WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Review Round-Up – A Promising Yet Imperfect Soulslike Debut
- Sagar Mankar
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers reviews are finally out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by Leenzee Games and published by 505 Games, this Chinese mythology-inspired Soulslike has drawn widespread attention for its unique aesthetic and gritty action-RPG gameplay.
Now that critics have weighed in, the reviews reveal a complex but mostly positive picture: while Wuchang doesn't reinvent the genre, it brings just enough style, substance, and challenge to be worth your time—especially if you’re a Soulslike devotee.
Overall Reception
OpenCritic: 77 Average – 77% Recommended – 69 reviews
Metacritic (PS5): 75 Based on 63 reviews
The consensus? WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a strong debut with standout combat, compelling visuals, and cultural flavor—though performance hiccups, derivative design, and a sometimes vague story hold it back from greatness.
What Critics Are Saying (Review Highlights)
Highly Positive Reviews
XboxEra – 9.7/10
“An amazing title, one of the best the genre has to offer.”
Thumb Wars – 4.5/5
“Fun, frustrating in the best way, and one of the best Soulslikes for a long while.”
The Beta Network – 9/10
“Riveting combat, exploration, and build freedom… a banger where it counts.”
But Why Tho? – 9/10
“About problem-solving as much as mastering skills—shows there's more to explore in the genre.”
GameLuster – 9/10
“A labor of love from start to finish… blends cultural uniqueness with Soulslike mechanics beautifully.”
IGN – 80/100
“Flexible, fast-paced combat and an excellent skill tree… an extremely respectable debut Soulslike.”
Mixed to Positive Reviews
GAMINGbible – 80/100
“An utterly engaging world with plenty of fresh ideas. Minor issues, mostly fixable.”
ComicBook.com – 4/5
“A must-play for fans and newcomers to the Soulslike genre alike.”
Digitale Anime – 8.5/10
“A satisfying mix of challenging combat, deep customization, and striking visual design… but story leans on tropes.”
COGconnected – 84/100
“Familiar ground, but polished for Soulslike veterans who are looking for an unadulterated old school challenge.”
TechRaptor – 8.5/10
“Refreshing take on the genre. Some storytelling issues, but core gameplay shines.”
More Critical Takes
Push Square – 60/100
“A decent game dragged down by performance issues. Worth a look after post-launch patches.”
Eurogamer – 60/100
“Cool visuals and some neat ideas, but ultimately familiar and lacking true surprises.”
MonsterVine – 2.5/5
“Gorgeous game, but punishing and seems more focused on imitating a PlayStation 3 era tech demo than an enjoyable experience for the player.”
TheSixthAxis – 4/10
“This is a Soulslike by the numbers, one hampered by a cornucopia of PS5 performance issues that plague the game like a disease.”
Common Praise
Combat & Mechanics: Fluid and punishing in a rewarding way, with multiple build paths and weapon-swapping.
Art Direction: Aesthetically impressive, with rich Chinese mythology and haunting environments.
Customization: Deep RPG elements and accessible build experimentation via a standout skill tree.
Atmosphere: Dense lore, dark environments, and immersive worldbuilding praised across the board.
Common Criticisms
Performance Issues: Frequent complaints about framerate drops and stuttering, even on next-gen consoles.
Repetitive Design: Some critics felt the game lacked variety in boss encounters and environments.
Weak Storytelling: While the lore is rich, the narrative execution felt vague or trope-filled for many.
Old-School Level Design: While nostalgic for some, others found the layout confusing or dated.
Final Verdict
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is far from flawless, but it’s a bold and competent entry into the Soulslike genre from an emerging Chinese studio. If you’re hungry for a fresh setting, deep mechanics, and punishing-yet-rewarding gameplay, this one’s worth your attention—especially if you can look past its technical shortcomings.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers will simultaneously be released at 02:00 UTC on July 24, 2025. That means players across all platforms—PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC—can jump into the action at the same moment, regardless of their time zone. Check out your time zone.