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Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty may have some flaws – e.g., inconsistent difficulty – but they are negligible. Combat is layered and addicting, the world is filled with interesting characters, and the levels are well-designed. This is a streamlined Nioh with dashes of Sekiro.
Game Info
184 AD, Later Han Dynasty China. The land is overcome by chaos and destruction. The imperial dynasty that prospered for many years is now about to collapse. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dramatic, action-packed story of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague the Three Kingdoms. Players fight off deadly creatures and enemy soldiers using swordplay based on the Chinese martial arts, attempting to overcome the odds by awakening the true power from within. Wo Long refers to a crouching dragon, and also refers to a hero or person of greatness who is not yet known. This is the story of officers, who will later become heroes, during their ‘unknown’ period, and also the story of a protagonist’s rise from being a ‘nobody’. From the depths of darkness, a dragon soars.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 102
Silver TIER
47% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, RPG, Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- Team NINJA
PUBLISHER(S):
- Koei Tecmo Games
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- Katana Engine
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
102
Critic Reviews
82
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
80%
Low Score
60%
What did you think of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Sam Greer (PC Gamer)
March 2, 2023
89/100
Technical issues aside, Wo Long is a master of its craft that future soulslikes should study under.
Alan Wen (Eurogamer)
March 2, 2023
Recommended
Team Ninja evolves Nioh’s formula in a Three Kingdoms-era action RPG where allies, flags, and stealth make its brutal challenges more manageable than ever.
Jon Bailes (GamesRadar+)
March 2, 2023
4/5 stars
Wo Long sees Team Ninja build on the core quality of the Nioh games. Its new systems, from the spirit gauge to morale levels within each stage feel well-considered and tightly honed to encourage exploration and bold, expressive fighting styles. Some old habits die hard, especially the tiresome loot gathering, but the game’s core combat and traversal options always shine through.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (102 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Juanma F. Padilla | 90 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja brings us a new title that smells of success and a new IP with this Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. A very fun, deep and challenging game that will delight all fans of the genre. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has become, on its own merits, a must-play game on our bookshelf. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Алексей Лихачев | 8 / 10 | 03-12-2023 | Despite not fixing the downsides of their previous games, Team Ninja created a good souls-like with familiar gameplay and some cool fresh ideas. Wo Long is more accessible than most games in this genre, but at the same time it stays difficult enough and offers a good challenge. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | “The game is a bit like dark souls lite, easier, more front heavy and enjoyable for casual gamers. However, be aware of tech issues, insipidly bad locations, and some wonky bugs” | Read review |
| Atomix | Aldo López | 80 / 100 | 03-10-2023 | In the end, it is a game that is worth trying because despite the small details against it, it must also be said that it meets the goal of all products of its kind, that is to entertain. So, if you’re a fan of Soulslike, you can’t miss this adventure. On the other hand, if you are new to the genre, you should know that the game must be learned little by little in order to enjoy it to its fullest. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Elliott Gatica | 5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | The best way to describe how Wo Long feels is if you combined the visuals and swordplay of the Dynasty Warriors and Nioh games with a pinch of Sekiro. What then happens is that you have a game that is quite difficult, but oh-so-rewarding when you conquer the seemingly impossible. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Milad Taher Nejad | 8 / 10 | 03-25-2023 | The latest game by Team Ninja may not be a full fledged AAA title by today’s standards, but it throws everything it has into the gameplay and the final result can easily take us back to the good old days of Ninja Gaiden games. The future looks bright for Team Ninja and I’m super excited for their upcoming game, Rise of the Ronin. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Kate Sanchez | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | I have never died so many times, and still been excited to jump back in and die again. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty may be my first completed soulslike, but it won’t be my last. If your game can launch someone into a new genre they used to avoid, it’s safe to say you’ve done something extraordinary—and Team Ninja has. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Nick Erlenhof | 8.9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty continues the familiar formula of the Nioh series and transports the whole thing to the Chinese era of the three empires. The new gameplay, which is purely based on counterattacks, brings so much fun and freedom that you can easily overlook the story, the somewhat inflationary loot and the fluctuating difficulty level. