Is Black Myth Wukong Open-World?

Black Myth Wukong may not be an open-world game in the traditional sense despite being reminiscent of one in some ways.

Black Myth Wukong is not open-world.
Black Myth Wukong is not an open-world game (Image via GameScience)

With just a few days remaining for Black Myth Wukong’s global release, many gamers are wondering whether it will be open-world, given that it belongs to the action RPG genre. Many recent titles in this genre, like Elden Ring, have had open worlds demanding to be explored.

However, Black Myth Wukong is not going to be open-world in the truest sense. It appears to lack some of the core features that define an open-world game. Long story short, Black Myth Wukong is linear.

In this article, we will discuss why the upcoming game does not squarely fall into the open-world category and what fans should expect in terms of exploration.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer’s opinions.

Why is Black Myth Wukong not Open-World?

Black Myth Wukong is not an open-world game in the traditional sense. To understand why, let’s take a look at some of the factors that define an open-world game:

  • Exploration: Open-world games usually have large, unbound maps. You can explore every nook and cranny without any restrictions (apart from level caps at times). Secret locations offer rare items or surprise boss fights. The flow of the game is overall non-linear.
  • Dynamic Elements: Open-world games feature interactive actions, and the player’s choices directly impact their surroundings.
  • Side Quests: Most open-world games have side quests for players. These are either marked on the map or need to be triggered with a specific action.

To summarize, players can forge their own path and influence the game world in unique ways; there is no single predetermined path they must take. Consequently, one complete run of an open-world title can take more than 50 hours.

Black Myth Wukong on Xbox One and PS4
Each chapter in Black Myth Wukong follows the same linear structure (Image via GameScience)

The main factor that keeps Black Myth Wukong from being an open-world game is its linear flow. Your path is set by the game, and you will have to follow it strictly. That said, you will still have a lot to explore. You will encounter enemies and characters you can interact with, uncover secrets of biomes, and have side quests to complete as well.  

Each chapter in the game is large, but they do not present a full-fledged open-world scenario. You cannot veer away from the story that the game is trying to tell. You have to explore each area the way the developers intended. In the process, you will find resources and items, defeat bosses, and more.

Many have termed Black Myth Wukong as a “boss rush” game, but that greatly depends on your perspective and experience.

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