“The Monkey King knows no master… not even Heaven itself.”
Among the countless figures of Chinese mythology, no figure is as vibrant, mischievous, or enduring as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Born from a magical stone on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, which was nourished by the energies of heaven and earth, the Monkey King has been a rebel of Heaven, and eventually a companion on a sacred pilgrimage, Sun Wukong has transcended the pages of the 16th century classic Journey to the West into countless retellings across film, opera, animation, and now a cutting-edge action video game—Black Myth: Wukong. This project brilliantly recreates a centuries-old character through immersive storytelling and beautiful visuals, bringing ancient myths onto the screens of a global audience.
Who is Sun Wukong?
Sun Wukong makes his first appearance in Journey to the West (西游记), written by Wu Cheng’en during the Ming Dynasty. The translation we read in classmasterfully blends adventure, philosophy, and satire into one of the greatest and most impressive literary works of Chinese history. Wukong is introduced as a magical monkey born from a stone. He quickly distinguishes himself amongst his fellow monkey brethren as the Monkey King by mastering powerful martial and magical arts, such as learning to transform into 72 different forms, and acquiring a magical staff that can change size at will.
Perhaps most memorable, however, is his unyielding and boisterous spirit. Wukong disrespects the Jade Emperor, eats the peaches of immortality, and wreaks havoc in Heaven before being imprisoned under a mountain as punishment by the Buddha. Eventually, he is released to accompany the monk Tripitaka on a pilgrimage to India to retrieve sacred scriptures. Throughout this journey, Wukong grows from a rebellious trickster to a loyal protector.
Sun Wukong’s appeal lies in his contradictions: he is a figure of blatant disrespect and great power, and is both chaos-bringer and guardian. These contradictions make him ideal for reinterpretation—and Black Myth: Wukong does just that.
Wukong Reimagined: Black Myth
Black Myth: Wukong is the first video game title from Chinese indie developer Game Science. Announced in 2020 with a stunningly beautiful gameplay trailer, the game instantly attracted international attention for its cinematic-like presentation, fluid combat, and beautiful visuals. Obviously inspired by Journey to the West, the main playable character is a mysterious “Destined One”, a monkey warrior very like Sun Wukong. However, this isn’t a direct retelling of Wukong’s story. Instead, the game presents the player with lots of Chinese myth and folklore, creating a dark world filled to the brim with legendary beasts, ancient deities, and stunning landscapes.
The gameplay is very similar to one of my favorite combat games ever: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019).
As you can see, it clearly draws inspiration from Sekiro, and the combat of both games can feel like a dance. However, Black Myth: Wukong’s heart lies in its cultural storytelling. From the design of enemies to the music score, Black Myth pulls the player into a world deeply rooted in Chinese beliefs, Taoist symbols, and Buddhist philosophy. Wukong’s signature abilities, such as flying on clouds, shape-shifting, and staff-wielding are all present here, and they translate into souls-like combat mechanics that are incredibly satisfying.
Game Science has been careful about showing the beautiful complexity but also strangeness of Chinese mythology to a global audience. This can be seen in not just the art, but in the narrative of the game, too—mysterious, philosophical, and sometimes morally grey. Unlike many other adaptations that merely turn Wukong into a caricature (League of Legends, Dragon Ball), Black Myth brings back a sense of awe and power to the character.
Tradition Meets Tech: Globalizing the Monkey King
What makes Black Myth so significant is how it navigates the space between being faithful to its origins and balancing creative innovation. This is not just a simple case of “East meets West”. Instead, it’s a new version created in China that’s meant to be shared with the world. The developers, who are based in China, are taking control of their mythological narratives and choosing how to present it on their own terms. The result is a game that doesn’t just “borrow” Chinese culture—it builds from within it.
At the same time, the game does adapt its storytelling for a global audience. The visuals, so beautiful at times, can also be very gritty and moody, and moral ambiguity as a trope has been used many times before. But these elements add to symbolism that is still very authentically Chinese. For example, many characters are drawn from Buddhist iconography, and landscapes often show temples and mountainous regions from Daoist art.
However, mixing these cultures creates new and deeper meanings. Wukong (or whoever we play as) is no longer just a rebellious trickster defying the celestial order for kicks and giggles—he is a tragic hero who is trying his best to navigate a broken world, which we can all identify with. His struggle is not just to attain freedom, but to find his identity, fate, and transcendence. This is particularly relatable for younger audiences, both inside as well as outside of China, who are starting to question tradition as well as authority.
Why Wukong Still Matters Sun Wukong has been reimagined many times—as a cartoon in Havoc in Heaven, a kung fu legend in The Forbidden Kingdom, and a pop culture icon in Leauge of Legends and Dragon Ball (though, notably, he mainly serves as inspiration for the last two). What makes Black Myth: Wukong special is its stubborn refusal to dilute or change its source material. Instead of simplifying the myth of Wukong, the developers have chosen to deepen it—inviting players to explore the darkness along with the light of a story that has captivated us for centuries.
The sources to the images used can be found below:
(The phrase “Born from a magical stone on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, which was nourished by the energies of heaven and earth” was found in the google search below)