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Zubi Khan | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but what it does, it does right and continues Team Ninja’s trend of delivering well-polished action games that reward their player base for sticking with it when things get tough. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Omi Koulas | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja has created a challenging and engaging action game in a fantasy version of Three Kingdoms China. The combat mechanics are intuitive and all work together, making strategy and consideration of each next big boss fight vital. However, those same systems can be overly complex with a flurry of gauges, ranks, and stats to consider all at once. Even with a few difficulty spikes and balancing issues, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is still a fun adventure with creative bosses and exciting battles. | Read review |
| Chicas Gamers | Álvaro Bustío | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty offers us an action game with touches of RPG set in a fictitious end of the Chinese Han dynasty. A soulslike in which learning from our mistakes will be vital for the good future of history. It has a difficulty that dances hand in hand with that frenetic action as well as fun that Team Ninja has accustomed us to. If you like the genre, it is a highly recommended and fun game to add to your collection, since after overcoming its initial peak of difficulty it will become a more affordable option. As a great incentive, mention its online mode, which will allow us to finish the adventure in the company of a friend. Completing the game will be a challenge that will cost us a lot, guaranteeing that it will be a good many hours that will hardly go below 40. | Read review |
| COGconnected | Mark Steighner | 93 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Like Sekiro and Team NINJA’s Nioh games, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty demands a lot from the player, specifically persistence, creativity and let’s be honest, decent timing and reflexes. In lots of key areas it’s a pretty traditional Soulslike, with all the challenges and rewards that come with the genre. Wo Long’s particular brilliance lies in its new mechanics and the way they flow in and out of every encounter. While some moments and fights can seem like insurmountable, immovable walls, getting around, through, or over them is never boring. Wo Long both honors the genre and pushes it forward in an exciting way. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Ashley Bates | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s engaging combat, satisfying parries and decent level design help this Soulslike become a truly entertaining package. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won’t cause massive damage. | Read review |
| Dexerto | Sam Smith | 3 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | While it features some interesting new ideas and a stunning new setting, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty fails to live up to the brilliance of Nioh and Nioh 2. A lot of effort has gone into developing the game’s spirit and deflection systems, but it leaves a feeling that Team Ninja has lost what makes titles in this genre fun – even difficult and punishing ones. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | George Yang | 4 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a thoughtfully constructed Soulslike that makes thoughtful use of its Chinese setting. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a really majestic epic, and a stunning new interpretation of a book that has already been interpreted so many times in video games. It’s a compelling telling of the story, backed up with one of the fastest and most entertaining takes on Soulslike combat that we’ve seen to date. Just make sure you’ve got your energy drinks to hand. You’re going to need some serious focus thanks to the sheer speed and precision that this game demands. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Matthew Schomer | 6.8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | A hair-pullingly difficult journey through zombie-infested ancient China that left me Crushingly Defeated.DualShockers was provided with a copy of the game for review purposes. | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | João Canelo | Recommended | 03-03-2023 | Team Ninja brings us one of the best soulsborne by cleaning up the excesses and focusing on an accessible but difficult to master combat system. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Alan Wen | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja evolves Nioh’s formula in a Three Kingdoms-era action RPG where allies, flags, and stealth make its brutal challenges more manageable than ever. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Francesco Carrabba | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long Fallen Dynasty looks like a star that shines at times, suspended between bright peaks of gameplay and technical hiccups. | Read review |
| Fextralife | Castielle | 7.8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is sure to satisfy Team Ninja and Nioh fans in the combat department, but some aspects are not quite as good as the Nioh franchise. Recommended for console players itching for satisfying action, but a wait for patches for PC players due to performance issues. | Read review |
