Chinese Myths in Mobile Games: Two Visual Themes to Look Out for

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Approximately 37% of the top 100 mobile games in China utilize Chinese folklore, myths, or historical events as their core narrative setting.
02
Modern settings are significantly less prevalent in the Chinese top 100, appearing in only 21% of the analyzed games.
03
The novel 'Journey to the West' is a primary source for fantasy-oriented mobile games, often featuring characters like the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in titles such as NetEase’s 'Fantasy Westward Journey'.
04
The 'Three Kingdoms' era is a dominant historical theme for strategy and RPG titles, focusing on politics and large-scale warfare, as seen in games like 'Junior Three Kingdoms' and 'Legend of Yulong'.
05
Developers often favor historical and fantasy themes to minimize the risk of addressing 'sensitive' modern topics in the Chinese market.
06
Western developers can increase cultural resonance with Chinese audiences by incorporating folklore-inspired elements, such as limited-time character skins, into their live events.

Summary

Chinese mobile gaming is heavily influenced by domestic folklore, mythology, and historical narratives, which serve as foundational elements for a significant portion of the market's top-performing titles. Analysis of the top 100 grossing mobile games in China reveals that 37 percent utilize these cultural themes as primary source material, compared to only 21 percent that employ a modern setting. This preference for historical and fantasy-oriented themes is attributed to their ability to provide a stable, culturally resonant environment that minimizes the risk of encountering regulatory sensitivities.

Two specific themes dominate this landscape: the 16th-century novel Journey to the West and the historical Three Kingdoms era. Journey to the West, which chronicles the travels of the monk Xuan Zang and his supernatural companions, including the Monkey King, is frequently adapted into fantasy-heavy MMORPGs featuring demons and spirits. Conversely, games based on the Three Kingdoms period often adopt a more realistic aesthetic, focusing on political intrigue, military strategy, and large-scale warfare. These narratives function similarly to Western archetypes like King Arthur or Robin Hood, providing a recognizable framework for developers.

The findings suggest that integrating these cultural touchstones—even in limited capacities, such as through character skins or event-based content—is a strategic approach for developers aiming to engage the Chinese audience. While the market remains sensitive to certain topics, the prevalence of these themes underscores their enduring popularity and commercial viability within the region's mobile gaming sector.