Kesera Games (CEO Jaehyun Park) announced that it will release the Early Access version of ‘Nientum – Opus Zero’, a 2D action adventure game that combines platformer, runner, and rhythm action, on Steam on the 24th.
The debut game ‘Kalpa’ pioneered a new genre of rhythm games.
Kesera Games, a startup that started with the dream of becoming “the leading rhythm game company in Korea,” has already released its previous work, “Kalpa,” which has recorded 1.5 million downloads as a traditional rhythm game and is currently in service. It has also completed a PC port through crowdfunding. Recently, it released a PC port of Kalpa on Steam as an early access, and achieved good results of 130 million won in Tumblbug crowdfunding conducted just before the release.
The next installment of the original game system, Niantum – Opus Zero
‘Nientum – Opus Zero’ is a rhythm action game with an original system that combines musical and theatrical production with rhythm interaction. Gamers will restore plays based on familiar fairy tales and myths such as ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘The Tale of the Princess Kaguya’, and ‘Cinderella’ one by one in a huge theater world where a twisted story unfolds centered around two girls ‘Aleph’ and ‘Liola’ who have lost their memories.
CEO Park Jae-hyun said, “Rhythm games allow for incredibly fun interactions with music, but many of the current rhythm games on the market have structures that appear overly difficult at first glance.” He added, “We created Nientum with the goal of making it possible for anyone to enjoy the very act of playing a rhythm game.”
The most important thing we focused on when making the game was to make it not look like a traditional rhythm game, so that the game could feel like a platformer, adventure, exploration, or action, but the basic play experience itself was maintained in the structure of taking actions to the beat of the music and having consequences based on those actions.
Musical-like production and gameplay
Offstage, the play progresses through platform action to find and reconcile broken notes (gems). Onstage, the stage sets are manipulated in real time to accompany the music, completing the music and scenes. Backstage, broken notes are reconciled and the music restored. Onstage, the stage sets are manipulated to advance the play, and the backstage and upstage combine to complete the play.
Additionally, the latter half of the game includes a boss battle presented in the form of a singing competition, maximizing dramatic tension and immersion.
Combining the visuals of a musical stage with the production that resembles a side-scrolling action sequence, the game not only maintains a refined narrative but also creates a rich, full-screen experience. Unlike typical rhythm games, where you input keystrokes in time with descending notes, you ride notes left and right in response to the character’s automatic forward movement.
“Nientum” doesn’t simply focus on perfectly performing a single song; it showcases a stage performance style that flows like a one-act play. As a rhythm game emphasizing narrative, the production itself is dreamlike and mystical. The paper-art-like background and the harmony of objects, each melodic line, hint at the girls’ extraordinary future ahead.
Recognition of artistic quality both domestically and internationally
Since the release of the DEMO version in 2024, ‘Nientum – Opus Zero’ has received recognition for its quality both domestically and internationally, including winning the BIC Excellence in Audio award, the Audience Choice Award at the Gamescom Asia 2024 Indie Wavemakers event awards ceremony, and being selected for Google Indie Game Accelerator.
The demo version was exhibited at the 2024 Play Expo and Busan Indie Connect Festival, attracting much attention from visitors. On October 14, 2024, the demo version was released on Steam and participated in Steam Next Fest. On November 16 and 17, the demo booth was exhibited at G-Star 2024, and from November 29 to December 1, it participated in Burning Beaver held at DDP in Seoul.
In addition, at the 2025 G-Star held this year, the company presented a new genre that combined platformer action with rhythm games, and received favorable reviews for maximizing the concepts of Märchen (fairy tale) and ‘play’ in its gameplay and direction.
Crowdfunding success and expectations
Additionally, the crowdfunding campaign through Tumblbug raised 35 million won, raising expectations for the early access launch.
Joo Sung-pil, chairman of the BIC Festival Organizing Committee, said, “At this year’s Gamescom Asia, domestic indie game developers have proven their worth by receiving good reviews in overseas markets. In particular, the award for ‘Nientum-Opus Zero’ will be an important example of the achievements of the Big Jam project.” He added, “We will continue to provide various support measures so that excellent indie game developers can continue to be active on the global stage.”
Full dubbing and a stellar voice cast
This Early Access version will include full dubbing that was not shown in the original DEMO, and the main participating voice actors are as follows.
- ‘Aleph’ role , CV) Chika Anzai
- Role of ‘Riora’ , CV) Takada Yuuki (たかだ ゆうき, Takada Yuuki)
- ‘Mordred’ role , CV) Takehito Koyasu
Additionally, the director’s office, which collects collectible elements while completing a play, and the rhythm game free play content that condenses the know-how of Kesera Games are prepared.
Park Jae-hyun, CEO of Kesera Games, said, “Nientum is a work planned to lower the entry barrier of the rhythm game genre and allow anyone to naturally experience the joy of acting to the beat of music.” He added, “We plan to show a new rhythm action that allows players to immerse themselves in the story and performance together through musical-like emotional production, so we ask for your interest.”
Steam Store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2725250/Nientum__OpZERO/
