Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming action RPGs in recent years, developed by Chinese studio Game Science. People rave that there’s zero wokeness and amazing graphics, so much so that the PlayStation sales have increased. It’s only available on PlayStation and computers with at least an RTX 4060 (Graphic Card) to maintain an average FPS of 66. Drawing inspiration from the classic Chinese tale, Journey to the West, the game centers around the legendary character Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. It has garnered significant attention for its stunning visuals, intricate combat mechanics, and unique mythological setting. In this essay, we will delve into the various aspects of Black Myth: Wukong, including what type of game it is, the platforms it’s expected to launch on, comparisons to similar games, its scale and size, and projections about how it might perform in terms of sales.
Table of Contents
What Kind of Game is Black Myth: Wukong?
Black Myth: Wukong is primarily an action RPG (role-playing game) with strong influences from soulslike games, a subgenre known for challenging combat, precise mechanics, and a dark, atmospheric narrative. The game is set in a fantastical world filled with mythical creatures, demons, and deities, many of which are derived from Chinese folklore and legends.
The game’s primary focus is on fast-paced, skill-based combat. Players control the titular Wukong, who has access to a wide variety of abilities, including transforming into different creatures, wielding his iconic staff, and using magical powers. From the gameplay trailers released so far, the combat system resembles games like Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Nioh, where precision, timing, and learning enemy patterns are crucial for success.
Beyond combat, the game also offers exploration elements. The vast, intricately designed world is filled with visually striking landscapes, ancient temples, dark forests, and desolate mountains. Players will engage in exploration, puzzle-solving, and possibly platforming elements, though the focus remains heavily on combat and story progression.
Narrative and Inspiration
Black Myth: Wukong takes its narrative cues from Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is a powerful, rebellious figure with god-like abilities, tasked with protecting a monk during a pilgrimage. While the exact narrative of the game is yet to be fully revealed, it’s expected that it will explore key moments from the novel, while possibly adding new twists to the mythos. The game offers a dark, gritty interpretation of the classic tale, adding a layer of intensity to the mythological themes.
Platforms for Black Myth: Wukong
Game Science has officially confirmed that Black Myth: Wukong will be available on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. These platforms were chosen to take advantage of the cutting-edge technology that the game requires, including high-end visuals and complex physics engines.
The game is built using Unreal Engine 5, which is renowned for its ability to deliver photorealistic environments, real-time ray tracing, and highly detailed character models. Given its reliance on such advanced technology, it is unlikely to be released on older platforms such as PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, which would struggle to meet the game’s hardware requirements.
There has been no official announcement about whether the game will be available on the Nintendo Switch. However, given the hardware limitations of the Switch compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X, a release on this platform would likely be highly downgraded, if it happens at all.
Full Game Play Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R5IdnlZ0R4
Games Similar to Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong shares many similarities with other action RPGs, particularly those in the soulslike subgenre. Some games that offer comparable gameplay mechanics, themes, or design philosophies include:
- Dark Souls (Series)
The Dark Souls series is renowned for its challenging combat, intricate level design, and grim, atmospheric world. Like Black Myth, it focuses on methodical combat, where players must learn enemy attack patterns and master precise timing to succeed. The difficulty and progression structure of Dark Souls is likely to be a major influence on Wukong’s design. - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Developed by the same team behind Dark Souls, Sekiro offers a fast-paced, samurai-themed take on the soulslike formula. With an emphasis on swordplay, parrying, and precise movement, Sekiro’s fluid combat is reminiscent of the action sequences seen in Black Myth: Wukong. Both games also feature a strong focus on verticality, allowing players to navigate the world by climbing and jumping. - Nioh (Series)
The Nioh series blends traditional Japanese samurai themes with mythical creatures and supernatural abilities. Its combat is known for being deep and fast-paced, similar to what players can expect from Black Myth. The use of mythological creatures and demons in Nioh’s world also shares thematic similarities with the monsters and bosses in Wukong. - God of War (2018)
Although not a soulslike game, God of War (2018) shares some thematic and gameplay similarities with Black Myth: Wukong. Both games explore mythology in a dark, gritty way, and feature a narrative-driven experience combined with fluid, impactful combat. The new God of War emphasizes the emotional depth of its protagonist, which may also be a direction Black Myth follows with Sun Wukong. - Ghost of Tsushima
While Ghost of Tsushima doesn’t feature the same level of mythical creatures or dark fantasy elements, it offers a comparable experience in terms of fluid combat mechanics and exploration of a historical or mythological setting. Both games focus on cultural and historical themes, though Ghost of Tsushima is more grounded in realism.
How Large is Black Myth: Wukong?
While the developers have not provided specific details on the exact size of the world or how long the game will be, based on what we’ve seen from gameplay trailers, it appears that Black Myth: Wukong will feature a large, semi-open world with intricate level designs and varied environments. The game’s use of Unreal Engine 5 indicates that it will take advantage of modern hardware to present expansive, visually stunning landscapes.
Given the focus on exploration, combat, and narrative, Black Myth is expected to offer a lengthy single-player campaign. Games within the action RPG and soulslike genres tend to range from 30 to 50 hours for a complete playthrough, with additional time spent on mastering combat and completing side content. If Black Myth follows this formula, players can expect a similar commitment to fully experience its rich, mythologically inspired world.
As for the file size, it’s likely that Black Myth: Wukong will require a significant amount of storage, given its use of high-fidelity assets and large-scale environments. Many modern action RPGs typically range between 50 GB to 100 GB of hard drive space, and with the advanced visuals offered by Unreal Engine 5, Black Myth will likely be on the higher end of this spectrum.
Projected Sales and Popularity
As of now, Black Myth: Wukong has not been released, so there are no official sales figures. However, based on the massive attention it has already garnered, the game is poised for success. The initial gameplay trailer, released in 2020, went viral, generating millions of views and creating widespread anticipation within the gaming community.
Several factors suggest that Black Myth will be a commercial success:
- International Appeal: While the game is steeped in Chinese mythology, its universal themes, stunning visuals, and challenging gameplay will likely appeal to a global audience. The game has already captured the attention of Western gamers, which could translate into significant sales across multiple regions.
- High Production Quality: Black Myth: Wukong is being developed with a level of polish and attention to detail rarely seen from indie studios, especially in China. Its use of Unreal Engine 5 and the meticulous design of its world and characters could elevate it to blockbuster status.
- Soulslike Popularity: The increasing popularity of soulslike games, as evidenced by the success of Elden Ring and Dark Souls, suggests that there is a substantial market for challenging, narrative-driven action RPGs.
If the game delivers on its promise, it could easily surpass millions of copies sold within the first few months of its release, putting it on par with other successful action RPGs like Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima.
Conclusion
Black Myth: Wukong is shaping up to be one of the most exciting action RPGs in recent memory, blending challenging soulslike combat with a unique narrative rooted in Chinese mythology. With its expected release on high-end platforms, stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, and the potential to appeal to a global audience, the game is likely to make a significant impact in the gaming world. While the exact sales figures remain speculative until its release, the game is poised for both critical and commercial success.