Arc System Works America has launched the official website for River City Saga: Journey to the West, offering a closer look at the upcoming action title ahead of its planned 2026 release. According to the company’s announcement, the game adapts the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West and follows Arc System Works’ earlier River City releases based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

According to the announcement, the new website outlined the game’s playable cast and core mechanics. The title will feature Kunio-style versions of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing and Tang Sanzang, with players progressing through a roguelike action format that allows them to build strength across repeated runs. Arc System Works said players can acquire one of 80 ‘Secret Skills’ from gods that appear during stages, creating different combinations of stat boosts and abilities.

The game will also include three combat styles tied to different characters. Sun Wukong is positioned as the speed-focused option, while Zhu Bajie offers a more power-oriented approach and Sha Wujing specialises in longer-range attacks. According to the release, characters from across the wider River City series will also appear throughout the adventure, at times as allies and at others as bosses.

The announcement also tied the reveal to a broader milestone for the franchise. Arc System Works said Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun is marking its 40th anniversary with a commemorative site covering past entries in the series alongside updates on future projects.

River City Saga: Journey to the West appears to continue a recent pattern for the series, which has reworked well-known Chinese stories through the River City lens. Arc System Works previously released River City Saga: Three Kingdoms, a comedic action game based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, before following it with River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next.

Arc System Works is best known globally for franchises such as Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, though the company has continued to expand older catalogue brands like River City alongside its fighting game portfolio.