| FingerGuns | Greg Hicks | 9 / 10 | 03-08-2023 | A beautiful take on the ancient Chinese story, Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja have joined forces to create something magical. Wo Long is a tour de force, with its only issue being that it tries too many new things that will largely be ignored. At its core, it’s a solid Souls take and gorgeous game to add to an action fan’s library. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Elijah Gonzalez | 8.8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | But even as its second half failed to match what came earlier, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a finely honed delight. Its action is precise and responsive, and learning the intricacies of each adversary is exceedingly fulfilling. While I wish its back stretch was either pared down or had a wider variety of foes, this is a rare title that induces trance-like focus and euphoric moments of victory. It may not quite reach the heights of the works that inspired it, but it’s not far off. | Read review |
| Game Rant | Adrian Morales | 4 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a fast, focused, and compelling game that is sure to challenge fans of soulslikes, but it does feel uneven at times. | Read review |
| Gameblog | KiKiToes | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | o Long Fallen Dynasty easily rises as a juggernaut of the genre. On the verge of being an unmissable classic. | Read review |
| GameCrate | Derek Swinhart | Recommended | 03-08-2023 | Wo Long is fun, fast, and fluid, with satisfying combat that empowers and challenges you equally. There is style in spades, and while the story is nothing to write home about, you’ll remember the flashy moves and monstrous bosses long after the credits roll. This is a great starting point for many looking to get into the impenetrable genre that is souls-likes, and if the pitch-perfect timing of Sekiro turned you off, Wo Long is here to offer something more approachable. | Read review |
| Gamefa | Mostafa Zahedi | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty follows in the footsteps of Nioh and manages to deliver an exciting Hardcore experience. There are some new Mechanics like Morale system, but at the end of the day, it uses the same structure as Nioh. That being said, unfortunately Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has also inherited some structural issues from Nioh. From poor story and disappointing narrative to repetitive side missions. If you loved Nioh, you are going to have a blast playing Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, but don’t forget that this game is far from perfect. It’s enjoyable, but not flawless. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Mike Crewe | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja’s latest action RPG is equal parts challenging and exhilarating, with unique mechanics that help even the odds in even the toughest of battles. A perfect new addition to a genre already stacked with quality titles. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 6 / 10 | 03-15-2023 | The act of swordplay is still quite fun in Wo Long, but as soon as you’ll get to ending credits, the game will likely just evaporate from you brain entirely. | Read review |
| GamePro | Samara Summer | 83 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Action fireworks with a great, complex combat system, but technically not always completely round. | Read review |
| Gamer Escape | Justin Mercer | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an impressive iteration for Team Ninja. It’s a more accessible title without sacrificing the challenge intrinsic to its success, it features one of the developer’s most satisfying combat systems to date, and it accomplishes this in levels that sport more verticality and exploration than ever before. It falters more than it probably should with regard to storytelling and graphical presentation—a somewhat consistent shortcoming in Team Ninja games—but it’s an exceptionally easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys more tasking action RPGs. | Read review |
| Gamersky | 心灵奇兵 | 8.8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wolong: Fallen Dynasty is a powerful action game that introduces a new gameplay experience with its core combat mechanism of parrying. This game reinterprets the history and characters of the Three Kingdoms period, providing a surprising experience for Chinese players. | Read review |
| GAMES.CH | Benjamin Braun | 81 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Nearly as fast as Sekiro dye, but still with a lot of tactical options in its duel-based fights, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty delivers a unique mix of different Soulslike attitudes. If the first boss wasn’t a little too hard and the difficulty curve flattening more and more afterwards, Wo Long maybe could have beaten Nioh 2. That way it’s not outstanding, but just a well done action RPG that can easily be recommended to any fan of the genre. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Bryn Gelbart | 8 / 10 | 03-01-2023 | Team Ninja ups the ante and the difficulty from the Nioh series. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty shares some elements with Team Ninja’s Nioh games, such as randomised loot and challenging combat, but ultimately it feels very much like its own game. It’s faster-paced, has a unique morale system, and pushes players to deflect enemy attacks in order to succeed. What lets it down ever so slightly is that some of these new features often feel poorly explained and a little underdeveloped. Otherwise, this is fresh take on the Soulslike formula. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Richard Wakeling | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long has stylish, parry-heavy combat and a more approachable challenge than most Souls-like games, but difficulty spikes may prove to be a barrier. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Jon Bailes | 4 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long sees Team Ninja build on the core quality of the Nioh games. Its new systems, from the spirit gauge to morale levels within each stage feel well-considered and tightly honed to encourage exploration and bold, expressive fighting styles. Some old habits die hard, especially the tiresome loot gathering, but the game’s core combat and traversal options always shine through. