Samurai Warriors 5

A refined, streamlined entry that trades a smaller roster for far greater depth, with RPG-style character progression, skill trees, weapon upgrades, and combat systems that tie together satisfyingly. The tighter, well-articulated story stands out, giving real motivation to battles, though the normal difficulty is too easy and the aging engine shows jaggies, pop-in, and significant frame drops in split-screen co-op. The digital price is steep, but it offers strong value physically and is the most fun the series has been in a long time.