On August 20, 2025, during the closing segment of Gamescom’s Opening Night Live in Cologne, Chinese developer Game Science took the stage with their brand-new IP, Black Myth: Zhong Kui, unveiling the very first CG teaser trailer for the game. Following the immense success of Black Myth: Wukong, the cinematic trailer for this new game has sparked widespread discussion and anticipation among players worldwide.
Although the game is still in the early stages of development and lacks a confirmed release date, its unique mythological theme and visually stunning trailer have already captured the interest and imagination of a global audience.
In the following sections, let’s delve into the cultural significance of Zhong Kui in Chinese folklore and discuss how Game Science plans to breathe new life into this legendary figure in their upcoming game.
Who Is Zhong Kui in Chinese Mythology?
As the second installment in the Black Myth series, Zhong Kui continues the exploration and artistic representation of Chinese mythology.
Who Is Zhong Kui? A Chinese Ghost Hunter Legend
Zhong Kui is a legendary figure in Chinese mythology, renowned as the “Demon Hunter”. He is depicted as a formidable man with a large black beard, bulging eyes, and a stern expression, often wearing a scholar’s robe and holding a sword. His image is commonly displayed on doorways to ward off evil spirits and ensure family safety, a practice known as “warding off evil and avoiding disaster.”
The Legend of Zhong Kui
According to legend, Zhong Kui was a brilliant scholar who excelled in the imperial civil service examination, known as the “Keju”. However, due to his unattractive appearance, the emperor unjustly stripped him of his title of “Zhuangyuan”, the top scholar. Devastated by this injustice, Zhong Kui took his own life. Moved by his integrity, the King of Hell appointed him as the “King of Ghosts”, tasking him with capturing and disciplining evil spirits.
Zhong Kui’s story became widely known during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. The emperor, suffering from a prolonged illness, dreamt of Zhong Kui subduing evil spirits. Upon awakening, he recovered and commissioned the renowned painter Wu Daozi to create an image of Zhong Kui. This portrayal became iconic. Tales of ‘Zhong Kui vanquishing ghosts’ are deeply embedded in Chinese folk tradition, and it is common for households to hang images of him as a protective talisman to ward off evil and avert misfortune.
Everything About Black Myth: Zhong Kui from Game Science Studio
Next, we will conduct an in-depth analysis of all the currently known aspects of Black Myth: Zhong Kui so that you can understand in advance the exciting game that is about to begin.
What Does Zhong Kui look like in the Black Myth?
From folklore to the new hero of Black Myth, what does the reimagined Zhong Kui bring?
In Black Myth: Zhong Kui, Game Science has reinterpreted the legendary ghost-catcher with a blend of respect for tradition and bold innovation:
- Visual Redesign
Zhong Kui now appears with a jet-black, tightly curled beard and dons dark blue-black mechanized armor. His shoulder guards draw inspiration from the sweeping eaves of Chang’an architecture, and he wields a folding fan that transforms into a razor-sharp blade.
- Companions and Setting
The trailer hints at eerie allies and architecture by featuring a sleek tiger mount whose wet, matted fur conveys realism. Goblins carry his spirit-slaying weapon, emphasizing the team’s attention to atmospheric detail.
- Personality with a Local Flavor
In an unexpected twist, a little ghost in the CG trailer breaks the solemn tone with dialect-style lines such as “Brother-‘el-elp me’ere!” (“兄弟，搭救啊”). This colloquial humor suggests that this version of Zhong Kui may have a more relatable, street-wise charm, adding warmth and reducing the usual mythologized distance.
Game Type & Development Status
According to official information, Black Myth: Zhong Kui is a single-player action RPG (ARPG), using the same paid model as the previous game. The project is still in its very early stage, so early that the development team said it’s “little more than an empty folder”, and there’s no real gameplay to show yet.
