It’s no secret that Black Myth: Wukong was a massive success for the game for its studio, Game Science, going on to be nominated for 2024’s Game of the Year and winning several other awards. The excitement behind Black Myth: Wukong isn’t hard to believe either, as the game offered a creative spin on a somewhat overdone genre that more than lives up to its expectations as one of the most impressive RPGs in recent years.
While it’s natural to assume that Black Myth: Wukong‘s developers would want to jump on a sequel for their breakout hit right away, what the studio has prepared is even more exciting than a straightforward sequel. While a true successor to Black Myth: Wukong is still on the way following its long-awaited Xbox release, the series is taking a bold new direction that expands on the potential of its mythological setting.
Black Myth: Zhong Kui Isn’t A Direct Sequel
Developing On The Foundations Of The Original Black Myth: Wukong
Rather than starring Wukong himself, the upcoming Black Myth: Zhong Kui follows the namesake of the spinoff as Black Myth‘s new protagonist, that being the legendary demon slayer Zhong Kui from Chinese folklore. Compared to Wukong, Zhong Kui has an even greater connection to some of the spiritual enemies seen in the previous Black Myth game, becoming an undead protector against other supernatural entities.
Zhong Kui also makes an appearance as a playable Mage character in the MOBA game SMITE, using otherworldly powers to apply buffs to himself and debuff or attack enemies.
Zhon Kui also has excellent potential for a more intimidating and morally complex protagonist, as evidenced by the trailer, making him appear more like the Black Myth: Zhong Kui‘s villain rather than its hero.
While it’s a little disappointing for fans who were hoping to jump in and return to the story of Wukong after the events of the previous game, the upcoming Black Myth: Zhonh Kui has an excellent opportunity to explore a brand-new side of the expansive game world.
The Black Myth Series Has Tons Of Potential
An Untapped World Of Incredibly Unique Stories
Given the nature of Zhong Kui as a powerful demon slayer, it’s not hard to imagine him fitting in well as the next protagonist in the Black Myth series, being more than equipped to face off against and even control the monstrosities that Wukong had to endure during his previous adventure.
Despite their similarities, Zhon Kui’s ability to command spirits could offer a fresh gameplay experience in contrast to Wukong’s powerful transformative abilities, sending out spiritual attacks or applying buffs through summoned allies.
Regardless of the direction that Black Myth: Zhong Kui decides to take, the series has more than enough mythological material to warrant expanding on a unique story that players are likely to have never heard of before, unlike the more iconic Wukong.
Even if it might be some time before we get a sequel to Black Myth: Wukong, Black Myth: Zhon Kui could be the start of an exciting new anthology series that can adapt underutilized stories of Chinese mythology for modern audiences to appreciate, all without requiring extensive knowledge of their folklore.
