First impressions of Blood Message predict the Chinese action game a masterpiece status on par with Naughty Dog

At Summer Game Fest, NetEase Games rolled out a moody story trailer for Blood Message and, more importantly for some, let reporters sit down with the opening section—behind closed doors in Los Angeles. Early hands-on reactions are filtering out; many sound upbeat, though a fair bit of cautious hype is mixed in with the praise.

Several journalists who played the demo came away impressed. A few outlets even complain that the title hasn't been getting the attention it merits.

Leaving the session, I turned to the developers and said: "This game will definitely be winning awards." — admits one reviewer. According to him, the game’s staging and emotional punch are such that it could stand next to Naughty Dog with their The Last of Us and Uncharted. A notable choice here is to favor a strict, linear, cinematic narrative over the more common sprawling open-world approach.

The story leans on real history: set in 848 AD during the late Tang dynasty (i.e., a clearly defined historical moment). The protagonist is said to traverse roughly 1,000 miles across war-torn provinces—period details, atmosphere, and a sense of grueling travel are reportedly central to the tone.

Among the gameplay elements reviewers singled out:

  • Almost no on-screen interface (e.g., HUD-free moments that force you to look at the world rather than gauges);
  • Combat that reads as heavy and visceral — you feel the impact, not just the numbers;
  • Well-staged set pieces, from breathless chases to quieter, brutal dramatic beats that pull you into the characters' lives.

Tech and visuals drew attention too; several impressions focused on small, tactile details rather than just polygon counts.

Sneaking past the guards, I found myself in a textile shop — the way the light filtered through the roof slats, highlighting hanging specks of dust stirred up from the dirt floor, was incredible; I sincerely hope for a built-in cool Photo Mode at launch.

No official release date has been announced for the Chinese historical epic Blood Message.