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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 the same overarching worldview. The series currently consists of 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 mythological 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.

This approach is similar to how Final Fantasy games share themes and naming conventions (Chocobos, Moogles, summons) without being connected narratively. Each Black Myth game stands alone as a complete story.

Commercial context

Black Myth: Wukong was a commercial phenomenon. It sold approximately 28 million copies in 2024 and generated around $1.25 billion in revenue. It was the most-played game on Steam at launch, with a peak of over 2.4 million concurrent players. For a Chinese single-player game — a category that barely existed in the AAA space before Wukong — these numbers were staggering.

That success gives Game Science significant resources and credibility for Zhong Kui. It also raises expectations. The studio is now under scrutiny from a global audience that expects their next game to match or exceed Wukong's quality.

The "Black Myth" name

The "Black Myth" branding signals the series' focus on Chinese mythology specifically. These are not generic fantasy games — they are deeply rooted 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 many people grow up with.

Future of the series

Game Science's official website states that "the westward journey won't end here," confirming that Wukong's story will eventually continue. Whether the series will expand to a third mythology or return to Wukong after Zhong Kui remains unclear. 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."