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The next game in a huge Chinese action RPG series has plenty of action, but I hope it hasn’t totally abandoned the RPG
PC Gamer’s Wes Fenlon has played an early demo of Swords of Legends, the forthcoming sequel to 2018 Chinese RPG Gujian 3. He found its combat and folklore-inspired boss designs promising, but worries the game may have shifted too far towards linear action in the mould of Black Myth: Wukong, at the expense of the series’ former emphasis on character, story and role-playing depth.
The demo included several boss encounters and a short linear section, with light and heavy attacks plus interchangeable weapon skills and artefacts that can support aggressive or defensive playstyles. Examples included a summonable bull companion, a flying-magician boss whose body is an ornate rug, and a teapot-headed warrior; however, the writer saw little evidence of quests, choices or relationships. Swords of Legends is listed on Steam but has no release date.
In short
- Swords of Legends’ combat demo impressed, but its RPG depth remains unclear.
- It follows 2018 RPG Gujian 3.
- The game has no announced release date.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The gaming industry has demonstrated that action-focused gameplay resonates strongly with contemporary audiences, as evidenced by the commercial and critical success of games like Black Myth: Wukong. A pivot towards more engaging, kinetic combat allows the Gujian series to remain competitive whilst preserving its distinctive aesthetic and cultural-rooted design work. Action gameplay and narrative depth are not mutually exclusive; a demo's limited scope showing combat encounters does not necessarily indicate that story elements and character development have been abandoned from the full game.
The case against
The Gujian series' competitive advantage has always rested upon character development, narrative sophistication, and meaningful player choice—elements that differentiate it from numerous action games chasing similar formulas. Abandoning these elements in pursuit of the Black Myth: Wukong model risks diluting the series' identity and alienating its dedicated audience, particularly when sustained demand exists for story-rich RPG experiences that do not prioritise action spectacle above player agency.
Explained simply
Gujian is a Chinese role-playing game series, with Gujian 3 released in 2018. Its stories draw on Chinese folklore, and the games have included character development and choices alongside combat.
Swords of Legends is the forthcoming sequel. Its early demo showed players fighting with different weapons, skills and artefacts, as well as facing bosses inspired by folklore. The series’ change in direction matters to players because role-playing games can offer more than combat, including story, relationships and choices.