Hello Gamers! Today, let’s talk about the highly popular game Black Myth: Wukong and its endings. This game has truly captured the spotlight, sparking widespread discussion since its release. Black Myth: Wukong places a deeply thought-provoking concept at the end of the game: “If you wear the golden headband, you become the Victorious Fighting Buddha; if you take it off, you are the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.”
Main Storyline Ending – Continuing the Journey to the West
In this ending, we, as the “Chosen One,” engage in a fierce battle with the remnants of the Monkey King. After defeating the Monkey King, his body vanishes, and the golden headband falls silently. The old monkey places the headband on the Chosen One, transforming them into the new Sun Wukong, who continues the unfinished journey to the West.
The old monkey says: “Sun Wukong has long since died, and Heaven and Earth will give rise to another suitable successor. This essence and the name will be passed down to the Chosen One.” Sun Wukong is no longer here, and the person who inherits the title may indeed be him.
After the first playthrough, players are once again trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. Many players consider this to be a “bad ending” for those rushing to complete the game. These players become disciples of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect and unlock their true form, having not completed any hidden tasks or defeated any hidden bosses, leading to a “bad ending.”
This quick pursuit of completion causes players to miss out on the deep experience and exploration that the game is truly meant to offer.
This ending seems to remind players that the real meaning of the journey to retrieve the scriptures is not simply to reach the destination quickly but to experience various challenges and growth along the way, gaining true understanding in the process.
If players use improper means to speedrun, they may ultimately fall into a fate controlled by rules and the golden headband, only to repeat the same mistakes in the next cycle with a new Chosen One.
It’s a satire of those who unlock their true form and rush straight to defeat the boss without doing any collection or obtaining key items. They miss out on the necessary experiences and insights. Thus, the final result is them wearing the golden headband, seemingly speedrunning to become the Great Sage, but in reality, they are merely trapped in a cycle, forever unable to become the true Great Sage.
Second Playthrough: Facing Yang Jian – Hidden Ending
In this hidden ending, we no longer rush to complete the main storyline. Instead, we occasionally explore other parts of the world and take on side quests. Of course, completing side quests comes at a cost—players must face more difficult challenges than in the main story. To trigger the mural storyline in the Pagoda Tower, players must defeat the Melon God, the Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast, the Fire Spirit Mother, and the Crimson Gold Chariot. Only by defeating the Four Heavenly Kings and Yang Jian in the final confrontation can the player have the opportunity to reject the golden headband. When the battle ends, Yang Jian says: “After that battle, only now do I understand. A lifetime of fame cannot bind him. A single headband cannot constrain him. Through the death of his physical body, his will is eternal. I hope you won’t let him down. My heart has been set free, and your journey is just beginning.”
At this point, players will gain part of Sun Wukong’s memory from Yang Jian’s heavenly eyes.
But why does Yang Jian keep Wukong’s memory?
Looking back, when he says, “This story begins with a golden cicada,” could this subtly hint that Sun Wukong used the golden cicada technique, working with Yang Jian to break free from the golden headband, thus gaining true freedom?
In this ending, the Chosen One faces the remnants of the Monkey King and defeats them. The remnants disappear, and the golden headband falls.
The old monkey tries to place the headband on the Chosen One, but the Chosen One refuses, fully reclaiming Sun Wukong’s memory.
Note: During the game, players learn about the suffering of many monsters, leading them to realize that the journey to the West is actually a deception.
In traditional views, Journey to the West is often seen as a story of justice and adventure, with monsters portrayed as evil beings that need to be subdued by the Tang Monk and his disciples.
However, in this ending, by showcasing the suffering of the monsters, players see that they too have their own stories, emotions, and struggles, prompting a reconsideration of justice versus evil, good versus bad.
Are There Other Endings?
Perhaps in the third playthrough, players can stop relying on others’ words and instead discover the world with their own hearts. By not wearing the golden headband and being true to oneself, ultimate liberation and freedom can be achieved.
Although there is no confirmed information about other endings yet, Yang Jian’s words in the second ending, “Your journey is just beginning,” seem to suggest that more endings and stories await discovery in the game.
