River City Saga: Journey to the West Western Release Date Announced: The Legend of Kunio-kun Meets Chinese Classics!
Arc System Works has announced that the latest installment in the legendary Kunio-kun series, River City Saga: Journey to the West, will officially launch in the Western market on June 4, 2026. Releasing simultaneously for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam), the title promises to offer a fresh experience to fans by combining the series' classic beat-'em-up mechanics with modern roguelite elements.
This new adventure is based on Journey to the West, one of the four great classics of Chinese literature. The series' iconic, tough-tempered protagonist Kunio takes on the role of the legendary Monkey King (Sun Wukong), while other familiar faces from the series portray key figures in the story such as Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Tang Sanzang. One of the most entertaining aspects of the game is that all these characters in the main cast are actually different versions of Kunio!
Technically, unlike previous River City titles, the game shifts to a solo roguelite structure. Players will be able to build their own fighting styles by choosing from over 80 "Secret Skills" that appear randomly in each run. Offering the ability to switch between three different playstyles—speed-focused Sun Wukong, power-focused Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, who specializes in ranged attacks—the game requires a different strategy for every session.
The Kunio-kun series, which was started by Technōs Japan in 1986 and continues today under Arc System Works, is preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Following the success of River City Saga: Three Kingdoms, this new "Saga" game maintains the retro pixel art style that has become the series' signature while offering a deep character development system. Set to launch with a price tag of $19.99/€19.99, the game seems poised to satisfy both long-time fans seeking nostalgia and newcomers to the genre.
