Netmarble is set to revive its Korean monster-collecting franchise with Mongil: Star Dive, a sequel to the 2013 mobile RPG Monster Taming, known as Creature Academy in North America. The original game allowed players to explore dungeons, battle enemies, and collect over 150 monsters while forming three-member teams. Monster Taming was a popular title in South Korea, reaching over 10 million downloads before Netmarble ended service in 2023.
Mongil: Star Dive Netmarble's Next Big Hit
Mongil: Star Dive Netmarble's Next Big Hit
With Mongil: Star Dive, Netmarble is expanding the franchise globally. The game will launch on mobile devices, PlayStation 5, and PC, and will include full English voiceovers and individually animated cutscenes. While it will remain free-to-play with optional in-game purchases, the broader platform availability aims to introduce the franchise to a worldwide audience.
Expanding the Monster Taming Universe
The development team at Netmarble Monster focused on preserving the core gameplay of Monster Taming while updating it for modern audiences. Fan-favorite characters such as Cloud, Verna, and Mina return, and players form three-character parties to capture and train monsters.
The story begins with Verna and Cloud encountering a magical creature named Nyanners, whose unique abilities allow them to tame other monsters in the world of Hananis, a European-inspired fantasy land filled with forests, mountains, and cobblestone villages.
Netmarble has designed Hananis to balance a cheerful, lighthearted tone with a more detailed narrative than its predecessor. Additional regions are planned for future updates, allowing for new quests, monsters, and characters.
Mongil: Star Dive Netmarble's Next Big Hit
Character Design and Storytelling
Netmarble has emphasized character expression in Mongil: Star Dive, using an anime-inspired art style enhanced with cel-shading and realistic textures powered by Unreal Engine 5. Characters display a range of facial expressions and animations to convey personality and emotion, helping players connect with the story beyond simple dialogue.
The narrative integrates humor alongside dramatic moments, with Cloud and Verna providing comic relief through dialogue and interactions. Players can recruit additional characters through the in-game gacha system, with each character falling into one of four classes: Destroyer, Brawler, Assassin, or Support. These classifications influence combat strategies and team composition.
Mongil: Star Dive Netmarble's Next Big Hit
Combat Systems and Monster Collection
Mongil: Star Dive features 150 monsters at launch, which players can capture using Nyanners’ abilities. Captured creatures are transformed into Monsterlings, trinkets that can be equipped to provide buffs and enhance characters during battles. Combat is conducted in three-character teams, with non-active members assisting automatically, creating a “party play alone” experience.
The Link Chain system allows Monsterlings to appear directly in combat, adding depth to strategy and enabling creative combinations of characters and monsters. Netmarble developed an in-house tool to manage complex combat mechanics, ensuring flexible and stable interactions across multiple platforms.
Mongil: Star Dive Netmarble's Next Big Hit
Launch Plans and Ongoing Support
At launch, Mongil: Star Dive will feature five main episodes, 120 primary quests, over 200 total missions, and 150 monsters to capture, offering around 30 hours of gameplay. The game has been optimized for mobile, PC, and PS5, with Unreal Engine 5 supporting rendering, memory management, and multi-platform debugging to maintain consistent performance.
Netmarble plans to release content updates regularly, adding new regions inspired by Korean fantasy and sci-fi worlds, along with new monsters, characters, and storylines. Player feedback is an integral part of development, helping guide updates and refinements through closed beta tests and community channels.
Pre-registration is now open on Netmarble’s website, offering special in-game rewards, and the game is available for wishlist on the Epic Games Store.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What platforms will Mongil: Star Dive be available on?
Mongil: Star Dive will launch on mobile devices, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Is Mongil: Star Dive free-to-play?
Yes, the game is free-to-play and offers optional in-game purchases.
How many monsters are in Mongil: Star Dive?
The game features 150 monsters at launch, which players can capture and use as Monsterlings.
Can players recruit new characters?
Yes, characters can be recruited through an in-game gacha system, with each character falling into one of four classes: Destroyer, Brawler, Assassin, or Support.
Will Mongil: Star Dive support multiple languages?
Yes, the game will be available in several languages and includes a full English voiceover.
What is the gameplay style?
The game features three-character party combat, strategic use of Monsterlings, dungeon exploration, and story-driven quests.
Will there be post-launch content?
Yes, Netmarble plans regular updates with new regions, monsters, characters, and story content based on player feedback.
