Stories set in historical periods are some of my favorites. For the past few years, Korean series and films like Kingdom and Uprising have made the Joseon Dynasty one of my favorite historical periods to explore. Now, the South Korea-based publisher NEXON is bringing players to Joseon with Woochi the Wayfarer, a new high-end single-player action-adventure game for PC and consoles, developed by LoreVault Studio.
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A supernatural action-adventure game, the first trailer shows how it is set to bring players a unique fantasy experience based on traditional Korean culture and mythology.
“Woochi the Wayfarer will provide a fresh and unique play experience that is based on traditional Korean materials while also having an emotional resonance that anyone around the world can relate to,” said Park Yong-hyun, NEXON Games CEO, in a release to media. “We plan to present a game that will appeal to gamers of all cultures, telling an amazing story that fully showcases Nexon Games’ development capabilities and accumulated experience.”
The game couldn’t have come at a better time, with the horror film genre bringing in attention to Korean mythology and folkloric practices with films like Exhuma which led the pack in best horror films of the year, and this year’s K-Pop Demon Hunters which uses Korean mythology to take viewers into a world of exorcising demons through music on Netflix. There is a rich cultural history to explore, and it’s exciting to see Nexon capitalizing on that.
And let’s be real, the inclusion of the bird in a tiny gat shows that Nexon knows how popular Korean mythology is right now. It’s clear that there is a love for Korean folklore and mythology, Woochi stands to bring this kind of exploration and admiration to gaming along with indie roguelite Aksun.
What is Woochi the Wayfarer about?
Woochi the Wayfarer is described as a blockbuster action-adventure game that chronicles the journey of Jeon Woochi, a powerful Dosa—or “Mage of the Way.” The narrative is a fresh take on “The Tale of Jeon Woochi,” a classic Korean novel where the protagonist uses his magical powers to fight injustice and trick the corrupt. Recent adaptations also include the webtoon turned live-action film, Omniscient Reader’s Point of View.
The studio has confirmed that the game is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, promising vivid graphics and an immersive experience. The single-player story will deliver thrilling action gameplay in magical settings populated by traditional Korean monsters.
To ensure cultural authenticity, the developer, LoreVault Studio, is collaborating with experts in Korean literature and music and is even conducting location scouting to recreate the Joseon era in high-quality 3D faithfully.
Watch Nexon’s Teaser Trailer
The newly released 2-minute, 20-second teaser trailer builds a sense of mystery and tension by introducing Myoan, a shaman chanting an incantation, and the silhouette of Woochi himself, culminating in a fierce standoff between the two.
Korean shamanism has seen a surge in cultural popularity both in Korea and the United States thanks to K-Drama series like Cafe Minamdang and Head Over Heels, among others. And that’s what takes the focus of Woochi’s trailer, capturing how integral music is to mysticism. The game’s emotional and colorful soundtrack is another major highlight, composed by Jung Jae-il, the acclaimed musician responsible for the soundtracks of the film Parasite and the Netflix series Squid Game.
Woochi The Wayfarer is slated for a global release on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