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Henry Yu | 8.8 / 10 | 03-04-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty pushes the boundaries of a Souls-like game by introducing refreshing and unique takes on otherwise overused formulas. The emphasis on deflecting and the new morale mechanic makes for a challenging and rewarding combat system only to be further enhanced by the dramatic backdrop of the Three Kingdoms. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Mike Alexander | 7 / 10 | 03-03-2023 | If you’re new to Soulslikes, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty might be the most fun and accessible one yet thanks to a number of features it implements. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Richard Allen | 100 / 100 | 07-05-2023 | Wo Long: Fall Dynasty is a near flawless game and what I hope is just an intro to this fantastic world. Team Ninja have crafted a game that takes the basic structure of Nioh and other Souls-likes and creates their own unique, rewarding, and brutally challenging experience. In its almost forty hour campaign I was constantly surprised by the amount of new locations, creative boss fights, and sheer ambition of the game. It may be early in the year, but I’d be surprised if any game beats Wo Long for the top of my year-end list. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Krista Noren | 9 / 10 | 03-15-2023 | An overwhelmingly positive experience. Combat is satisfying from start to finish, with a large variety of content for the player to dive into. A fun and unique take on the typical Three Kingdoms setting, with plenty of familiarities drawn from KOEI’s other games. While it has its flaws, they’re mostly minor and really does nothing to diminish the overall experience. Team Ninja clearly learned from their mistakes, so anyone hesitant because of Nioh has nothing to worry about here. It’s time to grab a weapon and fight for the future of the Three Kingdoms. | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | David Fernandez | 8.3 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | The inspiration in Sekiro and the good work with Nioh are clearly seen in Wo Long, which raises a point of difficulty for which only fans of souls will be prepared. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Mick Fraser | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Head into Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty with the right frame of mind and you’ll find an enjoyable adventure that refuses to pull its punches. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Karol Laska | 7 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long is a good starting point for soulslike newbies and some needed breather for more experienced players. They won’t break a sweat, but their time won’t be wasted. Wo Long has a really well-designed combat system. Pity that nothing else is as good. | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Chris Shive | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dark fantasy take on the Three Kingdoms. The difficulty is high, almost seeming insurmountable at first, but part of what makes Wo Long great is how the difficulty isn’t unfair. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Shane Boyle | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a damn near flawless game. The combat, while demanding, is the most rewarding combat system I’ve encountered, not just within Team Ninja’s portfolio, but within the Souls-like genre in general. By placing a focus on the timing of deflections and playing defense, without sacrificing any of their trademark speed and intensity, the developers over at Team Ninja have created a system that may just represent the peak of the genre. Along with the improved level design and a focus on exploration that rewards going off the beaten path, much like Elden Ring was for From Software, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty feels like the near-perfect refinement of the formula they’ve iterated on over the years. If you can look past the admittedly frustrating focus on randomized gear and a slightly incoherent story, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a masterpiece that deserves a place in the collection of any Souls-like fan. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Álvaro Alonso | 85 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is much more than “Team Ninja’s Sekiro”: the parry is a core mechanic, yes, but so are its ingenious skill system and the way it invites us to explore. If we combine these ideas with the impeccable gameplay of the studio, the result is an action game and a great first step to a new IP. | Read review |
| IGN | Mitchell Saltzman | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Familiar issues with storytelling and loot aside, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is another great entry in Team Ninja’s growing collection of action RPGs that features some of the best combat in the soulslike genre, even though those battles start to lose their tension due to a distinct lack of enemy variety to fill out the 20+ hour runtime. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Alessandra Borgonovo | 7.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long has an addicting combat system, but also troubles in finding the right balance: the new RPG from Team Ninja leans too much in the player’s favor, while reducing the sense of challenge. