DokeV: everything we know so far

DokeV is an upcoming creature-collecting adventure similar to Pokemon, only this time set in a bright and colorful open world.

Its charming art style and adorable premise seem poised to bring us a dynamic action-adventure title, one that could rival other games like Pokémon when it finally gets a more concrete release date.

Our last significant look at DokeV was at GamesCom Opening Night Live 2021. Pearl Abyss showcased a vibrant world and various characters, including unique anthropomorphic animal creatures that drew inspiration from Korean folklore. It looked promising at the time, but more recently, DokeV has apparently been pushed back to at least 2024.

However, that’s not all there is to this Korean adventure. Below, we’ve rounded up everything we know so far about DokeV, including the current release date window, known gameplay features, combat mechanics, and more.

DokeV Release Date  

There is no exact release date for DokeV yet, but Pearl Abyss recently confirmed that the game will not hit its planned 2023 release window. DokeV is currently set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. We don’t know yet if it’s coming to both current and next-gen platforms, but there’s also a chance we’ll see it coming to PS4 and Xbox One as well. 

DokeV is an open world action adventure and not an MMO

When DokeV was originally released in 2019, it was marketed as an MMO. After the trailer was released during Opening Night Live,  Pearl Abyss confirmed  that the game is now officially an open-world action-adventure, suggesting that the game went in a different direction at some point during development. 

Just to clarify about #DokeV:

MMO ❌
Open World Action Adventure ✔️

— DokeV (@DokeVGame) August 25, 2021

In this expansive and eye-catching world, lead producer Sangyoung Kim explained in an interview that Pearl Abyss wanted to create a world that felt familiar and similar to reality, including aspects of Korean culture. “Instead of making everything feel new, we wanted it to feel familiar,” Kim said. “And instead of feeling like you’re playing in a virtual world, we wanted to give the feeling that the world is similar to reality. We are also trying to add a lot of metaverse elements as well as a lot of aspects of Korean culture into DokeV. We are currently contemplating and planning how these items can be added to various parts of the game.”

DokeV features creatures known as Dokebi  

Creature collecting plays an important role in the gameplay and story of DokeV. As we’ve seen in recent trailers and footage during showcases, there are many different types of creatures inhabiting the world, from large robot-like animals to anthropomorphic dogs and alarm clocks. These cute creatures are known as Dokebi, and are said to be “spirit-like entities that appear in traditional Korean folk tales” and gain powers from people’s dreams. 

“People have many dreams, and the Dokebi ponder how to make them come true,” Kim explained. “They inspire courage and sometimes unintentionally cause trouble, but they are fun friends.” 

Dokebi sound pretty magical and as you progress through the adventure you will find and be able to collect more and more of them. As Kim continues to point out, special events for Dokebi can appear when specific requirements are meet and there will also be unique stories to play through and collect.

What is the story about in DokeV?  

We don’t have too many specific details about DokeV’s history, but as mentioned above, we do know that creature collecting is at the center of it all. While the adventure revolves around Dokebi, you’ll also find yourself embarking on a variety of adventures in the world, where you’ll meet many different NPCs who have their own stories to tell. Along the way, you’ll be able to help them with their problems and learn more about them. 

DokeV allows you to travel the world in various ways

With a lot of freedom in the open-world environment, one of the most exciting things to show off in recent gameplay footage was undoubtedly the many ways you can explore in DokeV. From a tiny car to riding on the back of a Llama, there seems to be no shortage of fun ways to get around. But, as game designer Changkee Nam explains, there will be challenges to complete to get your hands on the “many different methods of transportation.” 

“It’s not just about the amount of stuff you can assemble; we’re also making the challenge of acquiring them a lot of fun,” Nam said, “and the sense of accomplishment of getting them really worthwhile and fulfilling.” 

DokeV gameplay and combat

In addition to creature collecting and stylish exploration, DokeV will also include different mini-games and quests, along with combat. There are also said to be some customization elements, like being able to choose your character’s outfit. We still don’t know much about the different quests and mini-games you get caught up in, but Pearl Abyss said during the Future Games Show that there’s a “great variety of games,” so it’ll be exciting to see more of them.

In terms of combat, the Dokebi will fight alongside you against Pokemon-like opponents. From the gameplay we’ve seen so far, it looks like you’ll have a variety of moves to dodge attacks, as well as a bunch of different cartoony weapons to try out, like a giant novelty hammer and a shark-shaped gun that looks like it shoots confetti out of nowhere. 

“We tried to embody the style of action in Pearl Abyss, while at the same time putting a lot of effort into making it a style that could be enjoyed by a wider audience,” said Nam. “We want players to be able to move in a variety of ways that allow them to engage in combat openly and freely, with slightly exaggerated comical expressions, and be able to attack opponents with their Dokebi friends.”