Black Myth: Wukong has become an undeniable phenomenon in 2024, judged purely by the numbers. It’s the most-played single-player game on Steam, reaching a peak of 2.4 million concurrent players and ranking second overall only behind PUBG, while leaving its indie peer Palworld trailing in third.

Black Myth: Wukong merges traditional RPG elements with action-heavy gameplay, set in a rich mythological world inspired by the legendary tale of Sun Wukong, the mischievous Monkey King from Journey to the West.

Wukong, a formidable figure born from stone and gifted with supernatural powers, encounters countless mythical creatures and divine beings on his journey. Over time, he grows from a chaotic trickster into a disciplined hero, learning humility and patience along the way.

Black Myth: Wukong reimagines this epic tale with a darker, more atmospheric twist, bringing the fantasy to life through breathtaking visuals and deeply immersive gameplay.

When factoring in geopolitics, about 80% of Black Myth: Wukong‘s players and sales have come from China alone, yet the game still boasts millions of sales in other regions, marking the CCP’s first large-scale success in the gaming industry.

With over twenty million units sold in just a month, its reception on Steam is resoundingly positive, holding a 96% approval from more than 709,000 reviews, though if you want to escape the China favoritism it holds a more modest 8.3 from user scores on Metacritic.

Meanwhile, Geoff Keighley’s Game Awards appear set to disappoint yet again with what many see as a bias toward diversity and inclusivity, sidelining player favorites.

In 2023, the most popular game of the year, Hogwarts Legacy, was shockingly omitted from nominations, obviously to avoid offending trans people on Twitter. Other mainstream award ceremonies, like the Golden Joystick Awards, have snubbed Black Myth: Wukong as well, only nominating it in the “Best Visual” category and overlooking it for categories like “Best Indie Game” and “Game of the Year.”

Makes you wonder if Black Myth: Wukong getting snubbed has anything to do with journalists stirring up a campaign of “sexism” allegations against Game Science, supposedly because the devs turned down Sweet Baby Inc.’s offer to “curate” the game for inclusivity.

Despite the Western media’s lukewarm reception, Black Myth: Wukong has found recognition in smaller markets like Thailand, where it claimed Game of the Year honors along with numerous other awards across categories, showing that it resonated with global players and critics alike.

The Chinese action RPG Black Myth: Wukong took home Game of the Year for 2024, along with wins in Best Action Game, Best Game Direction, and Best PC/Console Game at this year’s Thailand Game Awards.

Other winners included Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for Best RPG Game, The Land Beneath Us for Best Thai Game, Genshin Impact as Best Ongoing Game, FC24 as Best Sports Game, and Zenless Zone Zero as Best Mobile Game.

Of course, some will write off the credibility of a smaller, non-English-speaking country’s awards as less significant than the likes of Geoff Keighley’s Muppet Show. But honestly, at least one outlet out there still makes well-grounded, genuine picks that actually resonate with players.