A new trailer for an upcoming action-adventure game looks like it could be tapping into the same vein asBlack Myth: Wukong, this time incorporating Korean folklore in its story. Whether it will feature soulslike combat elements hasn’t yet been confirmed, but based on the teaser, it seems like a real possibility.
Nexon Games and developers at LoreVault introduceWoochi: The Wayfarer,set in the Joseon era, “one of the most dramatic periods in Korean history.” The game is an open-world action-adventure RPG with a compelling teaser trailer featuring incredible graphics and art design, and if it ends up being anything likeWukong, players have a lot to be excited about.
Woochi: The Wayfarer Looks Like A Soulslike Focused On Korean Folklore
Woochi Isn’t Officially A Soulslike, But It Looks Like One
There’s been awave of incredible soulslikesover the past few years, includingBlack Myth: Wukong,Elden Ring Nightreign, and most recently,Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. It isn’t clear whetherWoochiwill officially be considered a soulslike or not, but the presentation of the trailer is strikingly similar to other games thatfeature soulslike elements.
LikeBlack Myth:Wukong,Woochiis focused on East Asian folklore and literature.Wukongdives deep into a remix of the classic novelJourney to the West, whileWoochiwill exploreThe Tale of Chon Uch’i, a Korean novel based on a real-life Taoist scholar who livedduring the Joseon period and possessed magical powers.
The art style and narrative-driven aspect ofWoochioffer similar points of appeal toBlack Myth: Wukong, although just how closelyWoochiattempts torepeatWukong’s successin the genre remains to be seen.
Woochi Could Give Black Myth: Wukong A Run For Its Money
It Will Depend On Gameplay, But Woochi Looks Very Promising
So far, not very many action-adventure games have had quite the level of success asBlack Myth: Wukong.Despite its flaws, it turned out to be a breakout in the genre for a number of reasons that might beimpossible to emulate perfectly. The timing of its release and the lack of strong global competitors tapping into the same sort of lore were a strong setup for success, and the massive Chinese market created a huge player base that ultimately translated to Western sales as well.
Woochi: The Wandererlooks incredibly promising, but it’s up for debate whetherBlack Myth: Wukong ‘ssuccess will help or hurt it.Wukongsets a high bar for East Asian soulslikes, and even the compellingWuchang: Fallen Feathershasn’t managed to attract the same hype overall. Ultimately, it’s hard to say whether games likeWoochiwill ever be able toescapeWukong’sshadow, or if players are ready for new and improved versions of it.
There’s definitely a massive interest in epic tales from East Asian countries, butWoochi’s gameplay will need to be incredibly compelling as well for it to reach the same heights asBlack Myth: Wukong.
