After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here! Read on for a summary of early reviews and a look at the surrounding controversy.

Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival

PC Exclusive (For Now)

Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated significant hype. Initial critical reception is largely positive, with an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 reviews.

Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system and well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its richly detailed world also receive high marks.

Drawing inspiration from the classic Chinese tale, Journey to the West, the game's interpretation of Sun Wukong's adventures has resonated with critics. GamesRadar+, for example, described it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game, but with a distinctly Chinese mythological twist."

While PCGamesN considers it a potential Game of the Year contender, some criticisms have emerged. Several reviews cite subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches as potential drawbacks. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is also noted for its fragmented storytelling, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions.

Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; console reviews (particularly for PS5) are still pending.

Review Guidelines Spark Controversy

Image sourced from SteamDB. Reports emerged over the weekend detailing controversial guidelines issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to reviewers and streamers. These guidelines allegedly restricted discussion of certain topics, including "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has ignited heated debate within the gaming community. While some express concern about these restrictions, others see no issue. One Twitter (X) user commented, "It's astonishing that these guidelines were even approved. It had to go through multiple people/departments. And the creators signing off on this without speaking up is equally surprising, though unfortunately less so."

Despite this controversy, the game remains highly anticipated. Steam sales data show it's currently the platform's best-selling and most wishlisted game prior to release. However, the lack of console reviews adds a layer of uncertainty. Regardless, Black Myth: Wukong appears poised for a significant launch.