In the weeks before a new world opens, the names come first. Kakao Games has begun inviting players to stake their claim in World of Dokkaebi — a 2.5D MMORPG rooted in Korean web novel lore — ahead of its October 8 launch, with character name reservations opening September 22. The act of naming, ancient and intimate, is here given structure and scarcity, reminding us that even in digital worlds, identity is among the first things we reach for.
Kakao Games opens character reservations for World of Dokkaebi ahead of Oct. 8 launch
Single-character names vanish at midnight; everything else waits until dawn.
Mark
So the name reservation window is split into two phases. Why does that matter?
Mimi
Single-character Korean names are culturally significant and extremely limited. By opening that window for only four hours, Kakao is rewarding players who show up first, but it also prevents a total land grab. After midnight, those names are off the table.
Luke
That's the stated structure, but we don't know how many single-character names exist or how quickly they'll actually fill. It could be a real scarcity or a symbolic gesture.
Mark
What about the game itself—what did the showcase actually show us about how it plays?
Mimi
Combat felt responsive. Park Ji-hoon demonstrated dodge mechanics and raid skills, and the feedback seemed satisfying even though the characters are pixel art. The economy is clean: Gold from PvE content buys power items or cosmetics, but cosmetics don't give stats.
Luke
That's what they demonstrated. We haven't seen how the economy actually holds up under thousands of players, or whether the cosmetic-only approach holds in practice. The showcase is a controlled environment.
Mark
Is there anything surprising about the game's origins?
Mimi
It's built on an existing web novel and webtoon, so there's already an audience. And REDICE Studio, the company behind Solo Leveling, helped shape the visual direction. That's a strong pedigree.
Luke
The IP has an audience, yes. But we don't know how well that translates to MMORPG players, or whether the game's systems will feel fresh or derivative once people are actually playing.
Mark
What's the timeline now?
Mimi
Character reservations open September 22 at 8 PM. Official launch is October 8 at 11 AM. Everything between now and then is final development and service prep.
Luke
That's about two and a half weeks. That's a tight window for any last-minute issues.
The Pulse
- A narrow four-hour window beginning September 22 at 8 PM offers the rarest prize: single-character Korean names like 'Hae' (Sun) or 'Dal' (Moon), culturally resonant identities expected to disappear within minutes.
- After midnight, the rules tighten — only names of two to eight characters will be accepted, permanently closing the door on the most coveted identities for latecomers.
- A live showcase on September 18 put the game's combat, economy, and aesthetic on full display, with actor Park Ji-hoon demonstrating dodge mechanics and raid sequences in real time.
- The game's economy draws a firm line between cosmetics and power — Gold earned through PvE content can buy outfits and mounts, but neither grants any stat advantage, keeping progression clean.
- With the showcase behind them and reservations imminent, Kakao Games and developer Supercat are in final approach toward the October 8 launch at 11 AM.
In the weeks before a new world opens, the names come first. Kakao Games has begun inviting players to stake their claim in World of Dokkaebi — a 2.5D MMORPG rooted in Korean web novel lore — ahead of its October 8 launch, with character name reservations opening September 22. The act of naming, ancient and intimate, is here given structure and scarcity, reminding us that even in digital worlds, identity is among the first things we reach for.
Kakao Games has opened the countdown to World of Dokkaebi, a 2.5D MMORPG set to launch October 8, by inviting players to reserve character names beginning September 22 at 8 PM. The reservation system is tiered by design: during the first four hours, names of any length from one to eight characters are permitted — including single-character Korean names like 'Hae,' 'Dal,' and 'Byeol,' words that carry cultural meaning and are expected to be claimed almost immediately. From 11 AM on September 23 onward, only two-to-eight character names will be accepted, a structure familiar to Korean MMORPG players as a reward for early arrival.
The game itself is built by Supercat and draws from Myeolgwisudojeon, a web novel and webtoon published on Naver with an established readership. Its visual style blends 2D pixel-art characters against 3D backgrounds, a choice meant to evoke Korean aesthetic traditions. Kakao Games partnered with REDICE Studio — the production company behind Solo Leveling — to shape the game's presentation.
A live showcase held September 18 gave the public its clearest look yet at the game's systems. Producer Park Sung-jun, Director Jang Soo-min, and Kakao Games business head Cha Myeong-soo played through content live and answered audience questions. Actor Park Ji-hoon, the game's promotional face, joined to demonstrate combat — dodging, using skills, and moving through a raid — offering candid reactions to the controls and character design.
The economy structure revealed at the showcase reflects a deliberate philosophy: Gold, earned through field bosses, raids, and guild content, funds both character growth and cosmetic purchases. Outfits and mounts, however, carry no stat bonuses — a clear separation between appearance and power meant to keep progression honest. With reservations opening imminently, the October 8 launch is now the only remaining horizon.
Kakao Games has set the stage for World of Dokkaebi to arrive on October 8, and the company is now opening the gates for players to claim their names. Character reservations begin at 8 PM on September 22, marking the formal countdown to launch.
The reservation window carries a deliberate structure. For the first four hours—from 8 PM to midnight on September 22—players can register names of any length between one and eight characters. This opening matters because it permits single-character Korean names like "Hae" (Sun), "Dal" (Moon), and "Byeol" (Star), names that carry cultural weight and will likely vanish within minutes. Starting at 11 AM on September 23, the rules shift: only names between two and eight characters will be accepted, closing off the single-character pool entirely. This tiered approach is common in Korean MMORPGs, a way of honoring players who arrive earliest while still allowing latecomers a reasonable chance at something memorable.
World of Dokkaebi is a 2.5D MMORPG built by Supercat, the studio behind the game. Its visual identity fuses 2D pixel-art characters with 3D backgrounds, a deliberate choice to ground the game in Korean aesthetic sensibilities. The project draws from Myeolgwisudojeon, a web novel and webtoon published on Naver that has already built an audience. Kakao Games collaborated with REDICE Studio, the production company responsible for Solo Leveling, to shape the game's look and feel.
On September 18, Kakao Games held a live showcase to demonstrate what players will encounter. Caster Lena hosted the event, which featured Supercat Producer Park Sung-jun, Director Jang Soo-min, and Kakao Games Head of Business Cha Myeong-soo. The panelists played the game in real time, fielded both pre-submitted and live questions, and walked through the core systems. Actor Park Ji-hoon, the game's promotional face, also took the stage to play, offering his own reactions to the character design, the responsive feel of combat, and the convenience of the controls. He demonstrated dodge mechanics and skills during a raid sequence, showing how the game's combat flows despite its retro visual style.
The economy structure revealed during the showcase reflects a deliberate philosophy about progression and cosmetics. Players earn the in-game currency Gold through field bosses, raids, and guild content—what the industry calls PvE activities. That Gold buys growth items that advance your character's power, as well as cosmetic outfits and mounts. Kakao Games has made a clear choice here: outfits and mounts carry no stat bonuses. They are purely visual. This separation between cosmetics and progression is a design decision meant to keep the game's power curve clean and prevent cosmetic spending from becoming a shortcut to strength.
With the showcase complete, Kakao Games is now in the final stretch of development and service preparation. The October 8 launch at 11 AM is the target. Character reservations, beginning in less than a day, are the first tangible step players can take toward entry.
Notable Quotes
Outfits and mounts do not provide stats related to character progression, maintaining a clear separation between growth and cosmetic customization elements.— Kakao Games (via showcase demonstration)
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