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Adrián Suárez | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja shows its best side. In Wo Long there are still some of its common problems, but the result is a remarkable Soulslike. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Sean Warhurst | 4.2 / 5 stars | 03-13-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is fast, frenetic and frustrating and makes no pretences about the kind of game that it is. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Levi Winslow | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | That’s what I hope developers in the genre and players of these games take away, as well. Sometimes, you need help to take down an army, especially one with demons and evildoers high on performance-enhancing drugs. Doing it yourself is possible, as shown in something like Bloodborne. But as 1986’s The Legend of Zelda put it, “It’s dangerous to go alone.” So, why not take some reinforcements with you? You’ll be grateful you did. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 7 / 10 | 03-06-2023 | A disappointing follow-up to Nioh, that has most of its same qualities but, unfortunately, almost exactly the same flaws; with two few new ideas to make up for the lack of advancement. | Read review |
| MMORPG.com | Garrick D. Raley | 7 / 10 | 03-14-2023 | Yet, although I did enjoy the time I spent with Wo Long, I don’t really want to invest more time into it. And I think that fact alone speaks more than any of my words in this review could ever convey. My main reason for not wanting to jump back in is simply because of its optimization issues on PC. I’ve seen that it suffers other problems on Xbox, such as ridiculously long loading times, whereas the PlayStation version is relatively free from these worries. Which makes sense, given that Team Ninja’s last two titles, Nioh and Nioh 2, initially launched exclusively on PlayStation consoles before. On PC however, it just feels like a bad port. Which, to be clear, it is. I found the overarching experience in Wo Long to be enjoyable on the whole, though I do lament the fact that they chose to develop a new IP instead of making Nioh 3. Despite the optimization issues and random difficulty spikes, I do think that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is ultimately good – it just could have been so much better. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Jonathan White | 7.5 / 10 | 03-03-2023 | With a little bit of loot system reduction, refinement to the morale system in regards to player level, removal of sociopolitical nonsense, and tweaks to make spirit attacks a bit more useful, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty could have a sequel that goes from pretty good to superb. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty isn’t perfect, but it sets a great baseline for what could become a terrific franchise much like Nioh did before it. | Read review |
| Noisy Pixel | Azario Lopez | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is unlike any other action game. Its unique battle system encourages high-level character customization to make the action approachable no matter your history with the genre. It’s terrifyingly brilliant as it tests your understanding of enemy attacks through a rhythm-based deflect feature making each encounter as enjoyable as it is difficult, especially in its online modes. Although messy enemy placement and cheesy maneuvers can slow the pacing, the Three Kingdoms story has never looked better. | Read review |
| NoobFeed | Azfar Rayan | 85 / 100 | 03-04-2023 | Even without a gripping story, Wo Long is a wild ride from the beginning to the end. The story and visuals suffer more than they should, but it’s still a solid role-playing game. Seasoned Nioh fans will have to pick up their paces to adjust to Wo Long’s combat system. Not everyone will relish Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, but those willing to take on the challenge will have a fantastic time. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | Onur Kaya | 7.5 / 10 | 03-03-2023 | Nioh was Team Ninja’s take on the “Souls-like” genre and was pretty good at doing its own thing with it. Wo Long on the other hand is what you might call a “Sekiro-like” but it doesn’t set itself apart well enough from neither Sekiro, nor Nioh. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Sam Greer | 89 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Technical issues aside, Wo Long is a master of its craft that future soulslikes should study under. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Andrew Farrell | 7 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | A notable drop in depth compared to the Nioh games, Wo-Long still has some engaging additions inspired by Sekiro. I often enjoyed myself but repetition and a horribly uneven difficulty curve certainly don’t help. | Read review |
| PCGamesN | Dave Irwin | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a thoroughly enjoyable Soulslike with intensely fun combat mechanics, slightly marred by jarring difficulty spikes and by-the-numbers music and sound. | Read review |
| PCMag | Gabriel Zamora | 3.5 / 5 stars | 03-13-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty offers a cool morale system, leaping attacks, and fresh spins on magic and character customization, though stilted storytelling and underwhelming stage designs prevent it from reaching the heights of other Nioh games. | Read review |
