Black Myth: Zhong Kui May Be More ‘Pokemon’ Than Soulslike

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The spectacular closing of Gamescom Opening Night Live saw Game Science unveiling their sequel to the 2024 blockbuster ARPG, “Black Myth: Wukong.” The subsequent game in the “Black Myth” franchise, titled “Black Myth: Zhong Kui,” will star a new central character and continue the blending of Chinese mythology with action-packed gameplay. Given the characteristics of this mythological figure, it seems that “Black Myth: Zhong Kui” might draw inspiration from an unlikely source.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been excitedly waiting for the sneak peek of Black Myth: Zhong Kui, but it seems like Game Science is keeping most of the details under wraps. While it shares the breathtaking visuals and action RPG genre with its predecessor, Black Myth: Wukong, this new game might hold a few surprises that haven’t been revealed yet.

One intriguing aspect could be the incorporation of Pokemon-like gameplay elements due to Zhong Kui’s mythological background in Chinese folklore. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for more information soon!

Black Myth: Zhong Kui May Be Trading Soulslike Elements for Pokemon-Like Ones

Zhong Kui is Basically a Pokemon Trainer in Taoist Mythology

In Taoist mythology, it is said that Zhong Kui was assigned by the Chinese god of the underworld, Yanluo Wang, to capture and educate all spirits after his death. As a spirit himself, he was bestowed the title of King of Ghosts, known for banishing unwanted spirits as well as controlling them, similar to a Pokémon Trainer. It is also believed that Zhong Kui possesses powers such as:

  • Command of over 80,000 ghosts
  • The power to bring good fortune while warding away misfortune

In keeping with the original mythology, Game Science is expected to depict Zhong Kui’s story accurately and respectfully in “Black Myth: Zhong Kui”. This suggests that it will treat its source material with care, much like it did with the “Journey to the West” in “Black Myth: Wukong”. Given this approach, we can anticipate that players might be given control over ghosts in some manner, possibly evoking comparisons to well-known creature-taming games such as “Pokemon”.

At the moment, there isn’t a set release date for the game Black Myth: Zhong Kui, which means it’s uncertain when players might get the chance to start playing it.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui Can Blend Wukong’s Action Elements with Ghost-Catching Gameplay

Although primarily an Action RPG, Black Myth: Zhong Kui offers significant opportunities for capturing and battling creatures. Building on the spirit-summoning gameplay introduced in Black Myth: Wukong, players were able to summon Yaoguai by defeating them within its world. This suggests that Black Myth: Zhong Kui could further develop this feature, perhaps by incorporating a wider variety of Yaoguai or allowing the use of multiple spirits in battle at once, taking the mechanic to new heights.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui might incorporate ghost summoning as a key feature in its core ARPG gameplay, drawing inspiration from Pokemon. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s combat system transitioning to real-time action style battles, it’s evident that Black Myth: Zhong Kui could adopt a comparable approach for its summon mechanics. During fights, players might take control of both Zhong Kui and the summoned spirits simultaneously. This gameplay shift would not only stay true to the mythological foundations of Zhong Kui but also help distinguish the game from its Wukong-centered predecessor.

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2025-08-20 01:17