Plucked from the usual formula with style
By Paul Hunter
There’s no shortage of Soulslikes out there, but Wuchang: Fallen Feathers earns its place by doing things its own way. Instead of just sticking to the basics, it brings fresh ideas to the table—mixing an innovative madness meter, creative progression systems, and some strange, feather-covered twists that keep you guessing.
Set in a version of 17th-century China crawling with feathered horrors and memory loss, Wuchang wastes no time getting weird. And it leans into that weirdness hard. Developed by Leenzee Games and published by 505 Games, this Unreal Engine 5 action RPG throws you into a world of decaying dynasties, twisted monsters, and esoteric lore begging to be decoded—if you’re willing to dig.
The core experience may look familiar at first glance, but it builds its own rhythm through clever combat design, ambitious build systems, and environments that do more than just look good. There’s a confidence here from start to finish.
After spending over 50 hours wrapped up in feathered curses, sky-powered swordplay, and bosses that hit like trucks, I found myself asking something I didn’t expect: is this the best non-FromSoftware Soulslike to come along in years? Let’s find out.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers drops you into a crumbling world during the end of the Ming Dynasty. Set in the shadowy land of Shu, society is falling apart as a strange affliction called “The Feathering” spreads unchecked. Victims of the disease lose their memories and transform into feather-covered monsters, feared by everyone who hasn’t yet turned.
Wuchang is infected too, but she keeps going without saying a word. But the more I played, the more I realised her silence matters. Her identity is part of the mystery, and following her through it all makes her story feel personal in a quiet, strange way.
The game tells its story in bits and pieces. You won’t get long cutscenes or big reveals. Instead, you’ll need to piece it all together through scraps of writing and short, cryptic chats with NPCs. Some of it’s easy to miss, but when it clicks, it adds a surprising amount of weight to the world.
What stands out is the world’s sense of mystery. The setting mixes folklore with decaying empire, giving the game a grim tone that sticks with you. And while some of the story is buried behind vague language and half-hints, the payoff is worth the effort.
Wuchang offers combat with clear rules and strong flow. Every weapon class—longswords, dual blades, spears, greataxes and one-handed swords—has its own feel. You’ll learn the rhythm of each tool and how to chain attacks with precision. I remember one boss where switching from dual blades to longsword mid-fight made all the difference—it unlocked a combo path that decimated my opponent.
That change links directly to the skill tree, where you spend Red Mercury to unlock new disciplines or passive effects. You can spec into one weapon type, or distribute points across two to swap weapons mid-combat. Specific hit combos or perfect dodges fill your “Skyborn Might” meter. Once full you can trigger spells or attack boosts without stamina cost, and you regain some stamina. The way dodges flow into power attacks gives the combat a sharp edge few Soulslikes deliver.
Madness is one of the core systems in Wuchang. Each time you die, your Madness builds up, and once it reaches a high enough level, your attacks hit harder but enemies hurt you more as well. If your Madness is maxed when you fall, a demon clone—your Inner Demon—spawns at that spot and guards your lost resources until you defeat it. This mechanic keeps every death tense, but it also adds an extra layer of risk and reward to how you approach each area. And if you found difficult fights tough, respeccing at any worship point costs nothing—best decision I ever made when I got stuck on a late-game mandatory boss.
Level design also rewards exploration. I saw shortcuts open up in ways that connected distant areas smoothly. It felt satisfying to loop back to safe areas after clearing zones, bypassing enemies that once crushed me. And the choice to avoid “Entering the Dream”, which resets defeated foes, means low-risk progression.
There are occasional frustrations—some sharp difficulty spikes can be jarring, and some status afflictions feel brutal—but the depth and freedom of the systems keep you coming back. Combat stays meaningful while level design and build options invite you to play your way.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers builds its world around decaying beauty and dread. The late Ming Dynasty setting is full of eerie detail, drawing from gothic horror rather than historical realism. That choice gives each location a specific mood—dark, smoky skies hang over ruined villages, while rotting temples glow faintly under flickering lanterns.
The art direction uses colour sparingly but with purpose. Heavy reds, dim lanterns and broken structures help guide your path without needing markers. Areas feel lived-in and dangerous, not just for the enemies inside but for what they suggest happened before you arrived. Enemy design pushes that further. Diseased soldiers, twisted beasts, and flesh-warped horrors feel distinct without relying on over-the-top effects.
Bosses tend to dominate the screen with size and weight. Their grotesque appearances stick in your head, though sometimes their moveset doesn’t match their scale. A few bosses felt harder to read visually, but they still leave an impression. A wee bit of stuttering cropped up in the latter half of the game, which was a bit distracting, but the game was still very playable.
The soundtrack is subtle. There’s no big orchestral swell—just low tones, unsettling rhythms, and sudden silence. That quiet tension fits the pacing and world design well. Voice acting is functional but unremarkable. Some NPCs feel stiff, though a few deliver their lines with just enough menace or sorrow to make it land.
Menus and HUD are clean. Flipping menu sections is a snap, and inventory management is smooth. You won’t get lost in layers of interface, which helps when switching gear or levelling up. Even with some minor rough spots, Wuchang’s atmosphere and visual style leave a lasting impression through mood and restraint.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: Leenzee
Publisher: 505 Games
Genre: Action Role-Playing, Soulslike
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
There’s no shortage of Soulslikes out there, but Wuchang: Fallen Feathers earns its place by doing things its own way. Instead of just sticking to the basics, it brings fresh ideas to the table—mixing an innovative madness meter, creative progression systems, and some strange, feather-covered twists that keep you guessing.
