Ever since FromSoftware introduced Demon’s Souls, the soulslike genre has become one of the most popular in the industry. FromSoftware pioneered the genre, but there have been many other games made by different studios that have copied the soulslike formula just as well. Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo’s Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty hit the scene in 2023, and it’s one of the many underrated soulslike games to debut in the past few years. Now that a sequel is on the way with Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember, fans of the genre should keep the game on their radar.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember was among the lineup of games announced at the most recent Xbox Games Showcase. There were several intriguing titles present at the event, and Wo Long 2 was a pleasant surprise. Reveals for games like Gears of War: E-Day and Halo: Campaign Evolved were exciting in their own right. However, Wo Long 2 was confirmation that 2023’s underrated soulslike offering is getting the chance to blossom into a larger franchise.
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A Lot of Gamers Missed Out on Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, But the Sequel Offers a Second Chance
The Xbox Game Showcase’s Wo Long 2 announcement isn’t just exciting because it means another chapter is on the horizon. The other reason it was such a big reveal is that it gives gamers a second chance to check out the game that started it all. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty features many of the staple soulslike features, but it uses the formula in such a way that it makes the game feel like a completely fresh experience instead of just a copied and pasted finished product. Even though it has its own unique take on the genre, it also feels like a spiritual successor to one of the most beloved FromSoftware soulslikes ever.
Wo Long: Wings of Ember isn’t an Xbox exclusive, but it will be a day-one release for Xbox Game Pass.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Fans Need to Check Out Wo Long
As far as it’s known, FromSoftware doesn’t really have any plans to make a sequel to Sekiro. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and its upcoming sequel could be the next best thing, though. It’s important to note that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty doesn’t exactly hit the same marks that Sekiro does when it comes to its story and difficulty. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the time, though.
Sekiro is one of the hardest soulslike games to come from FromSoftware, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty‘s easier combat might feel jarring for diehard fans of the former. There’s no way to know until the sequel launches, but there is also the chance that Wo Long 2 could even bump up the difficulty to feel closer to Sekiro‘s challenge level. Where the two share their biggest similarities, though, is their love of parrying.
Parrying in Sekiro is one of the most important aspects of the game’s combat, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has plenty of fun with this mechanic. Also, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a good choice for Sekiro players who were left wanting more weapon variety. Sekiro is reliant on a single katana, but Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has a deep well of traditional Chinese weapons to choose from.
Sekiro Isn’t the Only Soulslike That Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Feels Like
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty takes most of its combat inspiration from Sekiro, but it’s also heavily influenced by the Nioh games when it comes to atmosphere. Like Nioh, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty embraces historical fiction with a dark fantasy world. The Wo Long series is inspired by the fall of the Han Dynasty in 184 AD. So, it’s also a great option for fans who love games based on history. It may not be one of the most historically accurate video games, but it’s an eye-catching reimagining of this specific era in Chinese history.
There aren’t too many games like Nioh out there, so fans of this series will probably have a lot of fun with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Just like with Sekiro, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is also fairly easier than Nioh. Sekiro and Nioh‘s difficulty levels are one of the many things that make it so satisfying, but Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty‘s more accessible nature doesn’t keep it from being a worthwhile game.
Wo Long: Wings of Ember is introducing a brand-new protagonist, but they are expected to remain nameless like the first game.
The Wait for Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember is Officially Underway
Although the game has been revealed, there isn’t a Wo Long 2 release date confirmed yet. All that’s known right now is that Wo Long 2 is eyeing an early 2027 launch. There are already plenty of games coming out in 2026, so Koei Tecmo pushing this title back to next year is a good thing. The game release calendar is simply too crowded at the moment, and GTA 6‘s release date in November makes a late 2026 launch an incredibly risky move. It’s hard to say when Koei Tecmo will reveal the release date, but major industry events like Gamescom and The Game Awards are likely contenders. It could also just be a random announcement outside the confines of a major gaming event.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is Worth a Try
It’s a bummer that a Wo Long 2 release date is being kept under wraps, but the good news is that this leaves plenty of time for soulslike lovers to check out the first chapter. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty isn’t a perfect soulslike game by any means, but it handles its combat and atmosphere incredibly well. There is a lot of stiff competition when it comes to being one of the best soulslike games in the genre. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a little rougher around the edges at times, but it deserves to be more popular. So, gamers who have been on the hunt for another soulslike to dive into might find a lot of satisfaction in trying out Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty to be better prepared for its great-looking sequel.
- Released
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2027
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
