Woochi the Wayfarer: Everything We Know

You’re probably thinking what I’m thinking: Woochi the Wayfarer is bringing the Asian-developed “Wu” and “Wo” games full circle. After Black Myth: Wukong, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, I’m pretty excited to see what this new venture has in store. Granted, Wukong and Wuchang’s developers are from China, and Wo Long from Japan. Still, you cannot deny the surging emergence of Asian developers recently, with their striking flair for hack-and-slash combat.

These truly have been pleasant times for gaming, with unforgettable swordplay and Soulslike combat. No doubt the upcoming Woochi the Wayfarer will be just as good, perhaps even better, especially with possibly the best trailer I’ve ever seen. But first, shall we see what’s in store? Here’s everything we know about Woochi the Wayfarer thus far.

What is Woochi the Wayfarer?

Woochi the Wayfarer is an upcoming action-adventure game. It’s based on Korean folklore, telling a fantastical tale you might have come across before. Woochi is a Taoist wizard who’s been featured in multiple media. Fully “Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard,” or alternatively, “Woochi: The Demon Slayer,” has been a mischievous wizard in the 2009 Jeon Woo-chi comedy film, as well as 2012’s fantasy TV series.

All adapt the same Korean folktale called The Tale of Jeon Woochi. It stars a mage fighting against supernatural threats. Interestingly, critically acclaimed Black Myth: Wukong draws inspiration from the same folktale. Hence, it’s unsurprising that Wukong carries striking similarities in art style and narrative to Woochi the Wayfarer.

Story

Woochi the Wayfarer’s story will take place during Korea’s Joseon era. Described as a “blockbuster,” you can expect a big-budget adaptation and implementation of the Woochi folktale. In the game, you’ll be spearheading the journey of the Dosa, or the Mage of the Way, called Jeon Woochi. Since the game is using Unreal Engine 5, you can expect vivid details of the Joseon fantasy world. 

As much as the game adapts the classic Korean folktale, The Tale of Jeon Woochi, it’ll still craft a brand-new story. It’ll star Jeon Woochi’s efforts to fight back against mythical evil, using his powers to rid the world of corruption and injustice. Being a single-player story-driven adventure, you can look forward to deep immersion, from magical settings to fighting Korean traditional monsters, all to an endearing soundtrack. 

Gameplay

Woochi the Wayfarer will be a single-player, action-adventure game, featuring fantasy settings and environments. You’ll embark on a dangerous mission to save the world, running into mythical creatures from shamans to gumihos and dokkaebis. You’ll be traversing warm and colorful biomes, discovering authentic Joseon-era architecture, landscapes, and even clothing.

Even the creature designs will be genuine to Korean folklore, though the references are scarce, leaving some room for wild imagination. From cinematic storytelling to dynamic combat, you’ll be well-engaged in an adventure of a lifetime.

There isn’t quite much we know about the specific gameplay elements you can expect in the final game. Beyond the vicious hack-and-slash standoff between Woochi and the Shaman in the teaser trailer, we don’t quite have the specifics of the abilities, weapons, or archetypes you can expect.

Perhaps you’ll solely be a Mage, fine-tuning your spells and sword choices. Maybe you’ll access both melee and ranged Soulslike abilities. Even the extent of exploration is unclear, whether open-ended or linear. It’s all too soon, but certainly exciting to be playing a game quite possibly on the same high caliber as Black Myth: Wukong, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and so on. 

Development

Woochi the Wayfarer has just been announced to be in development by Nexon Games and LoreVault. Nexon Games will specifically publish the game, while LoreVault develops it. According to Nexon Games’ CEO Park Yong-hyun, they plan to deliver a game that infuses Korean traditional culture. However, they also want to incorporate emotional story arcs that gamers worldwide will identify with.

Despite the game taking place in Korea’s Joseon era, the developers want to craft an intriguing story that speaks to all cultures. They want to do so by making the most of Nexon Games’ experience and expertise in developing and publishing games. 

Meanwhile, LoreVault will be collaborating with experts in Korean literature and traditional music to maintain the authenticity of Woochi the Wayfarer. Their goal is to accurately adapt the unique history and culture of Korea, even physically visiting cultural sites in Korea to get the most authentic representation of the Joseon era.

“Historical accuracy meets rich imagination” is the goal of LoreVault, one we cannot wait to latch our teeth into. This is only the beginning, though, and the teaser trailer serves to attract more developers to join the effort at LoreVault to bring Woochi the Wayfarer’s vision to life. So, be sure to head on to Nexon Games, under LoreVault, and apply to the open positions available.

Trailer

Woochi the Wayfarer’s teaser trailer may be brief, capping at two minutes. Yet, it does all it needs to capture your attention and make you want to play the game. First is the stunning environments, incredibly detailed and full of mystery. Only two characters feature, Jeon Woochi, undoubtedly, and a quite intimidating shaman. Tension quickly builds when the shaman performs a violent ritual, transforming her into a formidable, beastly form.

And the fierce standoff between the shaman and Woochi begins, with some pretty cool snippets of your sword’s transformation in a unique way, and the shaman’s impressive agility. This one’s a must-watch to truly appreciate the impeccable level of detail and artistry. And the traditional Korean music playing in the background just brings it all together.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

With the upcoming game only recently announced, it makes sense that a concrete release date is still unknown. Woochi the Wayfarer will be coming to current-gen consoles, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. Among the many details still unclear is the editions, or even if there will be any. Still, you can always stay in the loop of all future updates by following the official social handle here.