Set in a version of 17th-century China crawling with feathered horrors and memory loss, Wuchang wastes no time getting weird. And it leans into that weirdness hard. Developed by Leenzee Games and published by 505 Games, this Unreal Engine 5 action RPG throws you into a world of decaying dynasties, twisted monsters, and esoteric lore begging to be decoded—if you’re willing to dig.
The core experience may look familiar at first glance, but it builds its own rhythm through clever combat design, ambitious build systems, and environments that do more than just look good. There’s a confidence here from start to finish.
After spending over 50 hours wrapped up in feathered curses, sky-powered swordplay, and bosses that hit like trucks, I found myself asking something I didn’t expect: is this the best non-FromSoftware Soulslike to come along in years? Let’s find out.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers drops you into a crumbling world during the end of the Ming Dynasty. Set in the shadowy land of Shu, society is falling apart as a strange affliction called “The Feathering” spreads unchecked. Victims of the disease lose their memories and transform into feather-covered monsters, feared by everyone who hasn’t yet turned.
Wuchang is infected too, but she keeps going without saying a word. But the more I played, the more I realised her silence matters. Her identity is part of the mystery, and following her through it all makes her story feel personal in a quiet, strange way.
The game tells its story in bits and pieces. You won’t get long cutscenes or big reveals. Instead, you’ll need to piece it all together through scraps of writing and short, cryptic chats with NPCs. Some of it’s easy to miss, but when it clicks, it adds a surprising amount of weight to the world.
What stands out is the world’s sense of mystery. The setting mixes folklore with decaying empire, giving the game a grim tone that sticks with you. And while some of the story is buried behind vague language and half-hints, the payoff is worth the effort.
Wuchang offers combat with clear rules and strong flow. Every weapon class—longswords, dual blades, spears, greataxes and one-handed swords—has its own feel. You’ll learn the rhythm of each tool and how to chain attacks with precision. I remember one boss where switching from dual blades to longsword mid-fight made all the difference—it unlocked a combo path that decimated my opponent.
That change links directly to the skill tree, where you spend Red Mercury to unlock new disciplines or passive effects. You can spec into one weapon type, or distribute points across two to swap weapons mid-combat. Specific hit combos or perfect dodges fill your “Skyborn Might” meter. Once full you can trigger spells or attack boosts without stamina cost, and you regain some stamina. The way dodges flow into power attacks gives the combat a sharp edge few Soulslikes deliver.
Madness is one of the core systems in Wuchang. Each time you die, your Madness builds up, and once it reaches a high enough level, your attacks hit harder but enemies hurt you more as well. If your Madness is maxed when you fall, a demon clone—your Inner Demon—spawns at that spot and guards your lost resources until you defeat it. This mechanic keeps every death tense, but it also adds an extra layer of risk and reward to how you approach each area. And if you found difficult fights tough, respeccing at any worship point costs nothing—best decision I ever made when I got stuck on a late-game mandatory boss.
Level design also rewards exploration. I saw shortcuts open up in ways that connected distant areas smoothly. It felt satisfying to loop back to safe areas after clearing zones, bypassing enemies that once crushed me. And the choice to avoid “Entering the Dream”, which resets defeated foes, means low-risk progression.
There are occasional frustrations—some sharp difficulty spikes can be jarring, and some status afflictions feel brutal—but the depth and freedom of the systems keep you coming back. Combat stays meaningful while level design and build options invite you to play your way.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers builds its world around decaying beauty and dread. The late Ming Dynasty setting is full of eerie detail, drawing from gothic horror rather than historical realism. That choice gives each location a specific mood—dark, smoky skies hang over ruined villages, while rotting temples glow faintly under flickering lanterns.
The art direction uses colour sparingly but with purpose. Heavy reds, dim lanterns and broken structures help guide your path without needing markers. Areas feel lived-in and dangerous, not just for the enemies inside but for what they suggest happened before you arrived. Enemy design pushes that further. Diseased soldiers, twisted beasts, and flesh-warped horrors feel distinct without relying on over-the-top effects.
Bosses tend to dominate the screen with size and weight. Their grotesque appearances stick in your head, though sometimes their moveset doesn’t match their scale. A few bosses felt harder to read visually, but they still leave an impression. A wee bit of stuttering cropped up in the latter half of the game, which was a bit distracting, but the game was still very playable.
The soundtrack is subtle. There’s no big orchestral swell—just low tones, unsettling rhythms, and sudden silence. That quiet tension fits the pacing and world design well. Voice acting is functional but unremarkable. Some NPCs feel stiff, though a few deliver their lines with just enough menace or sorrow to make it land.
Menus and HUD are clean. Flipping menu sections is a snap, and inventory management is smooth. You won’t get lost in layers of interface, which helps when switching gear or levelling up. Even with some minor rough spots, Wuchang’s atmosphere and visual style leave a lasting impression through mood and restraint.
The Verdict
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers surprised me with how focused it was. The atmosphere pulled me in right away, and the combat kept challenging me the whole way through. The story opens up slowly but rewards your curiosity. There’s something satisfying about how all the pieces work together. If you’re after a serious, rewarding experience, this game delivers in spades.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCDeveloper: Leenzee
Publisher: 505 Games
Genre: Action Role-Playing, Soulslike
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.