Black Myth: Wukong Praised for Uniqueness, Criticized for Technical Shortcomings

The last 24 hours have been historic for the Game Science studio, as their action RPG, Black Myth: Wukong, has made a sensational debut. On its launch day, the game reached a peak of 2.2 million+ concurrent players, shattering several records and becoming the top-played game on Steam.

This remarkable achievement has now cemented Black Myth: Wukong as the Most-Played Game of 2024, surpassing even the impressive peak of 2.1 million+ players set by Palworld earlier this year.

But the game’s success doesn’t end there – it has now become the Second Most-Played Game on Steam, trailing only PUBG‘s long-standing record of 3.2 million+ concurrent players set back in 2018. And as the weekend approaches, the anticipation is that Black Myth: Wukong could even overtake that impressive milestone, with player numbers expected to grow even further.

Additionally, the game has also become the Most-Played Single-Player Game on Steam, overtaking popular titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, and Baldur’s Gate 3.

This success comes as no surprise, as Black Myth: Wukong has been one of the most highly anticipated games in recent memory. The game has been the most wish-listed title on Steam for the past seven months, and the positive reviews it received earlier this week have only fueled the excitement of its growing fanbase.

While the critics have shared a wide range of opinions on the game, the overall consensus is that Black Myth: Wukong is a resounding success. While some have noted technical issues and glitches as downsides, others have praised the game’s compelling combat and the sheer variety of experiences it offers, hailing it as a true action RPG masterpiece that deserves the attention of many players.

Here are some of the reviews we’ve spotted for Black Myth: Wukong:

God Is A Geek (10/10)

“Black Myth: Wukong is a sterling example of how to take Soulslike elements and weave them into something that feels fresh and original. It’s gorgeous to look at, has some of the best music in any game this year so far.”

“A flurry of sublime combat, intuitive level building, and expert boss design, Black Myth: Wukong is, hands-down, one of this year’s best action games.”

Hardcore Gamer (9/10)

“Black Myth: Wukong took us by surprise. It had a lot of potential from its initial reveal, but what Game Science has been able to create is nothing short of greatness.This is a visual treat that brings ancient China and Chinese mythology to life like never before”

“The world design and quest design are monumental, as each area has a ton of exploratory value and will always keep the campaign fresh. The combat can get repetitive, even with the numerous abilities and skills you’re able to earn, but the boss encounters are satisfying, with most requiring a lot more thought and care while approaching.”

IGN (8/10)

“This is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious and visually stunning action games I’ve ever played. The combat is fantastic—challenging, but always satisfying when you overcome obstacles. The setting, steeped in rich Chinese culture, is refreshingly unique. However, the experience is marred by numerous technical issues, including crashes, glitches, and audio problems. Despite these frustrations, the game’s strengths make it an adventure worth enduring the bumps.”

Black Myth: Wukong is a great action game with fantastic combat, exciting bosses, and a few too many bugs.

Our full review: https://t.co/fdSCGj4koZ pic.twitter.com/OmtMH0FZe7

— IGN (@IGN) August 16, 2024

GameSpot (8/10)

“Black Myth: Wukong delivers thrilling boss battles and stunning visuals, but falters with its linear level design and sparse story moments.”

GamesRadar+ (8/10)

“With strong combat and a fascinating world that mostly rewards exploration, Black Myth: Wukong is a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology.”

Black Myth: Wukong is a great action RPG that feels like God of War for Chinese mythology.

Our review: pic.twitter.com/3MFDm7my9f

— GamesRadar+ (@GamesRadar) August 16, 2024

Windows Central (7/10)

“Black Myth: Wukong is a good action RPG with one helluva boss rush, but what’s between those battles holds it back from true greatness. It’s good. But it could have been great.”

The Sixth Axis (6/10)

“Black Myth: Wukong is a stunning game to look at, but the exploration is lacking, and the fighting is just sort of fine for the most part. It’s just a bit uninspiring, and isn’t a game that I’m expecting to stick with me for any length of time now that I’m done with it.”

PC Gamer (87/100)

“Black Myth: Wukong blossoms with a remarkably bizarre cast of characters and expressive combat all wrapped up in the rich world of its source material.”

Game Rant (6/10)

“Black Myth: Wukong may appeal to Soulslike fans with its challenging boss battles and intricate combat, it lack variation in its weapons, and enemy design needed to satisfy those looking for a more traditional action game.”

“The combat almost feels like a dance and story is largely inconsequential.”

Seeing Screenrant review for Black Myth Wukong is interesting to me. This is a CHINESE mythology game based off of Journey to the West with fantastical beings & creatures.

I think there’s a place for gender and other societal politics but shouldn’t be affected in a game’s… pic.twitter.com/11LhwKN5tB

— 🤔 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙮 (@HomelessGurl) August 16, 2024

RPG Site (7/10)

“A visually stunning yet deeply frustrating experience, Black Myth: Wukong dazzles with its art direction and mythology but falters with inconsistent design and performance issues, leaving an overall hollow feeling.”

Eurogamer (6/10)

“A disjointed and uneven action spectacle”

“Its dramatic and spectacular boss fights just about keep Black Myth: Wukong afloat, but behind all its glitz and glamour is a frustratingly hollow and rudderless action game.”

NME (8/10)

“A mind-bogglingly beautiful action adventure”

“Black Myth: Wukong delivers on the spectacle and satisfying combat, but the overall level design and some of the upgrade systems feel messy. Despite that, Black Myth: Wukong is still an incredibly fun time.”

Black Myth Wukong is a GOTY Contender
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
10/10 GamerSky
10/10 GamingBolt
10/10 GamersRD
9.5/10 CGMagazine
9.3/10 Areajugones
9.3/10 COGConnected
9.3/10 Voxel
9/10 Twinfinite
8.7/10 PCGamer
8.5/10 IGN Brazil
8/10… pic.twitter.com/OLsKHoqW5k

— TCMFGames (@TCMF2) August 16, 2024

Overall, the game has received a Metacritic score of 81% (Generally Favorable) for the PC version, ranking it as the 55th best game of 2024.

On Steam, the game has been flooded with overwhelmingly positive reviews, with over 163,000 reviews and a 96% positive rating.

Now we’re very interested to see how the PS5 version got reviewed. After that, we’re just waiting for an Xbox launch date!

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