Issue Focus

Korean RPGs Go Dark : Smilegate’s Chaos Zero Nightmare Takes Aim at China

This article highlights Korea’s ambition to lead the subculture RPG genre with distinct gameplay and storytelling that goes beyond China’s reach. This offers global buyer’s insights into the next wave of export-ready K-games targeting mature audiences.

♦  Smilegate’s Anti-China Strategy

     • Smilegate, partnering with Epic Seven developer Super Creative, unveiled Chaos Zero Nightmare for

       global release within the year (excluding China).

     • The studio emphasized that production quality and scale aim to surpass Chinese competitors,

       combining cinematic animation with unique art direction.

♦  Innovative Deck-Building Combat

     • Chaos Zero Nightmare merges collectible RPG with deck-building and roguelike systems, differentiating

       from standard skill-based RPG battles.

     • Players assemble 3-character teams and deploy combinations from over 175 ability cards, creating

       endless strategic builds and replayability.

♦  Darker Narrative Direction

     • Unlike brighter tones in most subculture RPGs, Chaos Zero Nightmare adopts a dystopian world with

       psychologically intense themes.

     • Developers believe this reflects global anime trends toward darker, serious narratives that resonate with

       mature audiences seeking depth.

♦  Anti-P2WGlobal Strategy

     • The game rejects traditional pay-to-win monetization, opting for character variety purchases to

       maintain balance and fairness.

     • Smilegate plans to expand Chaos Zero Nightmare’s IP ecosystem through community engagement and

       cross-platform storytelling.

Source

The Korea Economic Daily. (2025. 8. 30)

https://www.hankyung.com/article/202508287755g (Korean version only)