It’s no great secret that the Soulslike genre has been exploding in recent years, andWuchang: Fallen Feathersis the most recent contender to enter the arena. The Chinese-developed action-adventure game may have initially seemed like little more than yet anotherDark Soulsclone, but its reviews and first impressions tell a different story.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathersis developer Leenzee’s debut game.
Granted,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersisn’t universally acclaimedby any means. It has been relentlessly critiqued for its performance issues on both PC and console, and some reviewers have deemed it derivative to a detrimental degree; some high-profile review sites have even given the game sub-50% scores, such as TheSixthAxis, which scoredWuchanga paltry 4 out of 10. Still, other outlets have given the game glowing reviews, celebrating it as a much-needed return to form for the Soulslike genre. In this way,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersis quite like other highly visible Soulslikes, especially Neowiz’sLies of P, which received similar praise upon release.
Like Lies of P, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Is a Breakout Hit
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Has Made a Splash with Critics
As demonstrated by the above data,Lies of PandWuchang: Fallen Feathershave enjoyed similar levels of praise from reviewers, which reflects their performance with audiences as well. Much likeWuchang,Lies of Pwas dragged downby some outlier reviews, such as VG247’s, which slapped the game with a score of 4 out of 10. None of this is to say that critic reviews are the end all, be all for a game’s quality or overall reception, but they are generally a good way to take a game’s temperature, as it were.
Therefore, it’s safe to say thatWuchangandLies of Pare following a similar arc: both have been criticized for being derivative and uninspired, but also praised for their strong execution of Soulslike fundamentals and moments of innovation. For its part,Wuchang: Fallen Feathershas been commended for its strong level design and visuals, which rival many AAA western games, and its strong combat sandbox, which manages to feel engaging despite its obviousFromSoftware influences.
An important part of bothWuchangandLies of Pis their underdog status: neither Leenzee nor Neowiz have experience with the Soulslike genre, and they were both young and unaccomplished studios before their respective hits. It’s also interesting that Leenzee is a Chinese developer, and Neowiz is South Korean; neither company is based in Japan, the country most closely associated with the Soulslike genre. This may be just a coincidence, but it also reflects the widespread popularity and potential of the Soulslike genre, which has been picked up and emulated by game developers the world over.
The key takeaway here is not thatWuchang: Fallen FeathersandLies of Pare perfect, but that they’ve risen head-and-shoulders above the rest of the competition. They may not enjoy the prestige or pedigree of something from FromSoftware itself, but they are certainly more memorable and visible than many middling Soulslikes, suchEnotria: The Last SongorLords of the Fallen. Even well-received Soulslikes, like2025’sAI Limit, have struggled to make the same impact asLies of PandWuchang.
On top of all this,Lies of PandWuchangsend the same message: the Soulslike genre is still worth exploring and experimenting with, despite assertions that it’s becoming an oversaturated market. Not every Soulslike will achieve success and popularity, but some certainly do, and it’s worth exploring why something likeWuchang: Fallen Feathershas made a splash, while the likes ofThymesiaare quickly forgotten.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
WHERE TO PLAY
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathersis a soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.Become Wuchang, a skilled pirate warrior struck by amnesia, who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. Explore the depths of Shu, enhancing your arsenal and mastering new skills harvested from fallen foes. Evolve your fighting style by sacrificing elusive Red Mercury and further develop new techniques obtained throughout your action-packed journey. Augment the weapons in your repertoire with powerful enchantments, allowing for a unique approach to combat and strategy that suits your personal style.Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. Your quest for truth will take you through forgotten temples, overgrown ruins, and shadowed paths fraught with peril. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust.Immerse yourself in a rich storyline, dynamic combat system, and breathtaking visuals that offer an unforgettable adventure through lands veiled in chaos and death. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands.
