Why Black Myth: Wukong is NOT a Soulslike (And That's a Good Thing!)

Here we go again, folks! It's 2026, and I find myself typing out the same old debate. It seems like every time a cool new action game with a sword and a dodge roll hits the scene, a chorus of voices immediately chimes in: "Is it a Soulslike?" The latest victim of this lazy classification? None other than the magnificent Black Myth: Wukong. I've lost count of the Reddit threads, forum posts, and hot takes I've seen asking this very question, followed by the inevitable clarification: "Actually, no, it's not." So, let me grab my megaphone and say this clearly: Black Myth: Wukong is not a Soulslike game. But hey, don't take my word for it—let's unpack this whole mess.

It's a common mistake.

What Even Is a Soulslike, Anyway?

First, we need to define our terms. What do people mean when they say "Soulslike"? Ask ten gamers, and you might get eleven different answers. For some, it's all about losing your hard-earned XP (or Souls, or Runes) when you die. For others, it's the punishing boss fights that require you to memorize attack patterns like you're studying for a final exam. The legendary Hidetaka Miyazaki himself once described them to IGN as "those dark fantasy third-person action games with a higher focus on melee combat and sense of accomplishment."

For me, a true Soulslike has a very specific recipe:

1. A punishing death loop: You die, you drop your currency/XP, and you have one chance to retrieve it.

2. Intricate, interlocking world design: Maps that loop back on themselves, filled with secrets and shortcuts. Think of Lordran or Yharnam as one giant, beautiful, deadly puzzle box.

3. A progression system tied directly to defeating respawning enemies.

4. That signature, weighty combat focused on stamina management, positioning, and deliberate actions.

So, Where Does Black Myth: Wukong Fit In?

Now, let's look at our heroic monkey king. Does Black Myth: Wukong have tough bosses? Absolutely! Your stamina bar? Check. A dodge roll that's your best friend? You bet. Limited-use healing items? Yep, it's got a gourd for that.

The flask doesn't make this a Soulslike.

See? It ticks a few boxes! But does that make it a Soulslike? Not even close. Here's the crucial difference: the world structure. FromSoftware games are famous for their labyrinthine, interconnected worlds. Black Myth: Wukong, on the other hand, is much more linear and mission-based. Why? Because its structure is brilliantly inspired by its source material, Journey to the West. Sun Wukong's quest involves overcoming 81 distinct trials. Think of it less as exploring a cursed kingdom and more like a spectacular, cinematic boss rush. Our IGN China Editor-in-Chief Charles Young once likened it to playing through 81 video game levels—it's a parade of epic encounters, not a single, sprawling maze.

When I first got my hands on preview builds, I'll admit I had my suspicions. The checkpoint banners, the stamina bar, the dodge-heavy combat... the Soulslike vibes were strong. But playing the full game was a revelation. Black Myth: Wukong is proudly doing its own thing. It's a character action game that has learned lessons from many masters—God of War's cinematic spectacle, Bayonetta's stylish flair, and yes, Dark Souls' combat philosophy—and blended them into something uniquely its own.

Welcome to the Post-Souls Reality

This is the world we live in now, over a decade after Dark Souls reshaped the gaming landscape. The influence of FromSoftware is everywhere, and that's awesome! But we've reached a point where certain mechanics are just... part of the action game toolkit. Let's break it down with a handy table:

See the pattern? A stamina bar doesn't make a Soulslike. A healing gourd doesn't make a Soulslike. Even a checkpoint system that respawns enemies doesn't automatically make a Soulslike. Sekiro ditched the stamina bar and traditional leveling, focusing on posture and deflection—it's a rhythm-based action masterpiece in its own category. Stellar Blade took the checkpoint and tough combat but left stamina management behind.

Not a Soulslike.

Why Getting This Right Matters

You might be thinking, "Who cares? It's just a label." Well, I think it matters a great deal! Imagine you're a gamer who loves action games but finds the deliberate, punishing pace of a true Soulslike to be a bit too stressful. If you see Black Myth: Wukong constantly labeled as one, you might skip it entirely. And that would be a tragedy! You'd miss out on one of the most visually stunning, creatively charged action games of our time, all because of a misapplied genre tag.

Conversely, a hardcore Souls veteran going in expecting the intricate, exploration-heavy world of Elden Ring might be disappointed by Wukong's more linear, spectacle-driven approach. Setting the right expectations is key to everyone's enjoyment.

Let's Celebrate Influence, Not Imitation

Instead of cramming every challenging action game into the "Soulslike" box, we should celebrate what's happening. We're living in a golden age where the best ideas in game design are being shared, remixed, and evolved. Black Myth: Wukong stands as a shining example. It takes inspiration from the Souls series' combat depth, but it uses that foundation to build something that celebrates Chinese mythology in a way only it can. Its brilliance lies in the things it doesn't borrow—its narrative structure, its focus on cinematic boss sequences, its unique transformation and spell mechanics.

So, the next time a game like this comes out, let's hold off on the "Soulslike" trigger finger. Let's appreciate games for what they uniquely are. Black Myth: Wukong is a phenomenal character action game, a love letter to Journey to the West, and a testament to how far the genre has come. It's not a Soulslike. And frankly, thank goodness for that—the gaming world is much more interesting when we have a vibrant variety of experiences, not just endless copies of the same formula. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some more monkey king adventures to get back to. 🐒✨