The video game industry continues to evolve in satisfying ways, and gamers have never had more power and freedom when it comes to their gaming options. One major way in which the gaming industry has opened up is that there are now niche sub-genres that cater to specific audiences. The battle-heavy Musou genre, also known as Warriors-style games, features chaotic mobs of enemies that need to be defeated.
Everything from The Legend of Zelda to Fire Emblem to One Piece have had games in this genre that take advantage of their franchises' rich history. It's likely that even more Warriors games are on the way, and there are some other signature gaming series that would effectively translate over to the genre.
10 Final Fantasy Has Some Of The Deepest Gaming Lore To Pull From
The Final Fantasy series has endured for more than three decades, and it continues to dominate the JRPG genre. There are so many rich and diverse worlds that are featured throughout the Final Fantasy franchise, which has allowed for some ambitious spin-offs that embrace niche corners of the universe through different gaming genres.
A Final Fantasy entry in the Warriors series would be such a natural fit, and there are dozens of unique characters and environments to explore with countless stock enemies to turn into fodder.
9 The Evolution Of Metroid's Dark World Would Be A Fascinating Fit
Nintendo's Metroid series has made some creative pivots over the years that have worked out very well for the atmospheric sci-fi/action franchise. Metroid's labyrinthine worlds have become a trademark of the series, but it's also shifted gears into the first-person shooter genre to great effect.
All of these different takes on Metroid feature recurring enemies and abilities that the audience has grown to love. Metroid is somewhat lacking in compelling heroes beyond Samus Aran, but there's still a lot of merit to a sci-fi Warriors game. If there can be a Metroid pinball game, then a battle-heavy Warriors-esque experience seems more than reasonable.
8 Castlevania's Many Belmonts And Monsters Provide The Perfect Warriors Experience
Vampires and gothic horror are popular areas for video games to explore, but Konami's Castlevania franchise has been an iconic leader in the area for more than 35 years. The Castlevania games all riff on the Dracula mythos and showcase a wealth of classic supernatural creatures.
The sprawling timeline and copious amount of heroes throughout the Castlevania series have given it such longevity. Castlevania feels like a natural fit for a Musou-style game, and there are dozens of Belmonts who are legendary figures that would provide varied and addictive gameplay. Previous Warriors games are satisfying, but none of them really lean into the horror genre.
7 Donkey Kong Country's Bright World Would Be A Joyful Warriors Game Subversion
The original Donkey Kong series was a groundbreaking arcade title, and it's fascinating how the property and characters slowly transformed into platforming icons and even the inspiration for some decent racing titles. The Donkey Kong Country games introduce a growing stable of Kong characters, most of which have their own unique quirks and attacks.
There are decades of history for a Warriors game to pull from when it comes to Donkey Kong Country characters and enemies. The most recent platforming entries have become so inventive that a pivot towards more action-centric gameplay wouldn't even be that jarring. There'd be a lot of personality in a Donkey Kong Country Musou game.
6 Mortal Kombat In The Warriors Genre Could Maximize Its Heightened Violence
Many fighting franchises have come and gone over the years, but Mortal Kombat's reputation is hard to top. The series is not only still in the spotlight, but it's also crossed over with the DC Universe and included surprising guest fighters like Leatherface and Alien's Xenomorph.
Mortal Kombat works best as a fighting game, but there have still been attempts to translate the violent combat into an action-adventure game. This approach might have failed a decade ago, but Mortal Kombat has never been more sure of itself, and an ultra-violent Warriors game would be fantastic.
5 Sonic The Hedgehog Has A Wide Cast Of Characters That Are Eager To Show Off
Sega's signature Sonic the Hedgehog series can be hit-or-miss, but there's still a lot to love about the fast-paced platforming mascot. For both better and for worse, one of the biggest changes in the Sonic franchise is the growing presence of supporting characters. This lends itself perfectly to the Musou experience, and there are previous Sonic games that lean into unique play styles for its many characters.
These eclectic characters combined with the series' iconic level designs and enemies would give a game of this nature a lot to explore. Sonic is no stranger to genre experiments, and a more battle-focused open-world adventure would connect with audiences.
4 Mega Man's Endless Abilities And Robot Masters Mesh With The Warriors Mold
There are dozens of Mega Man games between its core series, Mega Man X, and the rest of its various spin-offs. There's a satisfying and addictive formula to the Mega Man games, but they've also built a strong universe that's very easy to identify.
A Warriors-style Mega Man game that allows the titular character as well as a wide array of Robot Masters to dispose of hordes of enemies would be the breath of fresh air that the Capcom series currently needs. The Mega Man games pride themselves in the many unique powers that Mega Man acquires, which just fits so well with this type of game.
3 Kirby's Colorful Cuteness Doesn't Mean That He Couldn't Dominate In The Warriors Genre
Kirby is one of Nintendo's most adorable mascots who's not only put out consistent titles for three decades, but the franchise has turned into everything from a racing title to mini-golf and pinball games. There's a simple structure to the gameplay in the Kirby series, but it's one that allows for nearly infinite possibilities through Kirby's hundreds of copy abilities and the combinations that are possible between them.
It's the wide amount of variety in Kirby's attacks that's the most appealing factor about a Warriors game. The franchise has also allowed more supporting characters like Meta Knight, King DeDeDe, and Waddle Dee to also enter the spotlight.
2 Silent Hill's Moody Environments And Freaky Foes Would Bring More Bite To The Genre
The Silent Hill series is a more psychological spin on the survival horror genre than Resident Evil. There are some excellent and harrowing titles in the series, but it's recently fallen into dormancy, and a Musou-esque game would be a flashy way to get Silent Hill back in the public consciousness.
Admittedly, the Silent Hill games aren't combat-forward in their gameplay, but the foggy and dreary locations from the series would make for a great change of pace. Resident Evil, or even Dino Crisis, would be very interesting and different Warriors games, but Silent Hill's terrifying locales and nightmare fuel creatures make it the most rewarding venture.
1 Super Mario Is More Than Ready For A Mushroom Kingdom Warriors Adventure
Nintendo is very protective with their flagship Super Mario series, but there are plenty of odd titles that are far from safe bets. Super Mario has grown into such a malleable property, and if The Legend of Zelda can receive a game of this nature, then there's no reason why Super Mario can't.
The franchise has so many beloved expendable enemies, and it'd be deeply gratifying to mow through fields of Goombas and Koopa Troopas with Luigi, Bowser Jr., or Yoshi. Some of the strangest ideas for Super Mario spin-offs have turned out to be the most entertaining video games.