Black Myth: Wukong

An action RPG where you master staff combos and spells to defeat over 80 unique bosses inspired by Journey to the West mythology.

Last reviewed: May 3, 2026

Released Aug 2024 Action / Adventure

Killer boss combat with Journey-to-the-West mythology — Wukong's lategame fights rival Orphan of Kos, but Chapter 2 onward demands real Sekiro-level patience.

8.2 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You loved Sekiro and Bloodborne and want a 60-hour sequel-tier action RPG run
You're curious about Journey to the West mythology — Wukong leans into it heavily
You enjoy boss-rush style design — over 80 bosses including 17 in Chapter 2 alone

Not for you if

You hate one-life-and-die boss difficulty curves and Soulslike pacing
You expect ESL/non-Chinese voice acting to match — English VO is divisive
You bounced off Elden Ring's level design — Wukong's areas can feel corridor-y

What players love

The phenomenal boss fights and vivid Eastern mythology world are what 100+ hour players consistently praise.

What frustrates them

Performance issues and a weaker final chapter (Chapter 6) are the main complaints among high-playtime reviewers.

See the reviews behind this →

What critics say

8/10IGN
Despite some frustrating technical issues, Black Myth: Wukong is a great action game with fantastic combat.
Mitchell SaltzmanAug 2024 Read review →
8/10GameSpot
Black Myth: Wukong is an uneven game where the highlights often outnumber the lowlights.
Richard WakelingAug 2024 Read review →
87/100PC Gamer
Black Myth: Wukong blossoms with an eccentric cast of characters and expressive combat.
Tyler ColpAug 2024 Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

Is Black Myth: Wukong harder than Elden Ring or Sekiro?

Wukong sits between Elden Ring and Sekiro on the Soulslike difficulty curve. Regular enemies are easier than Elden Ring's, but bosses ramp hard from Chapter 2 onward — late-game bosses rival Sekiro's Isshin or Bloodborne's Orphan of Kos in mechanical depth. Each major boss has a deep moveset that rewards learning over button-mashing. Early-game bosses (Chapter 1) are roughly Elden Ring dungeon-boss tier; mid and late game shift toward Sekiro's parry-and-punish cadence.

Source: Escapist: Wukong difficulty comparison

How long does it take to beat Black Myth: Wukong?

Main story takes about 35-45 hours for a focused playthrough. Full 100% completion (every secret boss, every transformation, every miniboss, every chapter's hidden area) lands around 60-70 hours, with completionists averaging 69 hours on PC, 71 on PS5, and 61.5 on Xbox Series. Chapter 2's Yellow Wind Ridge alone has 17 bosses (only 4 required), so optional content adds significant length. Difficulty and skill swing the time hard.

Source: GamesRadar: How long is Wukong

What are the best transformations in Black Myth: Wukong?

There are 10 transformations — they consume Might gauge to activate. Top picks: Golden Lining (Yellow Loong, end-game) gives you parry-and-counter on enemy attacks. Hoarfrost adds Frost damage with wide AoE tentacle swings. Dark Thunder is a top crowd-control choice. Early game, Red Tides (Wolf Guai) is your starter for fast fire combos, and Azure Dust (Rock Guai) tanks all four banes when surrounded. Stone Monkey is the secret-ending unlock and the strongest in the game.

Source: Game Rant: Best transformations

What are the bosses in Yellow Wind Ridge (Chapter 2) of Black Myth: Wukong?

Chapter 2's Yellow Wind Ridge has 17 total bosses, but only 4 are required. The required path: Tiger's Acolyte (near Windrest Hamlet Shrine) → Gore-Eye Daoist (Windseal Gate Keeper Shrine) → First Prince of Flowing Sand (climb the decorated wall after Gore-Eye) → Yellow Wind Sage (chapter final boss). Optional bosses include Fuban (secret area beyond Sandgate Bound Shrine) and others scattered across the desert. Most secret bosses drop transformation spells.

Source: Game Rant: Yellow Wind Ridge bosses

Do you need to read Journey to the West before playing Black Myth: Wukong?

You don't need to read Journey to the West first — Black Myth: Wukong explains its references through dialogue and animated cutscenes. The game is set after the events of the original 16th-century novel, with Sun Wukong defeated and his soul scattered into relics; you play the Destined One on a journey to recover them. Reading the novel adds depth to character recognition and lore but isn't required. The game also adds new lore around the Heavenly Court that's unique to this telling.

Source: GameLuster: Journey to the West and Wukong