It’s a feeling every gamer in the genre knows intimately. The controller is slick with sweat, your heart is pounding, and after dozens of attempts, you finally vanquish the boss that seemed impossible only an hour ago. That wave of pure, unadulterated euphoria is the signature of the Souls-like, a genre built on the promise that perseverance will always be rewarded.
Born from the brilliant and unforgiving design of FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, the genre has become a pillar of modern gaming. For years, studios have tried to capture that same magic, but few have succeeded as spectacularly as Game Science did with last summer’s breakout phenomenon, Black Myth: Wukong. A year after its release, it’s clear the game is more than just a hit; it’s a masterclass in how to honor a beloved formula while forging a legend all its own.
The Soul of the Genre: What Makes a “Souls-like”?
Before we dive into Wukong, it’s important to understand the core tenets that define the genre. It’s more than just being “a hard game.”
- Unforgiving but Fair Combat: Every enemy, from the lowliest grunt to the most epic boss, has telegraphed attack patterns. Victory comes not from overpowering your foe, but from learning their dance—when to dodge, when to parry, and when to strike. Every action has weight and commitment.
- The Cycle of Death and Rebirth: Death is not a “game over.” It’s a learning experience. Upon death, you lose your accumulated experience (your “Souls,” “Qi,” etc.) and respawn at your last checkpoint (the “Bonfire”). You get one chance to fight your way back to your corpse and reclaim what you lost.
- Environmental Storytelling: The deepest lore isn’t presented in long cutscenes. It’s woven into the world itself—pieced together from cryptic item descriptions, enigmatic dialogue from NPCs, and the very architecture of the desolate, beautiful landscapes.
- Intricate World Design: Levels are often complex, interconnected labyrinths. Opening a previously locked door to find it leads back to a familiar area is a hallmark of the genre, rewarding exploration and creating a powerful sense of place.
Enter the Monkey King: How Wukong Honored the Formula
From its first jaw-dropping trailer years ago, Black Myth: Wukong promised a top-tier Souls-like experience, and it delivered. Game Science clearly studied the masters, building a game that felt both familiar and fresh.
The combat was a perfect blend of speed and precision. Wielding the legendary Ruyi Jingu Bang staff felt weighty and impactful, and the boss encounters against figures from Chinese mythology were some of the most memorable and mechanically demanding fights in recent memory. The game’s world, a dark and haunting rendition of the Journey to the West epic, was drenched in atmosphere. Uncovering the tragic stories of the various demons Sun Wukong faced provided that same thrill of discovery that Souls fans crave. The game’s use of Buddhist and Taoist themes of reincarnation also resonated perfectly with the genre’s cycle of death and learning.
Forging a New Legend: Where Wukong Innovated
What makes Wukong a masterpiece is that it didn’t just imitate; it innovated in meaningful ways.
Its most celebrated feature was, without a doubt, the shape-shifting mechanic. Sun Wukong’s ability to transform into dozens of different enemies after defeating them was a stroke of genius. This wasn’t just a fun gimmick; it was a core pillar of gameplay. Being able to turn into a giant, fire-breathing wolf to counter a frost-based enemy, or a tiny, flying insect to solve an environmental puzzle, offered a level of creativity and build diversity that no Souls-like had ever achieved before. It was an empowering system that perfectly balanced the genre’s punishing nature.
Furthermore, Wukong set a new benchmark for cinematic spectacle in the genre. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game was visually stunning, blending its intense gameplay with jaw-dropping cinematic moments that never wrested control away from the player for too long. It also struck a masterful balance in its narrative, offering a clearer, more direct story than a typical FromSoftware title while still hiding immense amounts of lore for players to uncover.
A year after its release, Black Myth: Wukong‘s impact is undeniable. It proved that the Souls-like philosophy is a universal language of game design, capable of being adapted to new cultures, myths, and bold new mechanics. It understood the soul of the genre and, by infusing it with its own identity, became a legend in its own right.
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