Black Myth: Zhong Kui has received a new 15 minute gameplay showcase, giving the clearest look yet at Game Science’s follow up to Black Myth: Wukong.
The footage highlights a different combat style built around swords, martial arts, parries, counters, and supernatural abilities. It also shows the game running in Unreal Engine 5 with highly detailed environments and effects.
Game Science says the project is still in early development, and there is currently no confirmed release window or platform list. A 2028 launch has been suggested as a possibility, but that timing is not official.
Zhong Kui fights very differently from Wukong
The new protagonist is Zhong Kui, a figure from Chinese folklore often associated with fighting ghosts and evil spirits.
That immediately separates the game from Wukong in both theme and combat style.
Rather than relying on staff based acrobatics, Zhong Kui uses a sword alongside heavier martial arts attacks, dodges, and counters.
| Gameplay element | Details |
|---|---|
| Main weapon | Sword |
| Combat style | Martial arts, counters, heavier strikes |
| Defensive system | Parry and counter mechanics |
| Special abilities | Fire infused blade and paper talismans |
| Combat meter | Builds through attacking, parrying, and dodging |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Development status | Early development |
| Release window | Not announced |
The gameplay also shows Zhong Kui setting his blade on fire and using paper talismans during combat.
These abilities suggest the game may lean more heavily into supernatural techniques than Wukong.
Parrying appears to be a core mechanic
One of the clearest systems shown in the footage is a standard parry and counterattack mechanic.
Players can respond directly to enemy attacks rather than relying only on dodging or positioning.
There is also a stance or charge bar visible in the interface.
The meter appears to build through successful attacks, parries, and dodges, somewhat similar to the heavy attack stance system used in Black Myth: Wukong.
It is not yet clear exactly how the final version of this system will work, but it appears central to combat flow.
Unreal Engine 5 visuals are a major focus
The trailer also puts strong emphasis on presentation.
Game Science says the footage was captured in game from a work in progress build using a 21:9 aspect ratio.
The environments, lighting, character models, and combat effects are all designed to show what the studio is targeting visually.
Because the game is still in early development, these visuals may change before launch.
Performance targets have also not been confirmed.
That means the footage should be treated as an early representation of the project rather than a guarantee of final image quality or frame rate.
Game Science has high expectations after Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong became one of the biggest global successes for a Chinese developed AAA game.
The game reportedly passed 30 million copies sold in less than two years.
That gives Game Science a much larger audience for its second Black Myth project.
Zhong Kui is not simply repeating the first game’s protagonist or weapon system, which suggests the studio wants each Black Myth entry to explore a different figure and combat identity.
A 2028 launch is possible but unconfirmed
The biggest unanswered question is timing.
Game Science has not announced a release year, platforms, or even a broad launch window.
Because development is still described as early, a 2028 release has been suggested as a reasonable possibility.
That would place the game around four years after Wukong and could potentially bring it into the period when new PlayStation and Xbox hardware is expected.
However, there is currently no confirmation that Black Myth: Zhong Kui will launch in 2028 or that it is being designed specifically for next generation consoles.
For now, the new gameplay trailer mainly confirms that Game Science is taking the Black Myth series in a different direction.
Zhong Kui has a more sword focused combat system, stronger emphasis on parries and counters, and a supernatural toolset that gives the sequel its own identity while keeping the cinematic action style that made Wukong successful.
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