Timeless Teachings

Written by Aaron Barnes

Have you heard the news? Black Myth: Wukong has finally been released on PC and Playstation 5, it soon to be released on Xbox Series X and S! This AAA game is the first major title to come out of China; and with it, the fantastical mythology of ancient China to global audiences. There is much hype surrounding this title with fans already calling for a nomination as Game of the Year; however, Xbox players are left waiting until further notice. With that being said, there are other title currently out on the market which reflect the gameplay style, and fantastical themes offered by Black Myth Wukong.

Lords of the Fallen

Released in October 2023, Lords of the Fallen is a dark souls-like RPG released by FromSoftware. The game takes place in a medieval, fantasy realm where demons and corrupted creatures and men run rampant, it is up to the player to fight the demonic hordes and put an end to this corruption. There are multiple classes like other souls-like games which influence the play through of the game. These vary from magic users and clerics, to rangers and crusaders.

What makes this game unique is the ability to change the map and features through shifting the HUD and gameplay via entering a shadow-like realm. There are areas of the map where this mechanic is required in order to advance.

What makes this title similar to Black Myth Wukong is the detailed character designs, the fantastical setting, the dynamic combat animations, and the RPG like elements which dictate how you fight and play the game.

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty is a direct reflection of the Chinese history and mythology brought to video games. This open world game takes place during the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the late Han Dynasty in Eastern China. Even the famous general Lü Bu, from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is an NPC which the protagonist interacts with. The setting of this title is a fantastical version of Late Han China. The architecture, gardens, scenery and geographical cities and features reflect this; however, this rendition of China has fantastical beasts like demons, mermaids, gigantic boar, longma, and other mythological creatures throughout the world.

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty plays as an action RPG with a third person camera perspective. The player customizes the protagonist to learn Chinese magic and alchemy in order to buff their combat abilities. The open world allows the player to discover new enemies and complete side quests for unique rewards and experience. Finally, the combat is hack-and-slash with dynamic movement incorporated, allowing for parries, blocks and dodges. The customizable weapons allow for crowd control, distance management or damage output depending on the players play style.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice won Game of the Year in 2020 for good reason! This game does not reflect Chinese mythology, but rather Japanese. The reason why this game is included in this list is due to the dynamic movement and intense battles between the player and enemies, the fantastical and larger-than-life boss battles, the fantastical aspect of the story, and the cinematic cut scenes. The parry system is so vital in this game, just like Black Myth Wukong, which opens up enemies to critical strikes. Additionally, this title is another action RPG with customizable aspects which complement certain play types.

Honorable Mentions

Elden Ring: Another FromSoftware game action RPG which won Game of the Year in 2022.

Nioh 1 and 2: These games capture the dynamic movement and hack and slash combat of Black Myth Wukong.

Ninja Gaiden (all of them): The acrobatic ninja moves as well as bloody boss fights are definitely something action RPG players would enjoy.