Black Myth: Wukong vs Nioh 3
Both deliver punishing boss fights, but Wukong's mythology and spectacle face Nioh 3's mechanically sharpest stance combat.
Updated 25d ago
Killer boss combat with Journey-to-the-West mythology — Wukong's lategame fights rival Orphan of Kos, but Chapter 2 onward demands real Sekiro-level patience.
Punches above its sequel weight — Nioh 3's Samurai/Ninja stance system is Team Ninja's sharpest combat to date, despite empty-zone pacing.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 10; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 10.
| Measure | Black Myth: Wukong | Nioh 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Nioh 3 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $39.59 −34% · Fanatical | $33.95 −51% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $37.99 | $33.95 |
| Cost / hour | $1.05/hr $39.59 · 38 h main story | $1.25/hr $33.95 · 27 h main story |
| Off its low | +4% low was Aug 2026 | At its low low was Sep 2026 |
| Main story | 38 h | 27 h |
| Health Black Myth: Wukong wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 96% 1.2M reviews | 78% 19k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 89% 5k votes · vs 96% lifetime · souring | 57% 317 votes · vs 78% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 47,042 Aug 2026 · ↑ 150% MoM | 10,863 Aug 2026 · ↑ 377% MoM |
| Launch peak | 2% of Aug 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 12% of Feb 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 2,406,967 Aug 2024 | 87,778 Feb 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 8 months ago | 6 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 4 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Gold |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Black Myth: Wukong
The phenomenal boss fights and vivid Eastern mythology world are what 100+ hour players consistently praise.
Performance issues and a weaker final chapter (Chapter 6) are the main complaints among high-playtime reviewers.
from our May 2026 verdict
Nioh 3
Build flexibility between ninja and samurai stances without rerolling is the combat loop 100-hour veterans praise, alongside polished Team Ninja action.
The open world structure, described as a big mission map with collectibles, is the friction that long-time Nioh fans flag as a step back.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Black Myth: Wukong if
- You loved Sekiro and Bloodborne and want a 60-hour action RPG run.
- You're curious about Journey to the West mythology and enjoy boss-rush gauntlets.
- You prefer a high review score and can tolerate corridor-level design.
Pick Nioh 3 if
- You loved Nioh 2's stance-shifting and want it in open-field traversal.
- You enjoy deep mechanical combat systems with ki management.
- You have a PC or PS5 capable of steady 60fps for parry timing.
Bottom line
Choose Wukong for its spectacular bosses and mythic setting—97% Steam rating backs it—but Nioh 3 offers sharper combat mechanics if you're willing to accept a 78% rating and a shorter, less polished adventure.