| PlayStation LifeStyle | Jason Faulkner | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a challenging romp through a dark fantasy version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and works well as a Soulslite. Each level is a bite-sized Souls experience to be conquered and moved past. The tight, challenging combat will thrill fans of the genre, but the lack of an interconnected world might turn off those that love the thrill of exploration. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Adam Byrne | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Distilled from the composite parts of developer Team Ninja’s prior efforts, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty opts to delve deep into the fundamentals of high-stakes combat and delivers a pulse-pumping experience that rewards anyone willing to step up to the plate. | Read review |
| Polygon | Chan Khee Hoon | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | Surviving the calamities of Wo Long requires nearly obsessive hours of practice. But what comes after is the exhilaration of being able to deftly execute hordes of enemies and demons alike with merely a reflexive twitch of your well-honed limbs. With its intricate combat system and an equally evocative setting, Wo Long is a journey worth embarking on — even if it means devoting three more hours to your next boss fight. | Read review |
| Press Start | Harry Kalogirou | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Despite Team Ninja falling into the same pitfalls suffered by prior titles, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is another deeply satisfying Souls-like. A steep learning curve and frustrating amounts of loot don’t do much to keep Wo Long back from offering another finely tuned combat system, blended with a unique setting and new systems that break new ground in the subgenre. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Marco Aurélio Couto | 90 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty doesn’t try to reinvent Nioh’s formula, but manages to bring together its main elements and make specific changes, which allow it to be enjoyed by different types of audiences. And even with a combat system that may feel random at times, it’s still able to provide a great feeling when overcoming its challenges. The setting is excellent and its engaging storytelling makes the future of this new franchise very promising. | Read review |
| Push Square | Khayl Adam | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Quote coming soon | Read review |
| Rectify Gaming | Unknown | 8.5 / 10 | 03-06-2023 | Wo Long takes Team Ninja’s white-knuckle action to the Three Kingdoms era with stunning results. | Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal | Jason Hidalgo | 8.5 / 10 | 03-08-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty adds to the growing list of “tough love” games that mercilessly tear players down before building them back up. To its credit, Wo Long introduces a lot of quality of life improvements that make its journey a lot more accessible and every death not quite as harrowing as it is in other similar games. At the same time, level design and storytelling could also be better. That being said, the combat in Wo Long is among the best and feels quite rewarding once you get the hang of it. It’s a no-brainer for action masochists and folks who love a good challenge. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Ed Thorn | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja has streamlined Nioh with dashes of Sekiro, but it stands on its own as a Soulslike with, arguably, the crispest combat out there. | Read review |
| RPGamer | Zack Webster | 3.5 / 5 stars | 03-07-2023 | Far from an unqualified win, Wo Long does manage to be an entertaining ride. When it leans into the strength of its combat it’s a joy. But much like that combat, there’s a push and pull to the changes that never quite coalesce. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long gave us everything we expected from Team Ninja, thrilling and challenging combat with one of the best boss fights ever made. If it wasn’t for the technical issues and weird design choices, this would have been easily their best game | Read review |
| Saving Content | Scott Ellison II | 4 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has a lot of familiar elements from Team NINJA’s own Nioh series and also the FromSoftware series. However, there’s nothing quite like the Chinese martial arts and Three Kingdoms backdrop that you’ll find here. The dark twist that KOEI TECMO put in the later Han Dynasty a remarkable and fascinating portrayal I can’t say I’ve seen anywhere before. The underwhelming performance on PC is a major disappointment, but this can absolutely be patched and updated in time. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is not an easy game to beat, but it does come easily recommended. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Leo Faierman | 3.5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | The Nioh series has already contended with some or all of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s quibbles, so veterans may not be the least bit dissuaded at the similar missteps made here. They’ll find tons of items to pore through and bosses to tangle with over a 35-hour campaign, with additional side quests and some fun 1-on-1 duels to dive back into after the credits scroll. If another Team Ninja Soulslike focused on parrying and inventory management sounds like a great time, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will certainly deliver, but a lack of mechanical polish and an inflated inconsistent campaign may be a hard sell to the uninitiated. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Oto Schultz | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Even though the infamous Nioh title absents in the Team Ninja’s newest soulslike experience, there is no doubt that it possesses the very same qualities as its predecessors. Visceral and hardcore combat mechanics are used against the most horrific of demons. Our nameless hero will explore the chunks of a wonderful world inspired by the Romance of Three Kingdoms whilst trying to bring peace to a war-torn feudal China. This cryptically epic horse ride will surely confuse you, make you cry with rage and mostly teach you the art of parry timings’ | Read review |
