Best Wuxia Games

Highlights

• Wuxia games are a unique and immersive way to explore Chinese culture through video games.
• Chinese-made wuxia games with English translations are becoming more accessible to English-speaking players.
• Wuxia games offer refreshing mechanics and tropes that translate well into interactive experiences, making them a fun and novel genre to explore in gaming.

Wuxia is a unique genre of fiction that deals mainly with martial artists in the setting of ancient China. This might seem like a specific thing to categorize, but the fact is that there are several great forms of media that have used this wuxia genre to great effect. A great example of a wuxia film is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which is one of the most popular movies ever made.

Given the combat-heavy focus of this genre, it only makes sense that a bunch of video games have made the most of this setting. After all, using martial arts in any video game is a blast, but wuxia titles aren’t just combat-laden experiences. There is some real creativity shown in these titles, allowing players to explore Chinese culture in a unique and immersive manner. Players who want to check out wuxia games for themselves can definitely check out some great titles, although there’s no denying that this genre is criminally underrepresented in gaming when it comes to games with actual quality.

Updated December 22, 2023 by Rie Takumi: Shachou Eiyuuden, Bujingai, Gensou Sangokushi, and other classic wuxia and wuxia-themed games have no modern remakes. But Chinese game development studios and English-language developers have stepped up to fill the void. Chinese-made wuxia games have made their way to English-speaking countries with decent translations. Meanwhile, non-Chinese developers have ventured into the world of superhuman martial heroes because of the genre’s amazing potential.

New titles aren’t confined to mobile ports either. PC and console wuxia games in English are well-received, and often take gamers by surprise. Wuxia’s unique conventions and refreshing mechanics make them feel like a novelty again. Moreover, tropes that capture audiences in films and series translate well into interactive experiences.

12 Seal Of Evil

Positive (16 Steam Reviews)

Seal of Evil is a sequel to Prince of Qin that serves as a marked improvement in every way. Combat is snappy, and the story is more engaging than ever before, even if the voice acting can be lackluster.

However, the gameplay is so engaging that players will forgive it for this fault. The game goes through several twists and turns in the narrative that will keep people engaged till the end. The crafting system is pretty robust and lets players create whatever they want, whenever they want. Along with this, the suite of combat abilities and special moves that each character can whip out is another bonus that gets people even more invested in the gameplay.

11 Prince Of Qin

61 Metascore (Based on 15 Critic Reviews)

Players looking for a Diablo-esque RPG with wuxia elements will have a great time playing Prince of Qin. The games haven’t been updated for modern systems, which can make them hard to appreciate in modern times. However, players who get past this hurdle will love what this game brings to the table.

The combat is refined and engaging, with players having to keep track of various metrics in order to attain success. Prince of Qin didn’t set the world on fire, but was an engaging game that fans of wuxia titles can certainly appreciate.

10 Warriors Orochi

63 Metascore (Average, Mainline Games + Ultimate)

Speaking of Dynasty Warriors, another musou game with wuxia elements is Warriors Orochi. This series is a crossover of both Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, allowing players to play as iconic figures in either Chinese or Japanese history and experience fun stories where they slice and dice their way through most enemies.

As is the case with most musou games, players shouldn’t expect genre-defining gameplay from these titles. However, the novelty of being in the wuxia genre plus the power fantasies fulfilled by this title more than make up for its drawbacks.

9 Naraka: Bladepoint

71 Metascore (Based on 23 Critic Reviews)

Naraka: Bladepoint is a unique battle royale game with elements of the wuxia genre. Players control one of thirteen characters in a massive battle royale where only the last one standing survives, as is the norm. The sheer number of interesting encounters in the game is great, with players having to be mindful of both their strengths and weaknesses to even stand the smallest chance of getting through these encounters.

Players can use a grappling hook to move around easily in the battle arena, while using the wealth of unique hero abilities they have in a tactical manner to secure victory. The game also has a mode where players can team up as trios to take down their enemies, where team members can revive a downed ally to make things somewhat easier, although it’s still pretty challenging in its own right.

8 Kingdom Of Paradise

72 Metascore (Based on 38 Critic Reviews)

Kingdom of Paradise is a vastly underrated action RPG, and easily one of the most overlooked hidden gems on the PSP. The unique gameplay elements were certainly ambitious, which makes combat fun in certain instances…even if the gameplay systems don’t have much of a leg to stand on.

