Black Myth: Wukong is China's landmark action RPG debut — a breathtaking adaptation of the classic novel Journey to the West that puts players in the role of the Destined One, a successor to Sun Wukong the Monkey King. Built in Unreal Engine 5, the game delivers some of the most visually stunning environments in gaming, from bamboo forests to volcanic caves to snow-capped mountain temples.
Combat revolves around the staff and a set of supernatural stances — Smash, Pillar, and Thrust — each with distinct movesets and tactical uses. Focus Points accumulated through light attacks unlock devastating charged strikes. Transformation spells let you temporarily become powerful defeated enemies, dramatically shifting your combat toolkit mid-fight. The variety of boss encounters — over 80 unique bosses — is extraordinary for a debut title.
The game's roots in Chinese mythology give it a distinct identity absent from Western or Japanese action RPGs. Gods, demons, and celestial bureaucrats populate a world rich in lore for those who read item descriptions and environmental stories. Despite its difficulty, Black Myth is more approachable than FromSoftware's output, with checkpoints placed generously and upgrade materials plentiful.
Switch between Smash, Pillar, and Thrust stances mid-combat for different damage profiles, reach, and combo opportunities.
Defeat specific bosses to absorb their power and temporarily transform into them with full movesets. Essential for tough encounters.
Land light attack combos to fill Focus Points, then spend them on charged heavy strikes that deal massive damage and stagger enemies.
A customizable healing gourd and Vessel system grant passive bonuses and active abilities from collected spirits of defeated enemies.