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Overview
The Black Myth series is a franchise of single-player action RPGs developed by Game Science. Each entry draws from a different area of Chinese mythology while sharing an overarching worldview. The series currently has two announced titles: Black Myth: Wukong (released August 2024) and Black Myth: Zhong Kui (announced August 2025, no release date).
Shared worldview, separate stories
The two games share a common mythological universe but tell independent stories. Wukong is based on Journey to the West and follows the Monkey King. Zhong Kui shifts to a completely different tradition. The Taoist demon hunter who commands ghosts in the Chinese underworld. Game Science has described them as sharing the same "worldview" without being direct sequels. Each game stands alone.
Registered trademarks
Game Science has registered seven Black Myth trademarks in total, suggesting a much larger franchise plan:
Black Myth: Wukong Released August 2024. Journey to the West.
Black Myth: Zhong Kui In development. Taoist demon hunter mythology.
Black Myth: Jiang Ziya (registered 2020). Jiang Ziya is the legendary strategist from the Investiture of the Gods (封神演义).
Black Myth: Xiao Qian (registered 2020). Xiaoqian is the female ghost protagonist from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (聊斋志异).
Black Myth: Da Huang (registered 2022)
Black Myth: Shan Hai (registered 2022). Likely referencing the Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas).
Black Myth: Sou Shen (registered 2022). Likely referencing In Search of the Supernatural (搜神记).
Feng Ji acknowledged this early: "When we considered making Black Myth: Wukong, we hoped that Black Myth could encompass various Chinese myths and legends. That's why we registered characters like Xiaoqian, Zhong Kui, and Yang Jian early on. Some characters may not be as famous as Sun Wukong, but this actually gives us more room for re-creation."
Commercial context
Black Myth: Wukong was a commercial phenomenon. It sold approximately 28 million copies in 2024, peaked at 2,415,714 concurrent Steam players (the highest ever for a single-player game), and exceeded $1 billion in Steam revenue alone. That success gives Game Science significant resources for the franchise. It also raises expectations.
The "Black Myth" name
The branding signals the series' focus on Chinese mythology specifically. These are deep in specific mythological traditions with centuries of literary, artistic, and religious history. The "black" likely refers to the darker, more morally complex interpretations Game Science brings to these stories, as opposed to the simplified versions most people grow up with.
Future of the series
Game Science's website states that "the westward journey won't end here," confirming Wukong's story will eventually continue. Feng Ji has framed Zhong Kui as a creative detour: a way to recharge before returning to Wukong "in a more complete and polished form." With seven trademarks registered, the franchise ambitions extend well beyond two games.