| Shacknews | Donovan Erskine | 9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | In Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja flexes its twenty years of experience designing action RPGs. Combat is beautifully layered, and it feels satisfying to pull off difficult maneuvers and topple overpowered foes. The world itself is filled with interesting characters to meet and interact with, even if their performances are a little inconsistent. Despite some light performance hurdles, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a haymaker of a video game. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Róbert Herda | 80 / 100 | 04-21-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is not a revolution, but it’s still a solid action RPG with a great-feeling combat and design that make it worth playing despite some other issues. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Domenico Musicò | 7.9 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty seems like a Nioh spin-off: same game structure, same issues and same assets. Despite that, the introduction of new gameplay elements like Morale Rank, Spirit Gauge and Wizardry Spells helped Team Ninja to make another compelling game. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Steve Wright | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | While I wasn’t jazzed with Scars Above and the way it tried to incorporate Soulslike elements, Team Ninja has certainly found its groove in Wo Long Fallen Dynasty. It’s very familiar, yet not, and with combat mechanics and a storyline that’ll keep you going. Those new to the genre as fans of Elden Ring might find more instant gratification with the likes of Dark Souls, but Wo Long could certainly cater for a player with time constraits. If you’re uncertain as to whether or not you’d find enjoyment within, don’t forget that this is a day one Xbox Game Pass launch title; a demo is also available on other platforms should you not have instant access. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Isaac Todd | 7 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty differentiates itself from Nioh thanks to a few key mechanics, though the experience can feel a little linear and easy at times. Still a fun game for fans of Team Ninja, and faster Soulslikes in general. | Read review |
| The Escapist | KC Nwosu | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | Video Review | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Gabriele Barducci | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long is a well-packaged, fun and satisfying soulslike in execution, however there is a general laziness, a lack of novelty together with assets and skins taken from Nioh, together with a game balance that manages to work only in the final stages. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Keith Mitchell | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a fantastic spin-off of the Nioh series, and while it feels like Team Ninja had a checklist of features it wanted to copy from other games, in the end, everything feels fresh and exciting. Outside of the performance issues, and the sometimes annoying AI-controller players, I found myself playing the game for hours. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is more than a Soulslike, more than an action game; it’s a fun and enjoyable game. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Jason Coles | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is nearly always a rush to play, and even when you’re getting pummelled, it still feels as though you could overcome the fight if you just learned the attack patterns a little better, or maybe just summoned some more help. | Read review |
| TrueAchievements | Luke Albiges | 4 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long has a wonderful rhythm and flow to it, and it always feels great to deftly deflect your way through a relentless barrage of blows, wearing down your enemy before breaking their resolve and landing that fatal blow. It’s a bit of a shame that the achievements don’t encourage you to engage with the Rising Dragon endgame mode as it’s a hearty challenge, but hopefully, Wo Long’s fantastic fundamentals and rewarding combat will be enough to get you to explore the post-game on its own merits… I know they are for me. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | Unknown | 9.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Team Ninja leaves its mark with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. The fast base leads to ferocious battles that are highly satisfying and addictive. Level designs and boss fights are unique and memorable, with a versatile set of side missions, a must-buy for fans of the genre. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Jake Su | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | At the end of the day, I absolutely enjoyed my time in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and am raring to go back for more with an additional unlockable difficulty level that has more powerful loot and more challenging fights awaiting. The blend of combat, RPG elements, platforming, and a much more serious and interesting narrative makes for an engaging romp through the ancient lands of China, and aside from some small AI hiccups and design choices, there really isn’t much there to dampen my revitalized love for all things Romance of the Three Kingdoms. All hail the newest and most polished Soulslike to come out in a while. | Read review |
