Highlights

  • Wuchang: Fallen Feathers offers a unique take on Soulslike combat, with a dark Ming Dynasty setting and non-linear gameplay.
  • The game faces tough competition from upcoming releases like Black Myth Wukong, but its focus on unique mechanics sets it apart.
  • With a release window in 2025, Wuchang has time to refine its craft and establish itself as a sleeper hit among its competitors.

Fans of Soulslikes are undoubtedly eating well at the moment. Elden Ring's DLC is right around the corner, and there is a slew of upcoming releases that will look to push the boundaries of the action-RPG soulslike sub-genre over the coming months. One of these, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, seems to take specific inspiration from the likes of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and will no doubt be looking to differentiate itself to avoid direct comparisons with 2019's Game of the Year. The game is described as a dark retelling of the Ming Dynasty period and will feature real historical characters. With a tentative release window of 2025, developer Leenzee has plenty of time to establish some key differences for its debut title.

After it was officially unveiled back in 2021, until this recent trailer, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers had somewhat fallen by the wayside, due to the increasing number of Soulslikes being released in quick succession. One such game is Black Myth Wukong, which releases in August. Featuring Soulslike mechanics, similarly fantastical boss fights, and steeped in Ancient Chinese history, Wukong will likely be compared to Wuchang, even though the art styles are quite different. Indeed, Wuchang's tone and aesthetic seem more similar to the likes of Team Ninja's critically acclaimed Nioh series.

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Related
Every Black Myth: Wukong Gameplay Feature Revealed So Far

The upcoming Black Myth: Wukong is an ambitious Soulslike experience that promises diverse gameplay mechanics to look forward to.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Faces Tough Competition

Other Confirmed Soulslikes Releasing in 2024

Game Title

Release Date

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

June 21

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

July 18

Black Myth: Wukong

August 20

Enotria: The Last Song

September 19

Wuchang's Similarities and Differences Compared to Sekiro and Black Myth Wukong

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers tells the story of Bai Wuchang, a warrior with no memory who is battling a mysterious illness known as Ornithropy. Sekiro's protagonist, Wolf, is also prone to contracting an illness known as Dragonrot. However, while Ornithropy is slowly morphing Wuchang into a monster, on the flip side, it is also granting her access to immense power. The game is described as non-linear but stops short of calling itself an open-world game, so it's likely it will adopt a similar semi-open-world structure that is used in both Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the upcoming Black Myth: Wukong.

Black Myth: Wukong's main differentiator appears to be the sheer power of its protagonist, the Monkey King, and his unique suite of abilities, including being able to morph into various other forms. This, along with some of the weapon skills that have already been displayed, appears to give Black Myth a unique identity among the other Soulslikes. On the surface, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers appears to have much more in common with Sekiro, which, if executed correctly, shouldn't harm its chances of success at all.

Wuchang Still Has Plenty of Time to Hone Its Craft

Ornithropy grants Wuchang players access to a variety of magic and techniques, and this can be tailored to specific playstyles by pairing it with a weapon type of the player's choice from the numerous ones on offer. Build variety is becoming more paramount in Soulslikes than ever before, so it's great to see Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has players covered in this regard. Boss fights are one of the most important Soulslike staples, and here, they are promised to feature multi-phases and be as challenging as expected. The entire game is being built using Unreal Engine 5, which should ensure crisp, clean visuals to capture the lightning-fast action on screen.

With so many of its direct competitors releasing over the next four months or so, having a release window of 2025 will likely work in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers' favor. This will give the title room to breathe and should allow the dust to settle on all of its rivals before it unleashes itself. Being available on PS5, PC, and also as a day-one Xbox Game Pass title will give it a great chance for success, so if Leenzee can stick the landing with the game's mechanics and settings, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers could be one of 2025's sleeper hits.