Let me tell you, 2026 isn’t all flying cars and robot butlers. Sometimes it's about grabbing a cup of tea, booting up a classic from 2024, and getting absolutely wrecked by the same monkey business that humbled me two years ago. Black Myth: Wukong still hits different—81 bosses, a nod to the 81 trials from Journey to the West. And just like the novel, the game is packed with monsters, demons, and ego-shattering encounters. If you think you’re the Destined One, wait until you meet the welcoming committee.
I recently dove back into the campaign, and oh boy, the nostalgia (and the pain) came flooding back. Here’s my lighthearted tour through the game’s gauntlet of bosses, organized by chapter. I’ll share a few moments that made me laugh, cry, and question my existence. Fair warning: this article is a spoiler piñata.
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Jungle—er, Forest of Wolves
The game opens with Erlang Shen in a tutorial fight that’s basically a “look how cool we are” moment. No sweat. Then the real campaign starts with the Bullguard—a pushover so gentle you’ll almost feel sorry for it. Almost. Things escalate quickly. Guangzhi, a fiery wolf, gives you the Red Tides transformation (turning you into a flaming polearm-wielding beast), and the Whiteclad Noble, that slippery half-snake charmer in the Marsh of White Mist, drops your first weapon upgrade material.
The real wake-up call? The Black Wind King. This teleporting brute taught me that panic-rolling doesn’t work. The final boss of the chapter, the Black Bear Guai, is a massive, rolling avalanche of fur and resentment. And if you’re feeling adventurous, the secret Red Loong behind a waterfall will make you wish you’d never found those Loong Scales.
Chapter 2: Cats, Rats, and Sand in Uncomfortable Places
Chapter 2 begins with the Second Rat Prince and a distant king hurling insults (and attacks) from a pillar. Then a giant monster devours that king right in front of you—rude, but effective. Stone golems chuck boulders, a blue-crystal golem drops a quest item, and a cursed Man-in-Stone begs for help while actually being a dirtbag. The highlight for me is the Tiger Vanguard. Why? Because cats are awesome, and this one unlocks a parry spell. You know what? I still got parried into next week.
Speaking of tigers—there’s a whole family affair. The Tiger’s Acolyte guards a bridge and will gleefully push you off, while the Mad Tiger down a well (summoned by beating a rhythm on a drum in three spooky locations) fights like a caffeinated rock thrower. The chapter ends with the Yellow Wind Sage, a giant rat lord who summons twisters and sandstorms. By then, you’ll have sand in places sand shouldn’t be.
Chapter 3: Lightning, Lasers, and a Lot of Bad Weather
The Pagoda Realm is a dizzying nightmare. Captains with laser eyes zap you while corpses heal them. The Macaque Chief reappears more often than a bad rash. And then there’s Kang-Jin Star. First, you fight her as a celestial dragon on a frozen lake, and later she turns into a human form wielding all the elements. Honestly, I blanked out during the transition. On Turtle Island, you’ll also find the Cyan Loong, a dragonman statue that suddenly remembers it’s a boss.
The Painted Realm hub offers a blacksmith you can spar with for the Ebon Flow transformation, while a frozen monk quest ends with the Spell Binder spell. The final boss, Yellowbrow, looks slow but has a multi-phase fight that messes with your mind. Also, the secret boss Yin Tiger? Hard as nails, but so satisfying.
Chapter 4: Spiders, Betrayal, and a Scorpion Bar Fight
This chapter is spider city. The Second Sister poisons you, the Venom Daoist kicks off a secret area, and the Queen of Spiders gives one of the toughest duels—followed by a truly memorable cutscene. Pigsy, your ride-or-die companion, gets cursed and tries to kill you twice. Romance, am I right?
In the Purple Cloud Mountain secret area, a guy yells at you not to touch his jars, so of course you do, and he fights you. Another fella pretends to be your friend, then reveals his true colors—beating him nets the Violet Hail transformation. The final boss of the area is a skeletal calf-buzzard with cursed blood, and the chapter ends with the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, who just refuses to stay down.
Chapter 5: Bull Boys, Fire Carts, and a Painful Family Drama
The Five Element Carts: imagine fighting flamethrower-wielding golems while a floating head fans the flames. Then you get a two-on-one match where a frost mage and his melee pal constantly tag out to annoy you. The monk in a quiet dimension turns into a giant fish. Friend? Foe? Who knows.
The star of the show is Red Boy, son of the Bull King and Princess Iron Fan. He’s a fire-spewing menace in his first form, and his second form, the Yaksha King, fights like a caffeine overdose. The secret area Bishui Cave leads to a volcanic boss that throws you into magma—imagine trying to heal while burning. Brutal.
Chapter 6: Mountain of Legends, and the End?
Final chapter. You’ll punch through angelic beings, giant deer that freeze and bleed, and a hippo that swallows you whole. The legendary beasts guarding the Monkey King armor force you to rethink your strategy—the golden rhino’s horn needs a heavy attack to break. There’s even a boss that isn’t a fight; it’s a stat check. No, I’m not kidding.
The grand finale is a gauntlet: the Stone Monkey in a multi-phase brawl with elemental clones, then the Great Sage himself. His second phase is so fast I’m pretty sure my controller died of shock. After the credits, you can reload and finish side quests. But wait, there’s more.
The True Ending: Erlang Shen and the Kaiju Cat Fight
If you complete enough secrets, you unlock a separate boss rush against Erlang Shen in a frozen realm. He’s a magical Swiss Army knife, switching elements faster than you can blink. Beat him, and you get a kaiju battle against the Four Heavenly Kings as a giant Stone Monkey. Then Erlang returns in his lion form—yes, a lion. I told you cats are awesome. Victory unlocks a new weapon and transformation, plus a hidden ending cutscene that’ll warm your Journey to the West-loving heart.
Black Myth: Wukong is a boss-lover’s dream wrapped in fur, scales, and frustration. Even in 2026, I’m still discovering tiny secrets and cowering before those 81 foes. It’s a wild ride—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.