To put it simply the seventh entry really nails the storytelling with four different kingdom perspectives that actually matter. Start with any faction you want but shu's campaign hits different with its emotional weight and when characters die, they stay dead which makes those moments hit harder. The jin storyline freshens things up nicely showing how everything falls apart in the end.

Good to know that conquest mode lets you take breaks from the main story whenever you want letting you mess around with different characters and weapons. Each faction campaign flows into the next one really well, and you'll notice little details from previous stories popping up in interesting ways especially during shared battles between kingdoms.

The newer origins game tries something different with its single-hero approach and choice-driven story but its still too fresh to really compare. Its worth noting that the eighth game packed in more content but kind of lost that tight narrative focus that made the seventh so special. If youre looking for the most engaging story experience though the seventh entry is probably your best bet with its mix of historical accuracy and dramatic character moments especially when the major deaths start happening.