As I wrap up my third playthrough of Black Myth: Wukong in early 2025, I can confidently say this masterpiece continues to stand as one of gaming's greatest achievements since its release last year. What initially drew me in was the combat system's incredible depth and flexibility, which somehow manages to feel both accessible and endlessly complex at the same time. The unique staff-based combat combined with magical abilities creates a gameplay experience that still feels fresh even after 150+ hours.

When I first completed the 50-hour campaign last year, I found myself in that strange post-game emptiness that comes after finishing something truly special. But unlike many single-player experiences that get shelved after completion, Black Myth: Wukong practically begged for another run. Why? Because I realized I'd barely scratched the surface of what's possible in this game.

Combat Depth That Keeps Giving

The game's combat system deserves special recognition for how it balances complexity with approachability. During my first playthrough, I stubbornly stuck with the default Smash stance for most encounters, occasionally dabbling in other options but never fully exploring the depth available. How foolish I was!

For my second run, I completely abandoned my comfort zone and focused on mastering different stances:

• 🔥 Fire Stance: Perfect for aggressive play with rapid combos

• 🌊 Water Stance: Fluid movements with excellent defensive capabilities

• 🪨 Stone Stance: Slower but devastating blows that stagger enemies

What amazed me was how differently each boss fight played out with these alternative approaches. Remember that frustrating boss in Chapter 2 that took me 20 attempts with Smash stance? I defeated it on my first try with Water stance by exploiting counterattack windows I never knew existed!

But isn't it overwhelming to learn all these different systems? Actually, that's the beauty of it - you can go as deep or stay as simple as you want. The game respects both approaches.

Hidden Gems I Nearly Missed

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of my subsequent playthroughs has been discovering content I completely missed the first time around. Did you know there are secret Loong bosses in nearly every chapter? I certainly didn't until halfway through my second run!

During my initial playthrough, I was so focused on the main storyline that I bypassed entire areas containing some of the game's most challenging and rewarding encounters. The secret boss in Chapter 3's bamboo forest remains one of my favorite gaming moments of 2025 so far - an absolutely brutal fight that required perfect timing and pattern recognition.

And the rewards? Beyond just the satisfaction of victory, these hidden encounters unlock:

1. Unique transformation abilities

2. Powerful spirit companions

3. Special weapon modifications

4. Story revelations that enhance the lore

Speaking of the true ending - have you seen it yet? Without spoiling anything, completing all side quests and defeating every secret boss unlocks an alternative conclusion that adds significant depth to the narrative. It's absolutely worth the effort.

Challenge Runs: Testing My Limits

By my third playthrough, I was looking for ways to push myself even further. That's when I discovered the joy of self-imposed challenge runs. Currently, I'm attempting what the community calls a "Monkey King Purist" run:

• No healing during boss fights ❌

• No spell usage ❌

• Starting equipment only ❌

• No leveling beyond 10 ❌

Is this masochistic? Perhaps. But there's something immensely satisfying about stripping away all the power-ups and facing these incredible boss designs with nothing but fundamental skills. Every victory feels earned through pure skill rather than character progression.

The Macaque boss that I previously obliterated in seconds with my overpowered build now requires perfect dodging and patience. When I finally defeated him after 30+ attempts, the rush was comparable to my very first playthrough.

The Modding Renaissance

As a PC player, I've been absolutely blown away by the modding community's creativity over the past year. With over 1,000 mods now available (up from 700 at the end of last year), the possibilities for customization are virtually endless.

Some of my current favorite mods include:

Mod Name	What It Does	Why It's Great
Enhanced Transmog	Allows visual customization without stat changes	Fashion without sacrifice
Unrestricted Transformations	Lets you use Fox and Cicada forms anywhere	Exploration becomes much more fluid
Combat Rebalanced 2.0	Tweaks enemy AI and damage values	Creates a fresh challenge
Visual Overhaul	Removes excessive effects for cleaner visuals	Makes combat more readable

The lightsaber mod deserves special mention - there's something hilariously satisfying about bringing Jedi powers into ancient Chinese mythology. Who says you can't mix your favorite franchises?

Is It Worth Revisiting in 2025?

With so many new games constantly releasing, is it really worth diving back into Black Myth: Wukong a year after its launch? In my experience, absolutely yes.

The question isn't whether you should play it again, but how you should approach your next run. Will you focus on mastering new combat styles? Hunt down every secret boss? Impose challenging restrictions? Or perhaps explore the modding scene?

Whatever path you choose, the game rewards your return with new discoveries and experiences. How many other single-player games can claim that kind of replayability a year after release?

If you've been on the fence about returning to the Flower Fruit Mountain, consider this your sign. The Monkey King's journey awaits once more, and it's just as magical as you remember - perhaps even more so.

Ready to rediscover Black Myth: Wukong? Share your favorite builds or challenge run ideas in the comments below, or join our community Discord to find fellow players embarking on their own unique journeys through this masterpiece!