It is rare to see a title climb into the mid-30s while still in an alpha state. NEXON has managed exactly that with its new extraction shooter, 'Nakwon: Last Paradise' (hereinafter Nakwon). Despite being a mere test of core mechanics, the event that kicked off on the 12th has drawn significant attention. Considering it didn't even crack the top 50 during its first test in December 2023, this is quite a leap for an alpha test.

Nakwon is a zombie survival game set in a modern-day Seoul. It is a setting rarely seen in the genre, and the developers have managed to flesh out the narrative and unique features that were missing in previous builds. The concept of surviving against zombies—and other players—amidst the familiar, neon-drenched signs of Korea has clearly struck a chord with the local crowd, proving the appeal of the 'K-zombie apocalypse survival' theme.

Moreover, since the release of ARC Raiders last October, the appetite for the extraction genre in Korea has grown significantly. Many players have been quick to compare the two, with the consensus being that Nakwon offers a much more hardcore experience. Even with the genre's notoriously high barrier to entry, it seems the ground prepared by ARC Raiders has made gamers far more receptive to what Nakwon is offering.

As noted, Nakwon is still in its infancy, so it is a long way from a full release. However, in a market now increasingly familiar with extraction shooters, nailing that 'modern Seoul zombie' aesthetic has proven to be a masterstroke for visibility. Whether this test result will translate into a genuine powerhouse under the NEXON banner remains the big question.

We have seen Diablo series titles surge with new seasonal updates before, but this feels different. Diablo 4 has climbed 10 spots to return to the TOP 20 this week, fueled by the Season 12 launch on the 12th. By allowing players to embody the terrifying Butcher and adding a collaboration with 'DOOM: The Dark Ages'—which shares the 'demon slaying' theme—they have injected a level of heat the game has not seen in a while.

Since last December, Diablo 4 has been in a relatively stable state. Whether it was the introduction of the Paladin or just steady updates, it held onto the low 30s quite well even toward the end of the season. After a rather rocky start back in June 2023, the team seems to have finally found its footing. With a new expansion slated for April, a return to the TOP 10 is looking like a very real possibility.

In the upper echelons, PUBG has finally edged out Aion 2 to reclaim a spot in the TOP 5 for the first time in six weeks. Celebrating its 9th anniversary with a fresh update on the 12th certainly helped stir the pot. Since its early access launch on March 23, 2017, PUBG has defined the battle royale genre and put Steam on the map in Korea. Even now, its record of 3.25 million concurrent players remains an untouchable benchmark nearly a decade later.

Down in the lower ranks, Arknights: Endfield has clawed its way back to 31st place. An update on the 12th overhauled the growth and construction systems—major pain points at launch—and introduced two new characters. PC bang traffic saw a massive spike, suggesting a solid chunk of the player base has returned to the fold. Now the real test begins: can it maintain this momentum after a rough February?