Black Myth: Wukong is black myth wukong a souls like? This question has sparked heated debates among gamers since its release in 2024, and now in 2025, we have enough gameplay experience to finally settle this discussion once and for all.

At first glance, the game certainly gives off strong Soulslike vibes. You've got the recognizable elements: challenging boss fights, dodge mechanics, a stamina bar that demands your attention, and those familiar shrine checkpoints that function similarly to bonfires. When you die (and trust me, you will), you'll be sipping from your Gourd to replenish health in a way that'll make any Estus Flask enthusiast feel right at home.

But calling Black Myth: Wukong just another Soulslike would be selling it short - it's both more and less than that particular label suggests.

Where It Embraces the Soulslike Formula

The combat fundamentals in Wukong are rock solid and definitely share DNA with FromSoftware's beloved formula. You'll need to:

• Study enemy attack patterns

• Time your dodges precisely

• Manage your stamina bar wisely

• Accept death as part of the learning process

As one player put it, "It's definitely soulslike. But not a soulsgame." This distinction is important. Games like God of War, Jedi: Fallen Order, and even Ghost of Tsushima have borrowed elements from the Souls formula without fully committing to its punishing philosophy.

Where It Carves Its Own Path

What makes Black Myth: Wukong stand out is how it blends these Soulslike elements with its own unique identity:

1. More forgiving difficulty curve - While challenging, it's generally considered a few notches easier than traditional Souls games. As one 40-year-old gamer with self-described "not-so-hot reaction times" mentioned, "I haven't finished any soulgame and I finished Black Myth in 33 hours."

2. Transformation abilities - Unlike the typically limited special abilities in Souls games, Wukong lets you fully transform into defeated bosses, granting you their complete movesets. Talk about a game-changer!

3. Combat fluidity - The combat feels more action-packed and fluid, with an emphasis on combo chains and a Focus meter that rewards aggressive play.

4. Structured progression - Rather than the interconnected world design of Dark Souls, Wukong offers a more linear, chapter-based progression that keeps you moving forward.

The Monkey's Middle Path

The game's unique stance system adds another layer that separates it from pure Soulslike territory. The Pillar stance, for example, lets you hop onto your staff to avoid low sweeps while charging your Focus - a mechanic that feels more like something from a traditional action game than a Souls title.

One player perfectly captured this hybrid nature: "If you play this game in soul-like way, it will be a heck of pain. Just attack, and more attack, that is the way to beat the boss in this game." This aggressive approach stands in contrast to the patient, defensive style often required in FromSoftware titles.

The Verdict

So, is Black Myth: Wukong a Soulslike? Yes and no - it's what we might call "Soulslike-adjacent." It takes the best elements of the genre - challenging boss fights, deliberate combat, and a sense of accomplishment when overcoming difficult encounters - and wraps them in its own unique package inspired by Journey to the West.

As one Steam user aptly put it, "It's a soulslike, but at the same time not a soulslike." And honestly, that's what makes it special. It doesn't just copy a formula - it evolves it.

For gamers intimidated by the difficulty of traditional Souls games but intrigued by their core mechanics, Black Myth: Wukong might just be your jam. As another player advised, "I'd say, try it. If it gets too hard, find guides on YouTube or grind some levels... It's a game and shouldn't be a burden."

And that's the bottom line - whether you want to call it a Soulslike or not, what matters is that Black Myth: Wukong delivers a kickass experience that stands on its own two feet... or should I say, monkey paws.

Recent trends are highlighted by Kotaku, a leading source for gaming news and critical reviews. Kotaku's coverage of Black Myth: Wukong emphasizes how the game both borrows from and diverges from the Soulslike formula, noting its unique blend of transformation mechanics and a more accessible difficulty curve that sets it apart from traditional FromSoftware titles.