Game Review: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Another feather in the soulslike crown
2025 is a fantastic year to be a soulslike fan. Between The First Berserker: Khazan, the brilliant Lies of P: Overture DLC, and Elden Ring: Nightreign, we’ve already been spoiled and now Leenzee Games joins the feast with their debut title, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.
The result is a game that proves Chinese mythology still has endless creative potential and that there’s room for innovation in a genre that’s increasingly predictable.
This is a title that wears its inspirations proudly FromSoftware’s DNA runs through every animation, every sound, and every brutal silence between boss fights. But Wuchang isn’t just another Souls clone. It stands on its own through its flexible build system, gorgeously interwoven world design, and the haunting atmosphere of a collapsing Ming dynasty.
Between memory and madness
Our heroine, Bai Wuchang, awakens in a dark cave wrapped in bandages, suffering from a strange disease known as The Feathering. The affliction robs people of their memories and humanity, slowly transforming them into grotesque birdlike monsters. What begins as a personal struggle to retain her identity turns into a descent into a world ravaged by disease, madness, and imperial decay.
As with Bloodborne and Sekiro, the story takes a backseat to atmosphere. Most of it is told through cryptic item descriptions, environmental storytelling, and brief, often confusing NPC interactions. Characters come and go with little explanation, and after forty hours, it’s easy to lose track of who’s who or why anyone is doing what they’re doing.
Lore enthusiasts will find plenty to sink their talons into, though. Wuchang’s world drips with symbolism, Taoist philosophy, and references to ancient Chinese alchemy. It’s a tale told through texture rather than exposition but it could have benefited from a slightly firmer narrative hand.
Discipline over chaos
Where Wuchang: Fallen Feathers truly shines is in its combat and character-building systems deep, flexible, and always rewarding experimentation.
At first glance, it’s familiar soulslike fare: light and heavy attacks, stamina management, dodge timing, and pattern recognition. But its defining feature is the Discipline Skills weapon-linked abilities that can be combined with additional techniques from a massive progression grid reminiscent of Final Fantasy X’s Sphere Grid.
Each weapon type from colossal axes to nimble twin blades has its own Discipline path, offering unique skills and stat modifiers. Respecs are free and instant, letting players completely change their builds without penalty. That freedom makes experimentation not just viable, but vital.
Then there’s Skyborn Might, a resource earned through perfectly timed dodges or specific attack combos, used to unleash devastating spells or powerful finishers. It’s a brilliant risk-reward mechanic that forces players to play aggressively and precisely, rather than defensively rolling through fights.
That’s good because some of Wuchang’s bosses are brutal. The difficulty curve swings wildly: one fight might be a breeze, while the next feels like punishment from a sadistic deity. These spikes can frustrate, but when you finally overcome them, the sense of triumph is pure and exhilarating.
Grotesque poetry
Boss fights are Wuchang’s crown jewels. Each one feels distinct not just in design, but in rhythm. Some move like dancers; others lumber like nightmares. The late-game bosses, in particular, blur the line between horror and elegance.
The world itself is breathtaking. From fog-drenched villages to shattered temples and glowing moonlit courtyards, every location feels deliberate. Shortcuts and looping pathways make exploration rewarding and reinforce the game’s cohesive world design. Leenzee clearly studied FromSoftware’s approach and nailed it.
Beauty forged in Unreal Engine 5
On Xbox Series X and PC, Wuchang looks phenomenal. Unreal Engine 5 brings cinematic lighting, dense fog, and stunning environmental detail. Its art direction draws heavily from Ming-era aesthetics muted colors, intricate armor designs, and painterly landscapes that feel both grounded and fantastical.
Still, technical hiccups exist. Occasional framerate dips and visual artifacts appear during fast travel or heavy particle effects. The PC version’s image reconstruction can momentarily blur the action, but it’s rarely game-breaking.
The music, though, is magnificent. Ethereal guzheng strings weave through haunting choral arrangements, building to powerful climaxes in boss fights. The final area features a full vocal theme that’s easily one of the year’s best. Sound design and voice acting especially in the Chinese dub are top-notch across the board.
Facing yourself
One of Wuchang’s most inspired mechanics is Madness a meter that rises with each death or moral transgression. As madness grows, Wuchang gains power but loses control. Once it maxes out, her “Inner Demon” materializes where she last died a spectral version of herself that must be defeated to reclaim lost currency.
It’s a spectacular mechanic not just in gameplay terms but thematically. It ties beautifully into the game’s core ideas of corruption, duality, and identity.
Leenzee Games joins the big leagues
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a bold, ambitious debut. Despite uneven pacing and some rough edges, it delivers one of the most engrossing action RPG experiences since Lies of P.
It’s not a game for everyone. It demands patience, adaptability, and attention to detail. But for those willing to dive into its dark, poetic world, it rewards with depth, beauty, and a combat system that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best in the genre.
It’s not perfect but it soars high nonetheless.
Final Score: 8.5/10
PROS
+Deep, satisfying combat and progression systems+Gorgeous visuals and art direction (UE5 shines here)
+Incredible soundtrack and voice acting (especially the Chinese dub)
+Rich, lore-heavy world inspired by Ming-era China
+The Madness system – brilliant integration of story and gameplay
+Complete freedom to respec and experiment with builds
CONS
-Uneven difficulty curve with sharp mid-game spikes
-Disjointed narrative pacing and underdeveloped NPCs
-Occasional technical issues (visual artifacts, minor stutters)
-A few too many cheap “gotcha” moments during exploration
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