Between KPop Demon Hunters’ ascendant popularity and the long wait until its sequel (2029 at the earliest), it isn’t surprising to see so many unrelated works trying to bridge the gap (the stylish Kemuri is a good example). Paris-based publisher Microids and developer Old Skull Games’ newly announced rhythm game, K-Pop Rising – Dream To Shine, very much fits this mold.
Coming this November for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC, K-Pop Rising – Dream To Shine centers on an up-and-coming musician trying to climb the ranks of the K-pop scene. The player can customize the main character, down to their outfits and makeup, while recruiting members to form their group. There are also rhythm game sequences that incorporate singing and choreography.
Microids offers the following description of the game:
In K-Pop Rising – Dream to Shine, players immerse themselves in the demanding and fascinating world of modern music. Accompanied by their best friend Nova, they will need to commit 100% to the race for stardom: from intensive training sessions in the studio to the ultimate recognition on the most prestigious stages, the title offers a complete experience combining a sense of rhythm, deep customization, and community management in the era of social media.
It will be interesting to see how K-Pop Rising balances its apparent simulation elements with its rhythm-game sequences, and how fleshed out each part will be. The game’s initial screenshots are mostly focused on its music sections, but there’s also a small look at the UI between gigs and a photo mode.
As for where the allusions to KPop Demon Hunters come into play, beyond the overlapping focus on this music genre, the game centers on a trio of performers (it will have up to three-player co-op). The game’s key art is probably the most blatant “homage,” depicting a trio of pop stars, one who looks a bit like Rumi and another who resembles Zoey. To be fair, at least the whole demon-slaying part is absent.
KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time, having racked up more than 500 million views. It’s the only Netflix title to stay in the streamer’s Global Top 10 for a year straight (the previous record was 20 weeks); it won Oscars for Best Original Song (“Golden”) and for Best Animated Feature; and it landed a Grammy for “Golden.” While it makes perfect sense that studios would try to cash in on the film’s massive success, the movie will be a tough act to follow.
Get ready for a flood of KPop Demon Hunters merchandise in 2026, as toymakers catch up to last year’s animated sensation. New products from Mattel, Lego, and Hasbro are either out or soon on the way.
A new KPop Demon Hunters film is on the way
Could it be a prequel?
