Arc System Works shared new details for River City Saga: Journey to the West, the latest in their sidescrolling beat ’em up franchise.
Here’s a rundown on the new details, via the game’s official site:
The kindhearted delinquent Kunio steps into the world of the famous tale, Journey to the West!
Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, Tang Sanzang, all the main characters are Kunio!! A wild, exhilarating comedy action adventure where they all set out for Tianzhu.
It was the Tang Dynasty era. Demons ran rampant in this troubled world, offering no salvation.
Sorrowed by such times, the Buddha established the ‘Journey to Fetch the Scriptures’—a quest to retrieve sacred texts from distant Tianzhu using Buddhist teachings to bring salvation.
Meanwhile, buried beneath a mountain lay a monkey. His name was Sun Wukong. Sealed away by the Buddha for causing chaos in Heaven, 500 years were about to pass.
Appearing before Wukong was the monk Tang Sanzang, who had set out on the Pilgrimage. The skilled Wukong became his disciple, joining the journey to protect Tang Sanzang and atone for his sins.
Joined by the pig-like, cheerful and carefree Zhu Bajie and the earnest and serious monk Sha Wujing, Tang Sanzang and his party continue their journey westward today.
The road to Tianzhu stretches a hundred thousand eight hundred miles. Now then, what kind of journey awaits them from here on out…?
Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing unleash a blood-pumping brawl action!
Blow away waves of enemies in one fell swoop and take on a cast of quirky bosses—Its appeal lies in the simple yet incredibly satisfying, intuitive controls. Chain combos for flashy attacks, chip away with ranged strikes, or power through with brute force. Every player can enjoy their own unique brawling style!
Roguelike progression that grows stronger with each run
The layout, enemies, skills, and items you acquire change completely every time, spawning new battle strategies with each playthrough. Even if you fall, it’s not the end—you gradually grow stronger with each run, making you want to challenge it again and again!
Character Skill Enhancement System
Equipped with an “Skill Enhancement” system that lets you freely boost stats using enhancement resources acquired during play.
Bring collected resources back to your base to enhance specialized characters: the power-focused “Sun Wukong,” the tenacious “Zhu Bajie,” and the agile “Sha Wujing.”
Depending on how you combine equipment items and divine arts, you can build your own unique fighting style—your build. The more you play through the game, the more steadily your characters will grow!
Showdown with formidable foes! Unique boss battles await.
Tough bosses with distinct gimmicks and signature attack patterns stand in your way. Battles offer immense satisfaction as you identify attack opportunities and decipher enemy patterns to break through. Your build drastically changes your approach, ensuring every encounter with the same boss feels fresh.
River City Saga: Journey to the West is in development for Windows PC (via Steam), Switch, and PS5 with a release set for later in 2026.
