Kunio as the Monkey King? River City Saga: Journey to the West Announced
Forget ultra-realistic fur textures for a second. We’re going back to pixels. While everyone’s been losing their minds over high-fidelity monkeys lately, Arc System Works just dropped a bombshell. Bringing a new chapter for the River City series after River City Saga: Three Kingdoms.
They are taking the Journey to the West mythos and giving it a glorious, hot-blooded makeover. If you thought the legend of the Monkey King needed more dropkicks and pompadours, you’re finally getting your wish.
Kunio-kun Goes West: A Mythological Beatdown
Imagine the chaos of a downtown brawl mixed with ancient Chinese mythology. That’s exactly what River City Saga: Journey to the West feels like.
We aren’t talking about a somber, soul-like experience here. This is pure, unadulterated arcade joy. You’re taking control of the legendary Sun Wukong, but he’s reimagined with that classic, blocky Kunio charm.
The punches feel crunchy, the enemies fly off-screen, and the whole thing screams “video game” in the best way possible.
It’s a wild shift from the gritty atmosphere we usually see with this setting. The game is currently playable at the Taipei Game Show 2026.
The footage coming out of the event is absurdly fun. You’ve got the iconic River City combat rhythm—block, punch, throw, repeat—layered over a story where monsters are running rampant in the Tang Dynasty. It’s familiar, yet totally fresh.
River City Saga: Journey to the West announced for PS5, Switch, and PC https://t.co/uMx81WqU8A pic.twitter.com/UvftAMcS6p
— Gematsu (@gematsu) January 29, 2026
River City Journey: The Details
Arc System Works is building this as a spiritual successor to River City Saga: Three Kingdoms. If you played that one, you know the drill: take a historical epic and turn it into a comedy action brawler.
- The Cast: It’s a “Who’s Who” of the series. Kunio takes the lead as the skilled (but atoning) Sun Wukong. The cheerful (and easily distracted) Zhu Bajie and the earnest Sha Wujing join the fray as his disciples.
- The Mission: Sakyamuni, saddened by a world overrun by monsters, establishes the “Journey to Obtain the Scriptures.” The goal? Travel 108,000 miles to India.
- The Vibe: It’s officially described as an “absurd and thrilling comedy action game.” Expect the drama of the original novel to be undercut by ridiculous slapstick moments.
Release Date and Platforms
The game is slated for a 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam). Since we’re just seeing the first gameplay now, don’t worry about pre-orders yet.
Just keep this on your Steam Wishlist. If it follows the pattern of previous River City titles, it’ll likely be a solid budget-friendly pick at launch, but sales often hit these titles a few months down the line.
There’s also a cool nod to the sheer scale of the journey. The prompt mentions a 108,000-mile road to India—gameplay-wise, this likely translates to a variety of distinct biomes and stages. We are finally moving away from the singular city streets we’re used to.
Verdict: Is Journey to the West Worth It?
If you have any love for retro beat ’em ups, absolutely keep this on your radar. River City Saga: Three Kingdoms proved that this formula works brilliantly with historical settings.
Journey to the West looks to amp up the fantasy elements significantly. It’s the perfect palate cleanser if you’re burned out on massive, 100-hour open-world RPGs and just want to punch some demons in the face with your friends.
Who’s your favorite version of Sun Wukong in gaming history?
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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