Nintendo Switch 2 to Get Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

It wouldn't be a Nintendo console without a Zelda game, and the Nintendo Switch 2 continues that tradition, albeit in a surprising way. Today's Nintendo Direct revealed that Koei Tecmo is developing a new Hyrule Warriors title: a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom called Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, set to launch this winter.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is another installment in the series, this time focusing on the ancient history characters from Tears of the Kingdom. Players will control Zelda, Rauru, Sonia, and other Secret Stones bearers. The game explores Zelda's experiences after traveling back in time, detailing her alliance with the last Zonai, Rauru, his sister Mineru, and his wife Sonia to battle Ganondorf and his army.

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 - Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment

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The gameplay trailer showcased each champion's unique abilities, featuring Mineru piloting her mechanical construct, Zelda's magical powers, Rauru wielding an impressive sword-spear hybrid, and brief appearances from other Sacred Stone holders.

This marks the third Hyrule Warriors game, following the original and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which served as a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Age of Calamity stood out for its unexpected narrative twists that complemented the established Breath of the Wild storyline, raising curiosity about whether Age of Imprisonment will similarly diverge from expectations. We awarded Age of Calamity a 9/10 score, praising it as "consistently enjoyable to play and explore" and "thrilling from beginning to end."

For complete coverage of today's Nintendo Direct announcements, check out our full summary.