River City Saga: Journey to the West – Kunio goes wild in a roguelike Journey to the West remake
If you have ever imagined Journey to the West being reimagined as a gritty street brawler, then River City Saga: Journey to the West is exactly that – except every main character is Kunio.
The game launched on Steam on June 4, 2026, developed by Arc System Works and UnitePlus.
Journey to the West, but everyone is Kunio
The core idea sounds absurd, but it works surprisingly well: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Tang Sanzang – the four iconic characters from Journey to the West – are all portrayed by Kunio, the familiar face of the River City series. They are not different characters in appearance, but variations of Kunio, each with their own fighting style. It sounds ridiculous, but that is exactly where the game’s charm comes from.
The story unfolds in a comedic tone, filled with playful banter between characters throughout the journey to Tianzhu. Familiar faces from the River City series also appear, sometimes helping the group and other times standing in their way as bosses.
Roguelike beat 'em up: every run is different
This is the first time the River City series has explored the roguelike genre, and it takes a straightforward approach: in each run, players encounter randomly appearing gods who grant Secret Skills – mysterious abilities that boost stats and enhance combat power.
There are a total of 80 Secret Skills. Each run allows you to experiment with different builds, keeping gameplay fresh and rarely repetitive. The system is not overly complex, making it accessible for newcomers to roguelike games while still offering enough depth to stay engaging.
Three fighting styles, one solo journey
At the start, you only have Sun Wukong – fast, agile, and speed-focused. As the story progresses, you unlock Zhu Bajie (heavy power-focused) and Sha Wujing (ranged combat). The three styles are distinct enough to let players adapt freely depending on the stage and personal preference.
The game is strictly single-player, focusing entirely on a solo experience – a rare direction for the River City series, which is usually known for multiplayer gameplay.
