Game Science shows off Black Myth: Zhong Kui in a 15-minute gameplay trailer
Game Science has dropped a 15-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, the follow-up to its 2024 hit Black Myth: Wukong. The footage, released on August 20 and framed in a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, is the studio's most detailed look at the new game yet — and it shows a noticeably different kind of action RPG.
The look
Where Wukong leaned into acrobatic, transformation-heavy combat, Zhong Kui takes a slower, more grounded approach. The protagonist is a sword-wielding demon-catching magistrate drawn from Chinese folklore, and his fighting style reflects that: deliberate, fluid, and built around blocking and parrying rather than constant evasion. The footage moves through open wilderness, a mysterious cave, and a river crossing before settling into extended combat sequences against humanoid enemies, animals, and a boss fight at the end.
Visually, Zhong Kui already looks sharper than Wukong — finer environmental detail, more complex lighting. One detail that stands out: across several minutes of combat, no finishing move repeated. Whether Game Science has programmed hundreds of distinct finishers or is leaning on some procedural system, Gematsu hasn't confirmed specifics beyond what's visible in the trailer.
No date, no platforms
The honest caveat here is that Zhong Kui is early in production. Per the Official Black Myth FAQ, no release window or platform list has been announced. Analyst consensus puts a likely launch somewhere in 2027–2028, though Game Science has said nothing official. The studio has also stated it's avoiding AI-generated content (AIGC) during the design and asset phases — a deliberate signal given broader industry scrutiny over AI use in game development.
For context, Wukong's 2024 release was a landmark: a Chinese-developed title that broke through on PC and consoles globally, with UK retailers including Game, Smyths, and Amazon.co.uk all stocking it. Zhong Kui will face a busier competitive window whenever it does arrive — Elden Ring expansions, potential Dragon Age follow-ups, and other action RPGs are all likely to be in play by 2027.
Worth watching
The trailer is enough to confirm that Zhong Kui is a genuine successor rather than a retread. The combat system alone looks meaningfully different from Wukong, which suggests Game Science isn't just repackaging its previous engine. For now, there's nothing to buy or pre-order — but if you liked Wukong, this one is worth keeping on your radar.
