Nintendo's February 2022 Direct revealed a huge variety of games, including several remakes, localizations of Japan-only titles, and even a whole game’s worth of DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It was a packed Direct, even without some of Nintendo's biggest upcoming titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4. The rest of Nintendo's year looks strong, and one game that stood out in the Direct was Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes.
Few expected the Fire Emblem series to revisit the Three Houses universe again, or return to the Warriors series, so soon. Very little about the game is known considering it's a major project that will be coming out in just four months. However, what this shows is a pattern that Nintendo and Koei Tecmo will probably stick to in the future, releasing of a new Nintendo Warriors spin-off every few years.
The History of Nintendo Warriors Games
Nintendo's consoles have hosted their fair share of Warriors titles and spin-offs, but were never associated with the series. As various licensed properties began to receive Warriors or Musou adaptations, in December 2013 Nintendo dropped a teaser trailer for Hyrule Warriors. This Warriors spin-off adapted characters from throughout the Legend of Zelda series. No one knew what to make of it at the time, and fans remained unsure what to think until it came out in 2014. The game received a lot of acclaim and even more developer support, with frequent DLC and two updated re-releases coming out in the subsequent years.
Before Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition in 2018, Fire Emblem Warriors released in 2017. This game was less beloved than Hyrule Warriors, but Musou fans who stuck with it were impressed by the tactical modes added to the game post-launch. After the announcement and release of Persona 5 Strikers, Nintendo and Koei Tecmo surprised everyone again by announcing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which serves as a prequel and alternate history story for Breath of the Wild. Now that its DLC has wrapped up, Fire Emblem Warriors will be revisited once again with Three Hopes. It seems like Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have tried to release a new Warriors spin-off every two or three years, and the trend has every reason to continue.
The Role of Warriors Games in Nintendo's Lineup
While Nintendo's investment in Warriors games seems odd at first glance, it's a very sensible move. Warriors games have a solid formula that changes little between titles, and their overall design has been refined over the past couple of decades. As usual developer Omega Force has proven, just about anything can be slotted into the Warriors formula and work well. The actual quality and wider appeal of each resulting title is up in the air, but strong franchises with assistance from Nintendo and sometimes other teams at Tecmo have produced high-quality results.
Warriors games owned by Nintendo also fill several niches that its lineup does not usually cover. Dynasty Warriors is the face of the modern hack-and-slash genre, and there's no reason not to go straight for the source if Nintendo wants to cover that base. These titles also provide more action-RPG elements than Nintendo's normal fare. The sole focus on action combat coupled with detailed progression and equipment systems combine to reach an audience that Nintendo might otherwise miss. Warriors spin-offs also serve as filler in the release schedule that can be a hit with fans and receive additional monetization. Getting into the Warriors space was a smart move by Nintendo, and its results should help Koei Tecmo’s projects in turn.
Where Nintendo Warriors Titles Can Go From Here
With all the Warriors spin-off success, it would make sense for Nintendo to commission more games. A new Nintendo Warriors title could be released every few years, depending on how much new content has to be developed. A unique franchise adaptation would take longer to plan out and create than a proper new Hyrule Warriors, for example. However, current efforts have been limited to The Legend of Zelda and Fire Emblem, with no indication of spreading to other franchises. The topic has been broached by Koei Tecmo, with statements saying it would be willing to tackle Nintendo's other franchises in the future.
One of the best parts of the Warriors games is how applicable their formula is. "Super Smash Warriors" is easy to conceptualize and could serve as a jumping-off point for several Warriors games. Super Mario Warriors would require some alterations to the usual formula, but seeing a Warriors game with strong platformer elements could be interesting. Pokemon Warriors would slot well into Pokemon’s spin-off library, and the franchise has no shortage of characters. Even Kirby Warriors feels like it would work with Kirby's copy abilities and allies filling out the roster. After several games, Nintendo's Warriors spin-offs still have an enormous amount of untapped potential.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes releases for Nintendo Switch on June 24, 2022.
