Publisher Arc System Works and developer UnitePlus have opened the official website for River City Saga: Journey to the West, revealing the first information on the game’s story, systems, and characters.
Here are the details:
About
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 of 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…?
Systems
- 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.
Characters
- Sun Wukong / Kunio – The Monkey King, a divine being and the foremost disciple of Tripitaka. Born from stone as a stone monkey, he mastered divine arts and rampaged across the land. Later welcomed into the Heaven. He turned the entire Heaven against him in a great uproar before being captured. Sealed within a mountain by the Buddha, he spent 500 years in confinement. A skilled and passionate warrior, though his hot temper often leads to trouble.
- Zhu Bajie / Kunio – The pig demon, the second disciple of Tripitaka. Originally from the Heaven, he was banished to Earth after playing a prank on Chang’e. During his fall, he was mistakenly reborn as a pig and lived as a demon. He’s a cheerful, easygoing fellow, though he hasn’t entirely shed his greed.
- Sha Wujing / Kunio – The third disciple of Sanzo, a demon. Originally from the Heaven, he shattered a sacred vessel and was banished to live on Earth as a demon. He’s earnest, but tends to fade into the background as his two more prominent senior disciples steal the spotlight.
- Tang Sanzang / Kunio – A virtuous monk chosen as the scripture seeker. He is kind-hearted and easily deceived, often falling prey to demons. Rumors among the demons claim that eating his flesh grants eternal youth and longevity
- Erlang Shen / Goda – The warrior god who fought and defeated Wukong 500 years ago. Possesses transformation skills on par with Wukong’s.
- Maitreya / Nishimura – The Bodhisattva known as the Laughing Buddha of the Pure Land, depicted with a plump physique.
- Chang’e / Mami – Moon Fairy. The victim who was pranked by Hakkei back when he was in the Heaven.
- Avalokitesvara / Hasebe – The so-called Kannon. Entrusted by the Buddha to find a scripture seeker, she chose the group led by Tripitaka. Compassionate, she promised Sun Wukong, “If you face hardship, I will help you.”
- Nezha / Riki – A divine general of the Heaven Army and son of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li. He once fought against Wukong and was defeated.
- Golden Horned King / Kamijo – One of the Demon Kings residing in the Flat Peak Mountain. He is the brother of Silver horned King, with Golden horned King being the elder brother. The two of them wield five powerful artifacts known as the Five Sacred Treasures.
- Silver Horned King / Yamamoto – One of the Demon Kings residing in the Flat Peak Mountain. The Golden Horned King and the Silver Horned King are brothers, with the Silver Horned King being the younger sibling. They possess the power to move mountains.
- Buddha / Misuzu – The so-called the Buddha. The very one who proposed the journey to retrieve the scriptures. He sees all of the past, present, and future, possessing immeasurable divine power. He once challenged the former Wukong to a wager: could he escape from the palm of Buddha’s hand? As a result, he sealed him away in the mountain.
- Bull Demon King / Yamada – The Demon King dwelling in Flame Mountain. He once swore a blood oath of brotherhood with Wukong. His mastery of transformation techniques is powerful enough to rival Wukong’s.
River City Saga: Journey to the West is due out for PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam in 2026.