- On December 11th, the results of a survey of 10,000 people across 10 major game export markets were released.
- 61.2% of K-game users favor Korean products, indicating a positive attitude toward their choice.
- Battlegrounds dominates globally, while the top two regional titles are fiercely contested among platform-leading titles.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Choi Hwi-young) and the Korea Creative Content Agency (Acting President Yoo Hyeon-seok, hereinafter referred to as KOCCA) published the report, “2025 Survey of Korean Game Users in Overseas Markets,” on December 11, which analyzed the usage trends of Korean games among overseas users.
This survey was conducted on foreigners living abroad who have played Korean games within the past year, and comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of service usage, changes in usage, and regional usage trends of each country using a sample of 10,000 people from 10 countries.
◆ Game selection is based on ‘atmosphere and emotional factors’, and continued use is based on ‘growth and reinforcement structure’
Over half (58.2%) of overseas users perceive the games they play as “Korean,” and 61.2% of them said the perception of Korean origin positively influenced their game selection. In Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and India, the positive response was particularly high, reaching 70-80%, with positive responses outnumbering negative responses in all surveyed regions.
While overseas Korean gamers viewed “atmosphere and emotional elements,” such as graphics, characters, and narrative, as key criteria for choosing a game, they responded that the area most in need of improvement in Korean games was “growth and reinforcement structure.” In other words, while overseas users choose games for their engaging atmosphere, the high difficulty and repetitive nature of Korean games are gradually reducing their engagement.
◆ Confirmation of regional game preferences, clear differences in play styles such as multiplayer and single
The most popular Korean game overseas is the global intellectual property (IP)-based series, which occupies the top spot in most regions. ▲Crossfire ranked first in China, India, Vietnam, and Brazil, ▲The Finals in the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and ▲MapleStory in Japan and Taiwan. Other top-ranked games include , , , , and
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An examination of gaming usage trends revealed a clear preference for multiplayer games in China, India, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while a relatively high preference for single-player games was observed in Japan, the United States, Brazil, and France. The report also analyzed various user characteristics, including ▲competitive and goal-achieving tendencies ▲preference for new and existing games ▲single-player and multiplayer game usage patterns ▲preference for non-paying versus paying games.
These analysis results demonstrate that game usage tendencies differ depending on regional usage environments and cultural backgrounds, suggesting the need for customized game structures and operational strategies that reflect regional characteristics when entering the global market.
KOCCA Acting President Yoo Hyeon-seok said, “Korean games are now established as a cultural experience in many parts of the world, and the influence of K-content is expanding even more, especially with high-quality graphics and an attractive worldview.” He added, “KOCCA will continue to closely analyze demand, exit factors, and cultural environments by country to lay the foundation for our companies to grow, and we will actively reflect the opinions of overseas users in our industrial policies and support projects.”
The 2025 Overseas Market Korean Game User Survey Report is available for anyone to view on the KOCCA website ( www.kocca.kr ).
