River City Saga: Journey to the West now has an official website, offering a first look at characters and gameplay ahead of its 2026 release.
Arc System Works shared new details alongside the site launch, while also marking the 40th anniversary of the long-running Kunio-kun franchise.
A Journey to the West spin on River City
River City Saga: Journey to the West pulls from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, reworking its core cast into the Kunio-kun style.
Characters like Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing appear as versions of Kunio, setting off toward Tianzhu in what Arc System Works describes as a chaotic, comedy-driven action adventure.
The tone sticks closely to the River City formula, but the setting and structure shift things into a more myth-inspired direction.
Roguelike structure and build variety
The game uses a roguelike format where each run feeds into progression. As you move through stages, gods appear at random and grant “Secret Skills” that boost your stats and abilities.
There are around 80 of these skills, giving you room to experiment with different builds each run. The idea is simple: fail, upgrade, and come back stronger.
Multiple fighting styles and returning characters
You start with Sun Wukong’s speed-focused playstyle, then unlock Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, who focus on power and long-range combat. This adds some variety to how you approach each run.
Familiar faces from across the River City series will also appear. Some help you during your journey, while others act as bosses, keeping that crossover feel the series is known for.
Kunio-kun celebrates 40 years
Alongside the new game reveal, Arc System Works launched a commemorative site for the Kunio-kun series’ 40th anniversary.
The site looks back at past titles while teasing future updates for the franchise. It’s a reminder of how long the series has been around and how it continues to get new entries like Journey to the West.
Early look, more to come
This website launch is an early step. You get a clearer sense of the structure and tone, but there’s still no release date beyond 2026.
Expect more details as Arc System Works rolls out additional updates.
