One of the more highly anticipated titles coming later this year is Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. First announced back in 2021, it impressed everyone with its stylish, fast-paced combat and beautiful visuals. Fast-forward to today, and we’re inching ever closer to its July release date.

During Summer Game Fest, I got the chance to play the game, and in the short time I spent with it, I was certainly reminded of another similar title that was well-loved because it rewards an aggressive style of play.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Preview

In Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, players take on the role of Wuchang, an amnesiac pirate warrior afflicted by a mysterious illness known as the Feathering. This condition causes feather-like growth on their arm and mental deterioration, marking the afflicted a target among frightened villagers. The demo showcased an early portion of the game, introducing its systems and mechanics.

Visually, the game immediately evokes the aesthetic of an Eastern-inspired soulslike. While it doesn’t necessarily redefine genre expectations, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers impresses with a distinctive Wuxia-inspired presentation that fans of Chinese-style games will find familiar and welcome.

The core gameplay of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will be familiar to fans of soulslike titles, introducing features such as stamina management, weapon variety, and enemy resets via bonfire-style checkpoints. However, it distinguishes itself through subtle innovations, including its unique take on blocking mechanics, where most weapons lack a block function, requiring specific gear, such as an axe in my session.

Combat rewards aggression, particularly in encounters where timing dodges and managing stamina efficiently often leads to an upper hand. The game discourages button-mashing and instead incentivizes deliberate, calculated movement.

One standout feature is the Skyborn Might system, which grants spellcasting opportunities when players execute perfectly timed dodges, giving players an advantage in terms of damage output if they stay up close instead of just preparing to dance with enemies.

A 505 Games representative noted that the demo represented a tutorial area, with the full game expanding significantly beyond this initial scope. Players can anticipate additional systems and features as the game progresses, and it would certainly be interesting to see what else the game holds.

Overall, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers shows strong potential within the genre. While I need to spend more time with it, its distinct setting, layered mechanics, and atmospheric presentation suggest it could carve out its own space. With its July 24 launch approaching, it’s a title worth watching.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is launching on July 24, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.