The Global Dissemination of Chinese Culture through Black Myth Wukong: A Systematic Literature Review

The dissemination of Chinese culture through digital media has gained significant momentum, with video games emerging as powerful tools for cultural transmission. Black Myth: Wukong exemplifies this trend, blending traditional Chinese storytelling with modern gaming technology to introduce global audiences to Chinese mythology. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) to analyze how the game integrates traditional narratives, promotes Chinese cultural identity, and compares to other Chinese mythology-based games. The findings indicate that Black Myth: Wukong enhances cultural appreciation through imagological representation, foreignization strategies, and immersive gameplay, successfully bridging cultural gaps. Additionally, the game contributes to China’s soft power strategy, reinforcing national identity while appealing to international audiences. Compared to earlier Chinese mythology-inspired games, Black Myth: Wukong has achieved greater global recognition due to its high production quality, deep narrative structure, and innovative storytelling techniques. The study’s findings have practical implications for game developers, cultural policymakers, and scholars, highlighting how video games can serve as effective cultural diplomacy tools. Future research should explore player reception and long-term industry impact to further understand the role of gaming in global cultural exchange.