Black Myth: Wukong | Chinese Guide to China’s First AAA Game

by That's Mandarin | Aug 23, 2024

The highly anticipated game Black Myth: Wukong is thrilling gamers worldwide. Just hours after its release on Tuesday, the game quickly became a hit, selling over 4.5 million copies by evening. Here’s what you need to know about China’s first AAA game*.

*In the video game industry, AAA (pronounced “triple A”) is a term used for games with the highest development budgets and levels of promotion.

Black Myth: Wukong Q&A

Q: What’s the Game About?

Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game that brings Chinese mythology to life. Developed by Game Science, the game takes players on an adventure with Sun Wukong (孙悟空 Sūn Wùkōng), who is a well-known character from the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West.

黑神话：悟空
Hēi Shénhuà: Wùkōng
Black Myth: Wukong

Q: What is The Backstory of the Game?

The game draws its inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West (西游记 Xīyóu Jì), one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.

西游记
Xīyóu Jì
Journey to the West

NOTE

“Journey to the West” was written in the 16th century by Wu Cheng’en (吴承恩, Wú Chéng’ēn), and since then it’s become one of the most widely known novels not just in China, but throughout the world. To spark your interest, here’s a brief introduction to the novel:

| Journey to the West: Introduction

Q: What is the Gameplay?

Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game. It is played in single-player mode, and the player controls a monkey protagonist referred to as the Destined One, who is based on Sun Wukong from the novel.

动作角色扮演游戏
dòngzuò juésè bànyǎn yóuxì
action role-playing game (ARPG)

Q: Where Can I Play the Game?

Black Myth: Wukong is now available on multiple platforms, including Steam, PlayStation, and Tencent’s WeGame. The release date for Xbox Series X/S will be announced soon.

Q: Who is the Main Character?

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King

Sun Wukong, or the Destined One, is the playable protagonist of the game. Wukong is one of the most iconic figures in Chinese mythology, his character is known for his incredible abilities and unyielding spirit.

ABILITIES

🎮 Transforms into 72 animals & various objects;

🎮 Summons clones using the strands of his hair;

🎮 Hides his weapon as a needle inside his ear.

Q: Why the Game is So Special?

Top-Notch Quality

From plot and graphics to combat and music – the game excels in every aspect, marking a groundbreaking achievement in China’s gaming industry.

Promotion of Chinese Literature

The game brings a classic Chinese novel to life, introducing players to the richness of Chinese literature.

Immersive Experience in Chinese Culture

The game provides a deeply immersive experience by blending Chinese landscapes with traditional culture and music.

BONUS: 5 Popular Chinese Games in the West

With the growing success of Chinese-developed games, let’s take a closer look at other popular games among Western gamers.

01. Genshin Impact

Developed by miHoYo, this open-world action RPG has gained massive popularity worldwide for its stunning visuals, expansive world, and gacha system.

02. PUBG Mobile

While the original PUBG was developed by the South Korean company Bluehole, Tencent Games developed the mobile version, which became a global hit.

03. League of Legends

Though originally developed by Riot Games (a U.S.-based studio), Riot is owned by Tencent, a Chinese company. Tencent’s backing has helped make League of Legends one of the most popular games globally.

04. Naraka: Bladepoint

Developed by 24 Entertainment (part of NetEase), this battle royale game has attracted significant attention for its focus on melee combat and unique character abilities.

05. Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor)

Developed by Tencent Games, this is one of the highest-grossing mobile games globally. The Western version, Arena of Valor, was adapted for international audiences.