The highly anticipated gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Wukong has finally dropped, and while it showcases stunning visuals and exhilarating combat, it also raises a burning question: Who exactly is our protagonist?
A Glimpse into the World of Demons
“> The first gameplay trailer follows a surprisingly cheerful character with a distinctive topknot as he embarks on a series of activities, from making music and applying makeup to camping, building rafts, fishing for demons, riding them, and even burying them – all before engaging in epic battles. While this character is undoubtedly the protagonist of Black Myth: Wukong, the big question remains: Is it Zhong Kui?
Black Myth: Wukong is the second installment in Game Science’s Black Myth series. The first game, a visually stunning action RPG, was released in August 2024 and garnered widespread praise for its beautiful graphics and fluid combat animations. A teaser trailer for Black Myth: Wukong followed a year later at Gamescom 2025, hinting at the continuation of the Chinese folklore theme. However, we had to wait for this new gameplay trailer to get a proper look at the protagonist and the revamped combat system (which were notably absent from Game Science’s earlier
Unraveling the Mystery of the Protagonist
“> While this Black Myth: Wukong trailer reveals a lot about weapon types, enemy designs, and the game’s setting, it also sparks a crucial question: Who is the main character? And if he isn’t Zhong Kui, what’s his connection to the Taoist deity whose name graces the game’s title?
The young and handsome protagonist doesn’t quite match the traditionally fearsome depiction of Zhong Kui. The latter is usually portrayed as a large figure with a prominent beard and piercing eyes. We previously caught a glimpse of him in the reveal trailer, where he was clad in a dark cloak and riding a tiger.
The initial part of the gameplay trailer offers no direct clues about Zhong Kui. Our protagonist finds himself stranded in a remote, mountainous region, where he encounters an elderly man. Together, they explore the island, narrowly escape falling trees, share a giant barnacle, and construct a raft. Soon after, they encounter demons, which the protagonist swiftly defeats with a one-handed blade. Notice the gourd hanging from his belt; just like in Black Myth Wukong, it appears we’ll once again be able to fill this organic flask with attack-boosting and HP-restoring potions.
After the elderly man seemingly passes away and transforms into a swarm of tiny particles, things take an interesting turn. The protagonist throws a firebomb, then channels flames from the burning trees to enhance his sword. Later, after taking a swim, he’s promptly attacked by a clam-winged, barnacled lake monster. He then summons a dark-cloaked companion into the fight – a cloak that bears a striking resemblance to the one worn by Zhong Kui in the reveal trailer. After a while, the protagonist merges with this cloaked companion, and they continue fighting as one entity. Is this cloaked figure Zhong Kui? An alter ego? Or perhaps an ability granted by Zhong Kui himself? The first option seems unlikely at first glance, given that the cloaked companion appears shorter and more human-like compared to the tiger-riding deity from the reveal trailer. However, it’s important to remember that Zhong Kui was once a mortal man… Could this be a younger version of him?
The gameplay trailer concludes with a series of brief glimpses where the protagonist once again appears alongside the cloaked companion. In the final scene, we see Zhong Kui riding his tiger on a cliff, revealing a green sword sheath on his back. It looks very similar to the one carried by the protagonist… But it’s not quite the same.
“> The cloaked companion is wielding an arched sabre, so there’s no match there either. It seems we’ll need to wait for the next Black Myth: Wukong trailer to gain further insights into the protagonist’s identity and determine if he is indeed Zhong Kui split in two.
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