ramps up dynamically as fights intensify, giving each encounter a cinematic edge.

"The music ramps up dynamically as fights intensify, giving each encounter a cinematic edge."

Voice acting is solid throughout, with characters like Zelda and Rauru delivering confident and emotional performances. The sound effects deserve special praise, too; every swing, explosion, device activation, and magical burst is crisp and satisfying. I especially enjoyed the audio cues tied to Zonai devices and Sync Strikes, which add an extra layer of tactile impact to the gameplay.

Final Thoughts on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an excellent action game and a worthy addition to the Zelda universe. Even though the story left me wanting more, the gameplay more than makes up for it. The combat is addictive, polished, and filled with strategic depth. Zonai devices, the Sync Strike system, and character abilities all come together in a way that makes this the best Warriors-style combat the franchise has ever had.

"Zonai devices, the Sync Strike system, and character abilities all come together in a way that makes this the best Warriors-style combat the franchise has ever had."

If you’re a Zelda fan who loves high-energy battles, or a musou enthusiast looking for your next battle, this is an easy recommendation. I had an absolute blast playing it, and I know I’ll be returning for more missions, combos, and chaos.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment PROS

+Outstanding, deeply satisfying combat

+Zonai devices and Sync Strikes add incredible variety

+Excellent performance on Switch 2 with beautiful visuals

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment CONS

-Story is fairly minimal and leaves some lore threads untouched

-Dynamic resolution can dip noticeably in handheld

-Cutscenes run at 30 fps, making them feel a bit less polished

Overall Assessment of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Gameplay: 9/10

Graphics: 8.5/10

Sound: 8.5/10

Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall Rating of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment: 34.5/40 (85%)

Nintendo provided a copy of this game in order to conduct this review.

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About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina

Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!

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