The game has received a remaster for modern systems, which is genuinely surprising given its middling popularity. However, there’s no denying that players who missed out on this title can finally play it with a fresh coat of paint, which is great for fans of classic games.

7 Amazing Cultivation Simulator

73 Metascore (Based on 4 Critic Reviews)

Rimworld is one of the most in-depth and engaging simulation titles out there, with the procedural nature of the title coupled with its deep and interesting mechanics making it a blast for fans of the genre. Players can lose hours in this title, showing just how addictive this experience can get. Players who want to engage in such a gameplay loop with a wuxia twist should look no further than Amazing Cultivation Simulator.

This title is definitely one of the hardest on the list, but players who are willing to put in the time and effort to understa these complex mechanics will find themselves enjoying an absolute gem of a title. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when playing Amazing Cultivation Simulator. Missing out on any of itsgameplay nuances can lead to the player’s followers and disciples becoming useless, if they don’t die a tragic death altogether.

6 Age Of Wushu

74 Metascore (Based on 4 Critic Reviews)

Many MMORPGs focus on the wuxia setting, and narrowing them down to recommend just one is a tall order. However, the popularity of Age of Wushu makes it well worth a mention despite featuring the trappings of any free-to-play MMORPG.

Players select one of eight factions at the start of the game before honing their skills and joining a School to further improve their abilities. It’s a simple yet engaging MMORPG that uses its wuxia elements to create an interesting gameplay loop.

5 Dynasty Warriors

78 Metascore (Average; Mainline, Xtreme Legends, Empires Games)

While not all Dynasty Warriors are inherently wuxia games, they share common elements across the series that make them worth a mention on this list. These musou games are a blast to play through, even if the gameplay loop does get rather simplistic when players are mindlessly fighting waves of enemies.

Regardless, playing as a legendary figure from ancient Chinese and Japanese history is quite a novelty…especially when said figures can absolutely wipe the floor with the majority of their enemies in no time at all. Dynasty Warriors may not be the most complex game around or the best representation of what a wuxia game is all about, but it’s still a fun way for players to dip their toes into this unique subgenre.

4 The Last Soldier of the Ming Dynasty

Very Positive (155 Steam Reviews)

The Last Soldier of the Ming Dynasty puts players in the shoes of the eponymous soldier. Players must survive against Japanese pirates who will block, dodge, and parry blows. Close-quarters and ranged combat styles give players range and means to launch counterattacks.

According to the developers, the game is “inspired by traditional Chinese ink and wash paintings.” Bold contrasts between line widths, character proportions, colors, and combat effects bring to mind a quicker Okami. Meanwhile, the combat, down to the parry system, is reminiscent of Sekiro.

3 The Matchless Kung Fu

Very Positive (3,514 Steam Reviews)

Although still in Early Access, The Matchless Kung Fun has already attracted a sizeable audience. Billed as an open-world sandbox game, this title has separate systems for martial arts and verbal bouts. Players can wander the world and fight vagabonds through stylish, turn-based combat. And to use the right moves, they can invest in skills through its hexagrid Meridian system.

Players can also build the map of their open-world instance, as well as individual buildings. They can sneak around, dive, and qinggong or jump off vertical surfaces to traverse their environment.

2 Wandering Sword

Very Positive (11,236 Steam Reviews)

Wandering Sword looks like the lovechild of Octopath Traveler and Suikoden. However, its story is entirely wuxia, as it follows Yuwen Yi as he cultivates his martial arts skills. Yuwen Yi can recruit party members with high affinity for him. He and his party can grow stronger through weapons and abilities, with bonuses unlocked by meridian points.

The game is also unique for disallowing healing items in fights. Players are encouraged to think about their builds, as well as the open roaming map, to get a feel for how they can strategize for battles.

1 Jade Empire

89 Metascore (Based on 84 Critic Reviews)

Jade Empire a classic game released by BioWare that deserves a ton of love. The fact that this game is so woefully underrated is a shame. This title has some great gameplay that will keep players occupied for quite some time. The tale of the last surviving Spirit Monk as they team up with a bunch of allies to save their mentor and defeat the heinous emperor Sun Hai makes for a great time.

This game marked one of BioWare’s first attempts at a real-time combat system, and the end result is engaging. Players can carry out light, heavy, and area attacks, along with both block and dodge options to avoid any damage. With enough upgrades, players can easily decimate enemies while looking cool in the process.