[AnimeGamer]

6 Most Popular Korean Video Games 2024

Korea, the land of K-pop and K-drama has in recent years taken the world by storm with its fantastic media. It also happens to contain video games and why wouldn’t it when Korea along with Japan and China are the main hub of esports in Asia, contributing more than half of the entire player base. Even among them, Korea stands out from the rest as it has a major focus on online games as compared to China's developing gaming industry and Japan's single-player-focused one. So to honor that we have a list of the most popular games in Korea as of 2024.


Table of Contents

1. Eternal Return
   
2. Goddess of Victory: Nikke
   
3. Maple Story
   
4. DNF Duel
   
5. Dungeon Fighter Online
   
6. Blue Archive
   

Eternal Return

Figure 1-1. Eternal Return Cover Art

Platforms: GeForce Now, and Windows

Eternal Return is no stranger to the gaming world as it has in a few years become a game to rival even the likes of League of Legends. How you may ask? Simple it merged the MOBA and Battle Royale genres into a groundbreaking game that manages to not only give players a fantastic time while playing but also turn massive profits for its developers, Nimble Neuron. Which is a Korean-based game studio that is now using Eternal Return to establish itself as an esports company. As for the game's core systems, it uses a revolving roaster of characters each of which is tailor-made for certain playstyles. This means the game has a little bit of something for everyone, while also ensuring no one single play style is better than the other. So if you wish to witness this great experience from Korea then give this game a try as it is free on Steam.

Figure 1-2. Eternal Return Gameplay

Goddess of Victory: Nikke

Figure 2-1. Goddess of Victory: Nikke Cover Art

Platforms: iOS, Android, and Windows.

Next on the list, we have a game that has taken the internet by storm as soon as it was released. It is a game that perfectly manages to merge cover-based shooting, a deeply engaging story, a thrilling gacha mechanic, and a fabulous art direction that brings the whole game to life. It is none other than Goddess of Victory: Nikke, a recently released game that has been in development since 2017. It follows the story of mankind after an apocalypse wiped out most of the population and the monsters that invaded the world have pushed mankind to the brink of extinction. But to counter them mankind has developed Nikke’s human-like combat droids as the last line of defense. So if you want to witness a game like none other then do give Goddess of Victory: Nikke a try.

Figure 2-2. Goddess of Victory: Nikke Gameplay

Maple Story

Figure 3-1. Maple Story Cover Art

Platforms: GeForce Now, and Windows

Next, on the list we have a game that has been a classic in the online gaming landscape since the early days of World of Warcraft. It has been a part of the gaming journey of many players as it was one of the very first online games where people could create avatars and socially interact with other players. It is none other than Maple Story, developed by Nexon. It is also important to note that the game was first released in 2003 meaning it has had 2 decades' worth of constant updates and content patches. Allowing it to have a massive catalog of activities to do and accessories to collect. It is also important to take into account that in its 20 years it has had a constant player base making it one of the very few games to not have fallen to the passing of time. So if you wish to witness a game from the early days of the internet in its true glory this is the game for you.

Figure 3-2. Maple Story Gameplay

DNF Duel

Figure 4-1. DNF Duel Cover Art

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Switch, and Windows

Now if you thought that was it, wait. Continuing with the flow, we have yet another one of the most popular Korean video games on our list. This is no other than the world-famous DNF Duel. Developed by the ingenious minds at Arc System Works, 8ing, and Neople in 2022, DNF Duel is best known for its state-of-the-art hot flashy combat visuals. It is a fighting video game by genre and currently boasts a unique roster of 20 distinct fighters where each excels in its own regard. Due to its high popularity, DNF Duel attracts a large number of players the world over and many organizations, making the most out of its eSports potential, continue to hold periodic prized tournaments for this game. One such example is the Frosty Faustings XVI: DNF Duel tournament that featured a handsome prize pool of $550. In the game, there are several game modes available for players to try out, such as Single-Player, Ranked Match, Story, Arcade, Survival, and even an in-depth dedicated Tutorial mode. Speaking of which, DNF Duel implements simple yet elaborate fighting mechanics which makes this game the go-to fighting title for beginners.

Figure 4-2. DNF Duel Gameplay

Dungeon Fighter Online

Figure 5-1. Dungeon Fighter Online Cover Art

Platforms: Windows

And just like that, Dungeon Fighter Online, also known as “Dungeon and Fighter” in South Korea, makes its way into the list of the most popular Korean video games to play in 2024. You can think of this fighting game as a cut-down 2d version of DNF Duel. It was developed as a multiplayer beat’em up role-playing action fighting game by Neople way back in 2005. Consequently, due to its rich blend of several gaming genres seamlessly into one game, Dungeon And Fighter wasted no time in garnering a gigantic player base. So much so, that it went on to become one of the most-played video games of ALL TIME. In 2023 alone, the game developers reported a profit of $22+ billion with over 850+ million gamers. Despite its age-old release and outdated graphics Dungeon Fighter Online is still rocking hard with numerous PvP and PvE game modes and tons of character classes such as mage, fighter, gunner, thief, and priest.

Figure 5-2. Dungeon Fighter Online Gameplay

Blue Archive

Figure 6-1. Blue Archive Cover Art

Platforms: Android, iOS

For those gaming on their mobile devices, know that you are not left out. Blue Archive is another one of the most popular Korean video games which is available on both the Google PlayStore and Apple AppStore. Released in 2021 by Nexon, Blue Archive was quick to achieve fame due to its engaging gameplay, deep story, and high-quality anime-style graphics. While there are elements of visual storytelling in the game, Blue Archive also incorporates strategical RPG mechanics. In the game, Players collect and manage a roster of characters, each belonging to different academies within Kivotos, with their own unique backstories, abilities, and personalities. These characters are then used to form teams in order to participate in combat missions, which are the game's primary gameplay aspect. What’s more? Blue Archive also implements competitive multiplayer into its gameplay and players can use this feature to engage with each other online. So if you haven’t played this game yet, now is your opportunity!

Figure 6-2. Blue Archive Gameplay