Black Myth: Wukong Has Once Again Been Praised by CCTV—What Makes It So Popular Worldwide?

It’s blowing up! This wave of hype has leveled up again!

Recently, CCTV News once again reported on the blockbuster Chinese-made title Black Myth: Wukong. The key point was clear: it’s not just a smash-hit game, but more like a powerful engine pushing Chinese culture outward. CCTV’s assessment was direct: "Black Myth: Wukong is continuing to break into the mainstream with Chinese elements, becoming a striking calling card for Chinese culture going global."

Why is this worth talking about? Because its popularity goes beyond sales—it’s a cultural breakthrough. According to the CCTV report, Black Myth: Wukong has earned its success through sheer quality and has already built far-reaching international influence. In other words, this isn’t a case of riding gimmicks onto the trending charts—it has genuinely entered the global player conversation.

Now here comes the key point. Research has found that cultural products using games as their medium have sparked very positive emotional discussions on overseas social media. This is a fascinating phenomenon. What overseas players are familiar with is the immersive logic of “playing your way in,” but they are not familiar with the Chinese mythological core embedded in the game. Familiar gameplay colliding with unfamiliar cultural expression is like suddenly unlocking a hidden dungeon in the middle of a livestream—it instantly ignites the urge to explore.

So you’ll notice that many foreign players are playing while researching. Taking in the scenery while looking up the references. Ancient architecture, historical atmosphere, and Chinese aesthetics are no longer just “background sets,” but have become entry points for their understanding of Chinese culture. CCTV also specifically emphasized that foreign players’ emotional consumption of Chinese-style settings is now extending into real-world consumption. Because of the ancient architecture and historical scenes in Wukong, many players have started searching for travel in China and buying cultural merchandise, turning cultural curiosity into real-world spending.

That’s what makes this so impressive. We used to say that games were content products, but with this wave from Black Myth: Wukong, it’s starting to feel more like a “gateway to cultural experience.” First it gets you hooked on the screen, then carries that interest all the way into the real world. Once this chain is fully established, the benefits won’t stop with a single work—they’ll expand to the entire overseas potential of Chinese-made games.

But! I think the more important point is that Black Myth: Wukong has set an example for the industry: Chinese games that can truly explode on the global stage do not necessarily have to follow overseas templates. Instead, they need to make local culture deeper, truer, and genuinely fun to engage with. As long as the quality holds up and the expression is strong enough, cultural differences are not a barrier—they become the attraction. This move gets high marks from me.

Looking at the trend, who has the best chance of taking up the baton next? I’m more optimistic about two types of works: one is high-quality single-player games that continue digging deeper into Chinese mythology, history, and strange tales; the other is works that more maturely blend Chinese aesthetics with modern gameplay. What players want now is not just “who does it look like,” but “what truly unique thing can you bring to the table?”

At the end of the day, CCTV once again praising Black Myth: Wukong actually sends a very clear signal: Chinese-made games no longer just need to be seen—they need to be remembered. So which Chinese game will be the next to ignite the emotions of players around the world like Wukong has? Comments section, let’s hear it!