| VG247 | Dom Peppiatt | Recommended | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an excellent action game, and a tightly-focused, well-executed example of why Team Ninja is often mentioned in the same breath as FromSoftware. Razor-sharp combat that wields the power of momentum with deft ease, supported by intricate and well-designed levels, against the backdrop of an over-the-top historical fantasy? It’s just a shame about the quality-of-life aberrations that constantly chip away at your morale. | Read review |
| VGC | Jordan Middler | 3 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | More of a side-step than an evolution from Nioh 2, Wo Long is inventive and an adventure worth taking even if it’s technically suspect on PS5, but won’t live massively long in the memory once you’ve slain your final boss. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Issa Maki | 7 / 10 | 03-16-2023 | Wo Long is fun and well made, but the features that allow it to shine aren’t quite as developed as they should be. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a superbly fun action RPG that’ll put your parry skills to the test. Throw in rewarding exploration and so many mechanics that it’ll make your head spin and you’re left with a wonderfully engaging full-fledged adventure. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Tom Bardwell | 7 / 10 | 03-21-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an engrossing, dense, and hard-fought slog, but nevertheless a slog weighed down by some heavy recycling and inconsistent difficulty. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Leonardo Faria | 8.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Even if I didn’t care at all about its plot, and there were a handful of issues with its gameplay, namely feature creep, I played it for hours and hours. The brilliant mixture of Nioh, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and even a bit of Battlefield resulted in a game that feels familiar and fresh at the same time, and one of the most exciting action RPGs released in recent memory. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Francesco De Meo | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | With its Three Kingdoms setting, fast-paced combat centered on the Deflection mechanics, improved level design, and renewed focus on action gameplay mechanics, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is another solid action role-playing game by Team NINJA that all fans of the genre will enjoy. While the complex RPG mechanics and loot system of the Nioh games have been toned down for a much more accessible experience for newcomers, they also make the game easier than most of the studio’s previous games, something that will undoubtedly disappoint those looking for a real challenge on their first playthrough. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Mik Deitz | 4 / 5 stars | 03-04-2023 | Although it may not be as inventive and thoughtfully designed as its inspirations, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty thrives on gameplay that’s satisfying and intuitive enough to win over newbies, while providing enough challenge to keep Soulslike veterans engaged and happy. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Kieran Stockton | 7.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long is another solid entry into the hardcore hack and slash RPG genre, but some wonky difficulty and questionable enemy AI spoil some of the design nuances and mean it doesn’t quite hit the heights of Team Ninja’s previous efforts | Read review |
| Windows Central | Brendan Lowry | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is the fastest and flashiest game from Team Ninja yet, featuring awesome offense-focused melee combat with some distinctive twists. I’d have liked some slower storytelling and more unique pieces of loot, but overall, this is a must-play for any Soulslike fan. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Chris “Atom” DeAngelus | 8 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Overall, I really enjoyed Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. It’s a distinctive game, and the morale mechanic changes how you approach combat. It suffers a bit from the world being less exciting than Sekiro’s world, and the loot system feels a lot more stapled on than it was in Nioh, but those are both minor complaints. It’s fresh enough that I didn’t feel like I was playing Nioh 3, and it kept enough of the core mechanics that it retains its own flavor. | Read review |
| Xbox Achievements | Matt Lorrigan | 78 / 100 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty sets itself apart from Nioh, Team Ninja’s other soulslike series, with plenty of inventive mechanics that thrust you into the midst of a war. But by spreading the action out over various disparate battlefields in second century China, with plenty of chatty characters to meet along the way, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty loses a little bit of its magic in the process. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Jae Lee | 7.5 / 10 | 03-02-2023 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a solid foundation for a new IP with fluid combat and fun exploration but fails to topple its spiritual predecessor due to oversimplification of customization and a lackluster PC port. | Read review |
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
Masakazu Hirayama, Hidehiko Nakajima
PRODUCER(S):
Fumihiko Yasuda, Masaaki Yamagiwa
DESIGNER(S):
Masaki Yokota
PROGRAMMER(S):
Satoshi Kawasaki
ARTIST(S):
Kazuhiro Nishimura, Hirohisa Kaneko
WRITER(S):
Masakazu Hirayama
COMPOSER(S):
Kenichiro Suehiro
Time to Beat
TIME TO BEAT
0
hrs MAIN STORY
0
hrs MAIN + EXTRAS
0
hrs COMPLETIONIST
0
hrs ALL PLAYSTYLES
* VSG’s best estimate for how long it will take you to complete the game. Learn more.
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