PAX Aus 2025: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment hands-on impressions

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the latest in the series of crossover titles merging characters from the Legend of Zelda universe with the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors. The previous entry, 2020’s Age of Calamity, was a well-received spin-off of the wildly popular Breath of the Wild, giving players a non-canonical look at what could have been. Age of Imprisonment, on the other hand, is a direct and official part of the series’ lore, detailing the ancient war against Ganondorf that preceded Tears of the Kingdom. 

The fact that Age of Imprisonment is canon is an exciting point for fans. While the Hyrule Warriors series has generally been well received, it’s also a fantasy that deviates and often contradicts the official lore. This time around, we’re privy to the story behind the story – what actually happened to Zelda, Rauru, Sonia, and even Ganon when Zelda was transported back in time at the beginning of Tears of the Kingdom? Age of Imprisonment seeks to answer that very question. And we were fortunate enough to have some hands-on time with the game at PAX Aus 2025 this past weekend.

The on-floor demo was played by over 500 people each day, according to the team on the scene. We managed to play this demo several times, hoping to get a feel for the gameplay, characters, and environment. Our impression? It’s shaping up to be something pretty special.

You begin by playing the role of Zelda as she walks with Rauru and Mineru through a dark cavern. Entering the Depths is a scary proposition, though it’s not as creepy as during Tears of the Kingdom. This bleak area might seem like an odd choice for a demo as it doesn’t particularly show off the vast colors and arrays of Hyrule. However, things still look impressive, with crisp characters, multiple enemies, and fast-paced action to help show off the Switch 2’s capabilities. We’re happy to report there was no slowdown or stuttering present during our time with the game.

The demo is likely the intro tutorial level of the game, showing us the ropes and introducing us to the battle system. Here, Zelda wields a torch, investigating some Zonai devices until the trio is suddenly attacked by a large group of enemies in true Warriors fashion. This leads to further exploration, following an on-screen map to find more red-hued areas that indicate enemy activity (another Warriors trope).

Despite these tell-tale Warriors features, the demo actually felt more like a Legend of Zelda game than a Warriors outing. It could be a good balance for Zelda affectionados like myself, finding themselves in a familiar environment.

As you progress, you change characters, taking control of Rauru then Mineru. You can also swap between them at any point if you prefer. It’s unclear if all three are actually playable at this point in the full game, but one thing is certain: there will be plenty of characters to choose from. This is but a sample.

Zelda’s abilities include firing a bow of light, while Rauru and Mineru draw on Zonai devices for inspiration. Let’s just say conjuring a large vehicle to stomp on a whole bunch of enemies feels very satisfying. Each plays differently, giving players plenty of variety.

There’s a lot to the controls. You can use Y and X for general attacks, with a handy guide indicating how to line up combos. The demo is helpful with other kinds of prompts, too, allowing players to test out special moves like the one that sees Zelda and Raura high-five each other before issuing combo attacks upon enemies. It’s a moment of pure joy watching them work together this way. And it’s super satisfying to jump on a massive creature as Zelda and pound away on its head. 

The demo actually features several boss fights, culminating in a battle with the Scourge of the Depths known as Frox. It’s not a tough battle – it’s not meant to be for the purpose of this demo – but it does the job of making players feel in control and enjoy their initial foray into the game. All it did for this player was make me wish it was out now.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment releases on the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 6 – just a few short weeks away. We’ll be sure to give our full thoughts on the game when it comes out. In the meantime, check out our thoughts on Kirby Air Riders and the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond demo at PAX Aus 2025, too.