Game Science mentioned that, to keep development on track, they chose to release a short CG teaser first. This way, they could announce that the project has officially started even though there’s not much to share yet. Despite being just over a minute long, the trailer quickly ignited the enthusiasm of gamers worldwide.
Art Style & Design
Black Myth: Zhong Kui showcases the ultimate expression of Chinese weird tale aesthetics, dripping with eastern mystique in every frame:
- World Design
The landscape is filled with mist-shrouded mountains. Swirling fog spreads like a giant curtain, wrapping the world in a haunting, mysterious atmosphere.
- Character Look
Zhong Kui’s bright red hair burns like flame above his head. He wears Tang Dynasty–inspired armor, modified with mechanical elements. His shoulder guards look like mini versions of underworld government buildings.
- Stylistic Fusion
The art director, Yang Qi, revealed that the mechanized armor is inspired by a mix of Tang architecture and cyberpunk elements, symbolizing the clash between machine and divine, a metaphor for human struggle.
Story Themes & Core Message
The trailer opens with a line in dialect that uses street slang to break the usual solemnity expected from a ghost story. This contrast between everyday speech and eerie visuals emphasizes one of the game’s key themes: “TO HUNT THE GHOSTS WITHOUT IS LIGHT. BUT THOSE WITHIN BURN DEEP TO FIGHT.”
Based on the details revealed in the trailer, many players have been speculating and analyzing. The game likely follows Zhong Kui after many years as a ghost hunter. A disturbance occurs in the underworld, leading to an influx of evil spirits into the human realm. Zhong Kui reunites with his old companions, including an aging tiger, and embarks on a new journey to combat these malevolent forces.
Summary of Known Information on Black Myth: Zhong Kui
| Category | Information |
| Game Type | Single-player Action RPG (ARPG) |
| Development Status | Early development stage; no gameplay footage available yet |
| Platforms | PC and major console platforms |
| Release Date | To be announced |
| Source Material | Based on the Chinese folktale of “Zhong Kui Captures Ghosts” |
| Art Style | Fusion of Chinese ghost story aesthetics, Tang Dynasty architecture, and cyberpunk elements |
| Core Theme | “To hunt the ghosts without is light. But those within burn deep to fight.” |
| Official Website | https://www.gamesci.cn/zhongkui |
Generate Stunning Black Myth Zhong Kui Art Images with AI
While Black Myth: Zhong Kui is still in early development, why not create your own vision of Zhong Kui and other characters from the Black Myth universe? PicLumen is an excellent AI image generation tool that I use frequently. By inputting text prompts or uploading reference images, I can easily create artistic visuals that match my vision.
Key Features of PicLumen
- Ease of Use. Anyone can create stunning Black Myth characters effortlessly, no design skills required.
- Superfast Speed. Equipped with cutting-edge AI technology, PicLumen transforms your ideas into high-quality visuals in seconds.
- Versatile Creation Options. Generate images from text or remix existing ones with style references.
- Diverse AI Models. You can choose from a variety of fine-tuned models, including Primo, FLUX.1 Kontext, Art V1, Realistic V2, Anime V2, Lineart V1, Pony Diffusion, and more.
- Inspiration Boost. If you want to enrich your prompts, PicLumen’s prompt enhancement tool can improve image quality by expanding your prompt words.
- Rich Styles Library. Explore hyper-realistic, anime, line art, surrealism, watercolor, and other artistic styles.
How to Generate Black Myth: Zhong Kui Art Using PicLumen
It is easy to generate Black Myth: Zhong Kui art images with PicLumen. Start creating Black Myth characters now with PicLumen!
Step 1. Visit the PicLumen AI picture generator or click on the Generate Art Images button to begin.
Step 2. Enter a detailed description of Zhong Kui or any other character you wish to create.
Step 3. Select a model that suits your desired art style. My favorite model is Primo.
Step 4. Adjust the image settings, including aspect ratio, number of images, negative prompt, etc.
