Is Black Myth Wukong open world? Answered

✓ At a glance

• Black Myth: Wukong is not a fully open world game, instead featuring mostly linear paths that can lead towards non-linear secret areas with side quests, optional bosses, chests, secrets, and more.
• Each of the game’s six chapters features a different sized map and differs in how linear or open it is.

Most of the recent soulslike games have been either open world or semi-open world. With the legendary Monkey King joining the stable of games in this genre, we have been wondering if this will push the envelope to a full-fledged open world experience. So is Black Myth: Wukong an open world game, linear, or falls somewhere in between? We’ve played the game and have a verdict.

Does Black Myth: Wukong have an open world?

Black Myth: Wukong isn’t a fully open world game, and instead relies on linear paths broken up with several non-linear areas for players to discover. These places are usually found off the beaten path, hiding optional quests, secrets, hidden bosses, and other similar features.

This encourages players to explore and deviate from the main questline while making it easy to keep focus and return to the main story. Some of these places are easy to miss and requires you to pay attention to your surroundings. 

While following the main road to your next destination, keep an eye out for hidden areas – a fork in the road, a side nook, a platform to jump to, etc. Each chapter has places like this that have a hidden secret for you to discover.

How linear are the chapters?

Black Myth: Wukong is comprised of six chapters to explore and beat. Each one is a different part of the story, and the same goes for the amount of open world to explore. Here’s how linear they felt during our playthrough:

• Chapter 1: The introductory chapter is the most linear of the bunch. There are secrets to discover, but you’ll keep to the main path for the most part.
• Chapter 2: The game opens up starting with this chapter. There are a few large open areas for wider exploration, hidden events, chests, and bosses.
• Chapter 3: Similar in scope to the previous chapter, this one has more platformer-type jumping that leads to more secrets.
• Chapter 4: The map is bigger, but more linear than previous. There are still a few secrets for you to discover, as well as an optional boss.
• Chapter 5: This chapter returns to a slightly smaller size, with fewer secrets to find as well. However, one leads to a secret area that culminates in a boss fight.
• Chapter 6: The final chapter is the shortest and most linear, focusing on the final confrontation.