Black Myth: Wukong sold twenty million copies in its first month and set a Steam record for a single-player game. Game Science's debut adapts the sixteenth-century novel Journey to the West into a sequence of grand, painterly boss battles, and it asks for patience in return.
A staff, a stance and a spellbook
You play the Destined One, a monkey warrior with an extending staff. Combat switches between smash, pillar and thrust stances, and spells and transformations layer on top: freeze an enemy in place, turn into a foe you have beaten, or split into copies. Mixing them is where the game comes alive.
The bosses are the headline. Almost every chapter builds to a creature from the novel, staged with real cinematic weight, and learning each one is the core loop.
A world scanned from real temples
Game Science scanned real sites and statues, including carvings from Chongqing's Dazu Rock Carvings, to build its environments in Unreal Engine 5. The autumn forests, snowfields and temple courtyards are among the most striking in any game, and the art direction won it awards at The Game Awards and the Golden Joysticks.
Where it stumbles
The levels between bosses are often narrow and repetitive, with invisible walls and little reason to explore. There is no difficulty setting, so the challenge is fixed. The PC version uses Denuvo, needs 130 GB and is marked Unsupported on Steam Deck. The Xbox version arrived a year late, in August 2025.
Critics also noted the launch controversy, when a marketing partner sent streamers guidelines asking them to avoid certain topics. The expansion the studio hinted at has not appeared; its next announced game is Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
Who should buy it
Players who enjoy learning hard bosses and want a spectacle to match. If you prefer to choose your difficulty or wander freely, try it first: on PC, the free benchmark tool tells you how it will run before you pay, and PS Plus Premium members get a two-hour trial.
Plays well
- Boss battles with real spectacle and variety
- Stunning art built from scanned real sites
- Flexible stances, spells and transformations
- No in-game store; one purchase covers everything
Watch for
- No difficulty options
- Linear, sometimes repetitive levels
- 130 GB, Denuvo, Steam Deck Unsupported on PC
- The hinted expansion has not arrived
Screenshots and key art: Game Science, from the official Steam store page. Shown for review.
The checkout: buying Black Myth: Wukong in the UK
Steam has the lowest UK price at £49.99 for the standard edition; the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are £54.99. The Digital Deluxe edition (£59.99 on Steam, £64.99 on console) adds a weapon, an armour set, a curio and a soundtrack selection. The same content is available as a £10 upgrade later, so there is no reason to decide at launch.
PC players should run the free Black Myth: Wukong Benchmark Tool on Steam first. It is a separate free download that shows exactly how the game will perform on your hardware.
| Store | Platform | Edition | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | PC | Digital Standard | £49.99 | |
| Steam | PC | Digital Deluxe | £59.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | PS5 | Standard | £54.99 | |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Xbox Series X|S | Standard | £54.99 |
Extras and what they add
| Extra | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Edition Upgrade | Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera armour, Wind Chimes curio and a music selection. Cosmetic and minor gear. | £10.00 |
In-game spending
None. There is no in-game store or currency, and PEGI lists no in-game purchases.
Subscriptions
Not in Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass or the PS Plus Extra catalogue. PS Plus Premium includes a two-hour trial of the full game on PS5.
Paying at each store
| Method | Steam | PS Store | Xbox Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| American Express | No | Yes | Some |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | No | Yes | No |
| Google Pay | No | No | No |
| paysafecard | Yes | Yes | Some |
| Klarna / pay later | Yes | No | Some |
| Phone bill | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bank transfer | Yes | No | No |
| Store gift card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If you change your mind
| Store | Game refund rule | Money goes back to |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | 14 days, under 2 hours played | Card or PayPal, or Steam Wallet (your choice) |
| PlayStation Store | 14 days, if not downloaded | Original method where possible, else wallet |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Usually 14 days, little play | Original method; balance-paid back to balance |
Questions about Black Myth: Wukong
Does Black Myth: Wukong have a difficulty setting?
No. The challenge is fixed, though you can grind experience, upgrade gear and use spirits and transformations to make fights easier.
Is there a demo?
Not a demo, but PC players can download the free benchmark tool to test performance, and PS Plus Premium on PS5 includes a two-hour trial.
Is the Deluxe edition worth it?
Only if you want the extra staff, armour and music. The upgrade is £10 and can be bought any time, so there is no need to decide up front.
Is there DLC?
No expansion has been released or listed in any store as of 25 September 2026.
Sources
Every price, date and policy above was checked against these pages on 25 September 2026.