Is Black Myth: Wukong a Souls-Like? Breaking Down the Comparison

Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most anticipated games on the horizon, and it’s drawn attention for its breathtaking visuals, intriguing narrative, and its resemblance to the ‘Souls-like’ genre. Developed by the Chinese studio Game Science, this action RPG is based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, where players take on the role of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. With its challenging combat and dark, atmospheric setting, many are wondering: Is Black Myth: Wukong Souls-like?

What Defines a Souls-Like?

Before we delve into whether Black Myth: Wukong fits this description, it’s essential to understand what constitutes a ‘Souls-like’ game. The term originates from Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, titles by FromSoftware, known for their punishing difficulty, intricate combat systems, dark worlds, and minimal handholding in terms of player guidance. These games emphasize:

1. Challenging Combat – Combat mechanics demand precision, timing, and mastery of various strategies to overcome enemies.
2. Resource Management – Managing health, stamina, and other resources is critical.
3. Exploration & World Design – The game world is usually dark, interconnected, and filled with lore revealed through cryptic storytelling.
4. Boss Fights – Huge, intimidating bosses that test your skills and patience.
5. Punishing Death Mechanics – Dying often has consequences, such as losing resources, and forcing players to weigh risk versus reward.

Key Similarities Between Black Myth: Wukong and Souls-Likes

From what has been shown in trailers and gameplay footage, Black Myth: Wukong shares several traits with Souls-like games:

1. Challenging, Tactical Combat The combat mechanics in Black Myth: Wukong appears to require skilful timing and strategic approaches. The player must manage dodging, blocking, and unleashing attacks at the right moments, reminiscent of the combat systems in Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This level of difficulty aligns with the challenging encounters seen in Souls-like games.
2. Epic Boss Battles Like FromSoftware’s titles, Black Myth: Wukong features massive, intimidating boss fights that require players to study their enemy’s moves and develop strategies to survive. Footage shows bosses with unique attack patterns and phases, offering an experience very similar to the tension and excitement found in Souls-like games.
3. Exploration of a Dark, Mystical World The game’s setting is deeply rooted in Chinese mythology, but it evokes a sense of mystery and danger that fans of Souls-likes will recognize. The world in Black Myth: Wukong seems intricately designed, with interconnected areas, secret paths, and hidden lore, all of which are staples of Souls-like games. The overall tone and atmosphere lean into the darker, more ominous side of mythological storytelling, much like the gothic settings of Dark Souls.
4. Limited Resources and Risk-Reward Mechanics In the gameplay shown, Black Myth: Wukong seems to incorporate limited healing resources and the need to manage stamina carefully. Players will likely need to think twice before engaging enemies, ensuring they don’t deplete their resources recklessly—a core mechanic in Souls-like games, where resource management is key to survival.

Differences from Typical Souls-Likes

While Black Myth: Wukong shows several characteristics of Souls-like games, some elements set it apart:

1. Narrative Structure Souls-like games are often known for their cryptic storytelling, where players must piece together the narrative through item descriptions, environmental cues, and NPC dialogues. However, Black Myth: Wukong is rooted in a well-known mythological narrative, Journey to the West. This could mean a more straightforward storytelling approach compared to the obscure lore of Souls games.
2. Character Abilities and Transformations Sun Wukong, the protagonist of Black Myth: Wukong, has shape-shifting abilities and powers that seem to offer a more varied combat system than what we see in traditional Souls-likes. Wukong’s transformations into different creatures, like an insect to traverse small spaces or a giant monster to dominate enemies, give the game a unique dynamic that goes beyond typical Souls-like mechanics.
3. Graphical Fidelity and Style While FromSoftware’s games are known for their distinctive art design, Black Myth: Wukong pushes the envelope with cutting-edge graphics and animation, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to create a visually stunning experience. The game’s lush environments and smooth character animations set it apart from the gritty, medieval style of many Souls-likes.

Final Verdict: Is Black Myth: Wukong a Souls-Like?

In summary, Black Myth: Wukong exhibits many features that make it similar to Souls-like, including challenging combat, boss fights, and a dark, atmospheric world. However, it also incorporates its unique elements, such as Sun Wukong’s mythological powers and transformations, along with potentially more linear storytelling.

While Black Myth: Wukong is likely to appeal to fans of Souls-likes due to its difficulty and combat mechanics, it seems to blend genres, taking inspiration from action RPGs, mythology, and cinematic storytelling. In this sense, it stands out as a distinctive experience rather than a direct clone of Souls games.For players looking for an intense action RPG with strategic combat and epic bosses, Black Myth: Wukong seems to offer a fresh take, melding the Souls-like formula with the rich lore of Chinese mythology.