Black Myth: Wukongheavily draws inspiration from the ancientChinese mythologicalnovel, called Journey to the West. One of the most iconic characters in Journey to the West is a rather mischievous monkey king namedSun Wukong, who has extraordinary powers.
While it seems pretty straightforward that you’d play as Sun Wukong himself,Black Myth: Wukongintroduces an intriguing twist that suggests that you may actually not be playing as the legendary Monkey King. This begs the question: who do you really play as inBlack Myth: Wukong?
The following guide contains spoilers forBlack Myth: Wukong.
Who Do You Play As In Black Myth Wukong?
In a surprising twist, the main character ofBlack Myth: Wukongis not Sun Wukong himself, but rather theDestined One, a monkey from humble origins who is chosen by fate to fulfill a prophecy.
The opening scenes ofBlack Myth: Wukongreveal an intense battle between the legendary Sun Wukong and the powerful deity Erlang Shen. After an epic showdown, the rebellious Wukong is ultimately defeated by Erlang Shen, and his six senses are scattered across the land. The cutscene ends with the narrator stating“And so ends the last tale of Sun Wukong, a hero who treasured his freedom above all else.”
Shortly after, the game begins with you taking control of the Destined One, who is one of the descendants of Sun Wukong. The Destined One sets out on a long and dangerous journey to reclaim the six scattered Relics that once belonged to Sun Wukong and rise up against the Celestial Court.
Each Relic represents a fragment of Sun Wukong’s essence and power. As you progress and recover these senses, the Destined One gradually evolves, inheriting more of Sun Wukong’s abilities and memories. Down the road, you’ll come across theKeeper of the Black Wind, who states that your character is"his spitting image”,implying that you resemble Sun Wukong physically but are not the legendary warrior himself.
TheYaoguais inBlack Myth: Wukongare aware of your potential to become Sun Wukong and interact with you with a mix of contempt, fear, and respect. One demon even taunts,“You’re not him. Don’t return until you’ve practiced.”
The enemies’ attempts to stop you make the journey to fully become Sun Wukong a truly satisfying experience. As you progress to Chapter 6 ofBlack Myth Wukong, you’ll eventually reach the Water Curtain Cave, where Sun Wukong’s iconic staff, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, stands tall like a pillar. Once you claim the staff, Zhu Bajie exclaims,“Now… you look exactly like Wukong.”
