Overview
Before Black Myth: Zhong Kui, the character has appeared across Chinese film, television, video games, and traditional performance. None of these reached the global scale that Game Science's game is likely to achieve, but they establish a rich history of adaptation.
Film
Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal (2015), 3D fantasy action film directed by Peter Pau and Zhao Tianyu. Stars Chen Kun, Li Bingbing, and Winston Chao. Released February 19, 2015. Depicts Zhong Kui caught between the mortal world and the demon realm. Mixed reception (5.3/10 on IMDb).
Zhong Kui Returns Chinese fantasy film where Zhong Kui teams with Princess Jiaolong against the Tiger King's son.
Television
Zhong Kui (2018). Action/adventure/fantasy series. Zhong Kui is cast into the mortal world without memory and fights evil with unlikely companions.
The Legend of Zhong Kui (2012). Four independent legend stories based on the character.
Demon Catcher Zhong Kui Chinese drama about a half-god/half-demon, a demon hunter, and a sacred maiden.
Video games
SMITE (2013, Hi-Rez Studios). Zhong Kui is a playable mage god in both SMITE and SMITE 2. His abilities include Expose Evil (marking ghosts on enemies), Exorcism (capturing demons for healing), Book of Demons (stun), and Recall Demons (AoE ultimate). He is classified as a mage who "uses cards and scrolls to capture the souls of the dead."
Age of Mythology: Tale of the Dragon (2016 expansion). Zhong Kui appears as a minor deity in this strategy game.
Opera and performance
The Dance of Zhong Kui developed under the Song dynasty and was adapted into opera under the Ming dynasty. Kunqu opera has a play called "Zhong Kui's Earthly Mission" (also known as "Happiness for All"). New Year processions featuring costumed Zhong Kui performers are documented across centuries of Chinese history.
Living performance traditions survive in parts of China and Taiwan. In She County (Anhui) and Huyi District (Shaanxi), performers dress as Zhong Kui with ragged robes, black caps, and fearsome face paint. They wield swords and perform fire-breathing tricks. In Taiwan, Taoist masters portraying Zhong Kui perform sword dances at the end of ceremonies.