What Is Black Myth: Zhong Kui?

Black Myth: Zhong Kui (黑神话：钟馗) is the second title in Game Science's Black Myth series, officially revealed during the Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live showcase on August 20, 2026. The game is a single-player action RPG centered on Zhong Kui, the legendary ghost-hunting deity from Chinese folklore.

Following the unprecedented success of Black Myth: Wukong — which sold over 30 million copies globally — Game Science is expanding the Black Myth universe with a new protagonist, new story, and new combat mechanics. CEO Feng Ji confirmed this is not a direct sequel or DLC, but an entirely new entry designed to push the series forward.

"DLC would of course be a fine choice. But right now, we'd rather make a new Black Myth game — a new hero, new gameplay, new visuals, new technology, a new story." — Feng Ji, Game Science CEO

The Gamescom 2025 Reveal

The announcement came as the closing act of Gamescom Opening Night Live — the first time a Chinese-developed game has received the prestigious final slot at the world's largest gaming convention. If you haven't played the first game yet, our Black Myth: Wukong 2nd anniversary sale guide covers the current 30% off deal — the deepest discount in the game's history. Host Geoff Keighley introduced Zhong Kui as "the god who walks between hell and the mortal world, hunting ghosts."

The reveal trailer, a roughly 2-minute CGI cinematic, showed:

  • Zhong Kui riding a massive tiger through a dark, supernatural landscape
  • Sword combat against hordes of demons in sprawling underworld environments
  • Ink-wash painting aesthetics blended with Unreal Engine 5's cinematic realism
  • Traditional Chinese architecture — palace halls, crimson gates, spirit lanterns

Within hours, the trailer surpassed 10 million views on Bilibili and trended at #1 across Chinese social media. Internationally, Wikipedia reported a 300% surge in searches for the "Zhong Kui" entry, as fans worldwide raced to learn about the folklore behind the new protagonist.

Who Is Zhong Kui? The Mythology

| Aspect | Detail | |:--|:--| | Origin | Tang Dynasty (7th century) Chinese folklore | | Title | Ghost Catcher / Demon Slayer (捉鬼天师) | | Appearance | Fierce warrior with a dark beard, often depicted wielding a sword | | Domain | Walks between the mortal world and the underworld | | Companions | A tiger mount; sometimes accompanied by demon subordinates | | Cultural Status | One of China's most recognizable mythological figures |

Zhong Kui is fundamentally different from Sun Wukong. While Wukong is chaotic, rebellious, and trickster-coded, Zhong Kui is a force of order — a divine enforcer who hunts malevolent spirits and maintains the boundary between worlds. This tonal shift suggests Black Myth: Zhong Kui will offer a darker, more gothic atmosphere compared to Wukong's vibrant mythological adventure.

Story & Setting

Details on the narrative are limited, but Game Science has confirmed the game draws from Chinese ghost lore and folk horror traditions. Art Director Yang Qi revealed the project's origin:

"The inspiration came from a dream — I dreamt of Zhong Kui riding a tiger. After discussion, we decided this was the story we needed to tell."

The game is expected to explore the boundary between the living world and the underworld, with Zhong Kui traveling between realms to hunt rogue spirits. Unlike Wukong's journey to the West, Zhong Kui's story is rooted in exorcism, judgment, and cosmic balance — drawing from classic Chinese texts like Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (聊斋志异).

Gameplay & Combat

While no actual gameplay footage has been shown yet, Game Science has shared broad directions:

| Feature | Expected Details | |:--|:--| | Combat Style | High-difficulty action, "soulslike" inspiration | | Transformation System | Likely returning, evolved for Zhong Kui's abilities | | Weapon Focus | Chinese straight sword (剑), ghost-sealing techniques | | Mount | Tiger — possibly usable in traversal and combat | | Setting | Dual-realm: mortal world + Chinese underworld (地府) | | Innovation | "New mechanics to refresh player experience" per Feng Ji |

CEO Feng Ji emphasized that the team is using this new project to address the shortcomings of Wukong — including optimization issues and narrative depth — while experimenting with bolder, more differentiated gameplay systems.

"This will face past flaws head-on. We're not retreading the same creative ground — the goal is to challenge ourselves with something genuinely new."

Release Date & Platforms

| Question | Answer | |:--|:--| | Release Date | Not announced — estimated development cycle is 5-6 years | | Platforms | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S (confirmed) | | Development Stage | Early — "no playable content to show yet" per Yang Qi | | Next Update | Likely around August 20, 2027 (Game Science's annual update date) |

Game Science established a pattern with Wukong: an initial reveal, followed by annual progress updates every August 20th — a date that has become a tradition for the studio. While no release window is set, the earliest realistic window is late 2029 to 2030, mirroring Wukong's approximately 5-year development cycle from its own reveal trailer.

Connection to Black Myth: Wukong

The Black Myth series is being built as a shared universe of Chinese mythology, similar to how Marvel builds its cinematic universe or FromSoftware creates distinct but thematically connected worlds.

Feng Ji reassured Wukong fans that the Monkey King's story is not over:

"I love the world of Journey to the West's demons, gods, and immortals beyond words. Wukong's legend will return — in a more complete, more solid form — when it's ready."

Game Science registered multiple Black Myth trademarks as early as 2021, revealing their long-term vision:

  • Black Myth: Wukong (B1 — released 2024)
  • Black Myth: Zhong Kui (announced 2026)
  • Black Myth: Jiang Ziya (黑神话：姜子牙) — trademarked, unannounced
  • Black Myth: Shan Hai (黑神话：山海) — trademarked, unannounced

FAQ

Is Black Myth: Zhong Kui a sequel to Wukong?

No. It is a standalone new entry in the Black Myth series, set in a different mythological world with a new protagonist. Feng Ji explicitly described it as "not a direct sequel — a new hero, a new story."

When will Black Myth: Zhong Kui release?

No release date has been announced. Based on Wukong's ~5-year development cycle, the earliest estimate is 2029-2030. The game is in early development.

Will Zhong Kui have the same combat as Wukong?

It will share the high-difficulty, transformation-based combat skeleton but introduce significant new mechanics. Feng Ji promised the game will "refresh the player experience" rather than rehashing Wukong's systems.

What does "Zhong Kui" mean?

Zhong Kui (钟馗) is a legendary figure in Chinese folklore — a ghost-hunting deity who patrols the boundary between the living world and the underworld. He is traditionally depicted as a fierce warrior with a sword and a tiger mount.

Why did Game Science choose Zhong Kui instead of making Wukong DLC?

Feng Ji explained that player expectations for Wukong DLC had become so high — with fan concepts outpacing the team's own plans — that creating something genuinely surprising under those constraints was risky. Starting fresh with a new hero allows the team to innovate freely without being boxed in by Wukong's established world and mechanics.

Is there gameplay footage available?

No. The Gamescom 2026 reveal was a CGI cinematic trailer. Art Director Yang Qi confirmed the game has "no playable content worth showing yet." Expect gameplay reveals in future annual updates.

Last updated: August 2, 2026. This article will be updated as new information becomes available. For another ambitious new action RPG launching in 2026, check our Beast of Reincarnation review roundup.