KMK: 10 Popular Korean PC Games

In South Korea video games dominate like football does in the USA. Here, desk jockey isn’t a passive activity but a full blown occupation for the top tier talented pro gamers and their legions of fans. Throughout the country PC Bangs (PC rooms) can be found on every corner. Millions of Koreans pour into these popular gaming spots and spend hours upon hours playing their favorite games. And what are these guys and gals playing? I’ve got ten popular Korean PC Games right here to give you a breakdown of what’s hot in Korea.

1. Overwatch

The new kid on the block has just done the once thought impossible: toppled League of Legends. For the past few years League has dominated Korean PC Bangs, taking the lion’s share of players’ attention. Not so anymore. Now Overwatch sits on top. It’s a first person shooter with twenty-one outlandish characters to choose from. Each character has a flair that’s completely their own along with a dazzling and unique power set that no other game can rival. Add to it a compelling backstory along with gorgeous visuals and you’ve got the makings of a King Slayer. At this point the only thing Overwatch doesn’t have is a ranked gaming system, but that’s just around the corner. When it hits it will make or break this titan’s claim on the top spot.

Initial release date: May 24, 2016
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Genre: First-person shooter
Mode: Multiplayer video game
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Designers: Scott Mercer, Michael Elliott, Jeremy Craig

2. League of Legends

Though it’s gone down a spot, the mighty hasn’t fallen. League of Legends still attracts millions to the Summoner’s Rift to do battle. This MOBA style game (multiplayer Online Battle Arena) pits two teams of five players against each other to destroy the enemy team’s nexus. To do so each player chooses a unique champion to control. There are 123 different champs to pick from. They range in play from Damage Dealing Markswomen, Magic wielding Mages, Healing and defensive support champs, brick wall damage absorbing Tanks, to stealthy lethal Assassins. There’s enough variety for everyone’s style of play in League.

Initial release date:October 27, 2009
Genre: Multiplayer online battle arena
Developer: Riot Games
Mode: Multiplayer video game
Designers: Steve Feak, Tom Cadwell, Colt ‘Ezreal’ Hallam, Rob Garrett,Christina Norman

3. Sudden Attack

A Korean first person shooter, Sudden Attack, has been around a long time. Teams are divided into a red and blue side. The Blue team represents the United Great Force while the Red Team holds it down for The Tanzirilo Independence Force. The Game play consists of different modes like capture the flag, death match, destruction, or even custom made modes. The maps can range in visual style from bombed out cities, warehouses, or even palaces. The goal depends on the game mode, but no matter what it’s all about eliminating the competition. An array of weapons such as sniper rifles, pistols, and knives can be used to achieve your objectives. I never really got into Sudden Attack. It was hugely popular when I first arrived in Korea and its cool to see it’s still around.

Initial release date: April 11, 2005
Genre: First-person shooter
Developer: Nexon GT Co., Ltd.
Publishers: Nexon, Netmarble Games
Platform: Microsoft Windows

4. Fifa Online 3

Fifa Online 3  isn’t exactly the type of game I’m into. However, I must be in the minority because soccer madness reigns supreme in South Korea. It’s huge here. Players can choose to compete online against others or play through a single player season. playing earns you in game points which you can spend to buy or sell players available to you.

Initial release date: December 18, 2012
Genre: Sports Game, Association Football Simulation
Developer: Electronic Arts, Spearhead
Publishers: Nexon, Garena
Platform: Microsoft Windows, Android

5. Lineage

Lineage (Korean: 리니지) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Korean company NCSOFT. Years ago this game was released in the USA and had a popular following before petering out. These days it’s still going strong in Korea with a healthy fan base. The premise behind this medieval themed romp has players choosing between seven character classes. Each class entails various abilities and are able to wear differing sets of equipment tailored to their class. Game play revolves around a castle siege system that allows the players who own them to set tax rates and collect from other players. This culminates in a huge Player vs Player combat where hundreds of players fight it out simultaneously.

Genre: MMORPG
Developer: NCSOFT
Publishers: NCSOFT
Platform:Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X

6. Starcraft
Here we go with another Blizzard titan! Starcraft switches gears and focuses on science fiction space faring military powerhouses colliding to rule the galaxy. The different factions include Terrans, the Protoss, insect Zergs, and the Xel’Naga. Each do battle to control the Koprulu Sector of the galaxy in the 26th century. It’s a strategy game with players controlling one of the four races, aiming to destroy the competition. Each race has its own flavorful theme around which they build their weapons, buildings, and forces. Starcraft has spawn board games, novelizations, and collectibles.

Genres:               Real-time strategy
Developers:        Blizzard Entertainment
Publishers:         Blizzard Entertainment
Creators:             Chris Metzen, James Phinney
Platforms:           Microsoft Windows, MacOS/OS X, Nintendo 64
First release:       StarCraft. March 31, 1998
Latest release:     StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, November 10, 2015

7. Diablo 3

Surprise, Blizzard does it again! This time Diablo 3 takes players on a fantastic journey in questing, hunting, and looting for gold and booty! You can choose between several character classes such as a Crusader, Barbarian, Monk, Witch Doctor, Demon Hunter, or Wizard all fighting to combat and defeat the Dread Lord Diablo. Abilities are unlocked in a tree system with points you earn. Items like weaponry and armor can be looted or bought and also upgraded! It’s addictive good fun.

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment, JP Square Enix
Designer: Josh Mosqueira, Leonard Boyarsky, Jay Wilson
Composer:  Russell Brower, Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford
Series:  Diablo
Platform: Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release date: Microsoft Windows, OS X May 15, 2012
Genre:  Action role-playing, hack and slash
Mode:  Single-player, multiplayer

8. Dungeon Fighter

Dungeon Fighter Online is a smash hit here in Korea. It went global years ago but couldn’t survive the stiff competition in the market. Probably because it’s a throwback 2D side scrolling hack and slash game. I never understood the appeal of games like this. They come across flat and boring. Still, the avatars players choose have a Health (hp) and Magic (mp) bar to gauge how close to death they are or if they have the energy to use abilities. You can assign hotkeys for unique abilities to activate them faster. There are also pvp arenas, guilds and even a mentorship program to give the action a special social kick in the butt.

Initial release date:August 2005
Publishers: Neople, Hangame
Platform: Microsoft Windows

9. Blade and Soul

Blade & Seoul is a Fantasy martial arts MMORPG. Players create their avatars to venture out into the world undergoing quests. It’s real time battle and combo attacks that are typically used in fighting games. It’s both a Player versus environment and player versus player system. It’s by NCSoft so you know the graphics are beautifully done. There’s also a Japanese Anime of the same name you can check out! This is another game I’ve tried and failed to become interested in. Maybe after Everquest and World of Warcraft my MMO days might be done. Nothing so far ignites that spark of imagination that those games did.

Developer: NCSOFT
Adaptations:Blade & Soul (2014)
Publishers: NCSOFT, Tencent
Platform: Microsoft Windows

10. Aion

Ok, yeah Aion is another MMORPG which means it does use the grind of quests, exp, and repeat. However, Aion delivers some unique aspects to the genre. For starters there’s the flight system that lets you soar to untold breathtaking heights in the game environment. Then there’s the awesomeness of skill chains that lets you unleash hurt and pain like no other game. It doesn’t hurt that NCsoft’s lush graphics immerse you totally in the game play. Speaking of which you get to choose from six primary classes (Mage,warrior, priest, scout, muse, technist) and then choose a subclass at level ten. That’s depth.

Initial release date: November 25, 2008
Genre: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Publisher:NCSOFT
Developer:NCSOFT
Mode:Multiplayer video game
Platform:Microsoft Windows