Step 5. Click the “Generate” button and wait for the AI to create your image.
Once the image is generated, you can download your images and share your Black Myth characters on social media, like TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
Sample Prompts & Style Tips
Here are some example images and prompts for Black Myth: Zhong Kui generated by PicLumen.
Prompt 1:
A dark and imposing Zhong Kui warrior inspired by Black Myth: Zhong Kui, featuring a fierce expression, glowing eyes, thick red beard, and darkened skin. Zhong Kui sits upon a ferocious tiger, gripping a judge’s brush glowing with ominous red light. Ox-head and Horse-face generals stand guard at his side, while legions of wailing souls writhe at his feet. The cavern is lit by ghostly green flames, an atmosphere of supreme authority and dark majesty, ultra-detailed, fantasy RPG illustration.
Prompt 2:
A powerful, heavily armored hero, inspired by Black Myth: Zhong Kui, with blazing red pupils and a menacing white tiger by his side, both adorned in elaborate, intricately designed armor and accessories. The hero sports a lengthy, fiery red beard and flows behind him a majestic, crimson cloak. In the distance, a mysterious, rugged terrain shrouded in mist creates an ominous, legendary atmosphere.
Prompt 3:
A warrior inspired by Black Myth Zhong Kui, with a fierce wide face and sharp glowing eyes, and blackened skin. With a thunderous roar, Zhong Kui unleashes golden seals of light above his head, shattering the darkness as hordes of demons disintegrate into ashes. The ruined temple around him collapses, debris illuminated by radiant divine energy, mythic and awe-inspiring, epic scale RPG concept art.
Prompt 4:
A badass, armored warrior with glowing red eyes, inspired by Black Myth: Zhong Kui. He is riding a colossal tiger through a misty ancient forest at night, his dark cloak and long helmet ribbons streaming in the wind. The tiger’s glowing eyes pierce through the fog, claws tearing through stone as shadowy monsters lurk in the background. Cinematic wide shot, hyper-detailed, dramatic lighting, epic dark fantasy RPG artwork.
Prompt 5:
A character inspired by Black Myth: Zhong Kui, with a fierce facial expression, a distinct lower jaw outline, a dense red beard, and bright eyes. With a gnarly mane of fur brandishes a flaming sword, standing in front of a vast, blood-red moon. A blood-red moon looms in the night sky, storm clouds swirling, eerie winds howling, cinematic atmosphere, hyper-detailed, dark fantasy RPG artwork. Its armor is a mix of ancient and barbaric styles, with jagged edges and spikes. Cinematic atmosphere, hyper-detailed, dark fantasy RPG artwork.
FAQs About Black Myth: Zhong Kui
Let’s address some of the most common questions fans have about Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
Q1. When will the game release?
As of now, there is no confirmed release date for Black Myth: Zhong Kui. Game Science has stated that the project remains in very early development.
Q2. Is Black Myth: Zhong Kui a true story?
Black Myth: Zhong Kui is entirely fictional, inspired by the mythological figure Zhong Kui, rather than historical events. Game Science is crafting a new original narrative drawn from folklore.
Q3. Is there any connection between Wukong and Zhong Kui?
While the two games belong to the same Black Myth series and draw from Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Zhong Kui is not a direct sequel to Black Myth: Wukong. According to the developer, it presents an entirely fresh story arc with new characters, gameplay, and design, though a future continuation of the Wukong story remains possible.
Conclusion
The announcement of Black Myth: Zhong Kui showcases Game Science’s ambition to innovate upon the rich foundation of Chinese mythology and push creative boundaries with cutting-edge technology. Though still in its earliest stages of development, the reveal has generated enthusiastic global anticipation.
While waiting for the official release of the game, we can not only gain a deeper understanding of the rich connotations of Zhong Kui, a traditional Chinese culture, but also use modern AI technology to participate in the creative process, give full play to our imagination, and create a unique black myth character.
