Two independent Korean titles—‘Chronicles of Chaos: Korean History Idle RPG’ by TwoKang Project and ‘Pixel Mercenary Corps’ by the two-person indie team ENSOUL—have been jointly selected as Outstanding Games (Functional & Indie categories) for the second half of 2025 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). This recognition highlights the continued strength and creative depth of Korea’s indie game scene. The Korea Creative Content Agency is proving once again the potential of the Korean indie game scene.
A Journey Through Korean History: Chronicles of Chaos – Korean History Idle RPG
Set against the backdrop of Korean history, Chronicles of Chaos is an idle RPG that follows three college students who are swept back in time and must navigate through history with the help of legendary figures to return to the future.
The game reimagines historical events and figures in a way that blends entertainment and education, allowing players to enjoy learning while experiencing immersive gameplay. With an auto-battle system, players can grow their characters effortlessly while assembling strategic teams using the unique abilities of each historical hero. By merging history-based storytelling with engaging RPG mechanics, the game successfully offers both educational value and strategic depth.
TwoKang Project, the studio behind the title, was founded by two humanities graduates, Ahn Gyeo-rye and Ko Yong-sung, making their success particularly notable in an industry dominated by STEM backgrounds. The team has already received several accolades, including the G-Rank Challenge Seoul Award, the MCST & KOCCA Outstanding Game Award, and the One Store July Beta Excellence Award.
Ko Yong-sung stated, “We will continue refining our game based on player feedback to create an even more exciting experience,” while Ahn Gyeo-rye added, “Though developing a history-based game wasn’t easy, we take great pride in our work and aim to be a shining example in Korea’s indie scene.”
🔗https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twokang.historydriftgoogle&hl=ko
Pixel Mercenaries, a dot-themed battPixel Art Nostalgia Meets Strategy: Pixel Mercenary Corps
Pixel Mercenary Corps is a pixel-art battle collection RPG where players recruit, train, and lead squads of diverse mercenaries into strategic combat. Combining the nostalgic appeal of retro graphics with the addictive mechanics of modern collection-based RPGs, the game offers deep character customization and dynamic team-building.
Developed by the two-person ENSOUL team, the game stands out for its polish and persistence. Despite its small size, the team successfully implemented the core systems of a full-featured collection RPG—including recruiting, upgrading, and real-time tactical combat. Since launch, the developers have actively addressed player feedback and continuously improved the game’s balance and quality.
🔗https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zc.collection
The Bright Future of Korean Indie Games
Both Chronicles of Chaos and Pixel Mercenary Corps demonstrate how small teams of two or three developers can thrive in Korea’s competitive game market through creativity, focus, and resilience. Their success serves as a testament to the potential of indie developers amid an industry struggling with layoffs and consolidation.
Professor Jung Musik of Gachon University’s Department of Game and Media, who has mentored numerous indie studios through KOCCA’s Creative Talent Commercialization Support Program, commented:
“As the idle RPG genre matures, the emphasis is shifting from technical complexity to creative concepts and trends. Indie developers like those behind Chronicles of Chaos and Pixel Mercenary Corps are proving that originality and teamwork are the true keys to success.”
He further noted that, “Sustained experience in game launches and leveraging the strengths of small, elite teams are critical to survival. Both studios embody persistence, strong teamwork, and creative tenacity that rival veteran developers.”
The recognition of these two titles underscores that indie games can compete on equal footing with larger studios when backed by talent, vision, and passion. Particularly, Chronicles of Chaos—developed by humanities graduates—illustrates that game development is becoming increasingly accessible, opening new doors for creators from diverse backgrounds.
Their selection as Outstanding Games for the second half of 2025 marks a symbolic milestone for the Korean indie game industry and signals a bright future filled with more creative, innovative titles to come.
