Netmarble and Kong Studios have officially revealed Guardian Tales Dig Dot, the first mobile spin-off set in the Guardian Tales universe. The casual roguelite is being built for mobile platforms with a global launch targeted for 2027. The announcement confirms the official title and key art for the project previously known under the codename Project Octopus.
If you want the short version, Dig Dot keeps the pixel art identity of the original while shifting the formula toward mine exploration, deck building and run based combat. Each descent into the mine plays out differently based on the heroes you recruit, and progress between runs feeds into town growth systems. Readers who follow independent reporting from Inven Global will recognize the core details, and this guide breaks down what each one means for players waiting on the 2027 release.
Quick Facts
- Title: Guardian Tales Dig Dot
- Developer: Kong Studios
- Publisher: Netmarble with a global publishing agreement signed in November 2025
- Genre: Casual roguelite with deck building and character combinations
- Platforms: Mobile
- Release window: 2027 global launch on mobile platforms
- Original game: Guardian Tales, released in 2020, with around 41 million downloads and approximately 600 billion won in lifetime revenue
From Project Octopus to Dig Dot
The road to this reveal started in November 2025 when Netmarble signed a global publishing agreement with Kong Studios for a project then known only as Project Octopus. With the November 6 announcement, that codename is now retired and the official title is confirmed as Guardian Tales Dig Dot. The reveal included key art that introduces the main characters who will lead the story of the new title.
This is the first spin-off in the Guardian Tales franchise, which makes the naming choice important. The title merges Dig, a reference to excavating earth inside an underground mine, with Dot, a nod to the pixel art graphics that defined the original game. According to Netmarble announcement coverage from Chosun Biz, the mine setting and the retained dot art style form the core concept of the game, so the name functions as a direct summary of what players will see on screen.
Mine Exploration Meets Deck Building
Dig Dot is set inside an uncharted mine, and that location shapes every part of the design. The game is a casual roguelite with simple controls, built around recruiting heroes, combining characters and assembling decks before each run. No two dives play out the same way, so players must adjust strategies based on which heroes join the team and which cards come together during a run.
Between dives, town growth systems give each run a longer tail. Progress made underground feeds back into a town that develops over time, which rewards players who keep returning even when a single run ends badly. That loop of exploration, defeat, growth and another attempt sits at the center of the roguelite structure and keeps the stakes clear without demanding long play sessions.
The emphasis on short sessions matters for a mobile audience. Simple controls lower the barrier for players who never touched a roguelite, while deck building and character combinations give experienced players room to plan. Fans of the genre can also read our preview of the Kazfall roguelite dungeon crawler for another take on run based combat. The pixel art presentation keeps the visual link to Guardian Tales intact, so longtime fans should feel at home even as the genre shifts.
A 41 Million Download Legacy to Build On
The original Guardian Tales launched in 2020 as a mobile role playing game and grew into one of the most durable titles in its class. As of late July 2026, the game had reached approximately 600 billion won in cumulative global revenue alongside around 41 million cumulative mobile downloads. Its mix of pixel art graphics, story driven content and puzzle elements earned it a loyal audience across South Korea, Japan and China.
Kong Studios carries that history into the spin-off. The studio is known for the mobile adventure role playing game Guardian Tales as well as the earlier mobile puzzle role playing game Dungeon Link, so the team has deep experience with the exact blend of approachable systems and long term progression that Dig Dot needs. Netmarble handles global publishing, continuing a partnership that began with the Project Octopus agreement. The publisher stays active on mobile, as shown by our coverage of the Netmarble VAMPIR global launch.
The timing also fits a wider push at the publisher. On the same day as the Dig Dot reveal, Netmarble announced WB All-Star Mayhem, an idle collection role playing game in development at its North American subsidiary Kabam, as noted in same day lineup reporting from Edaily. Dig Dot stands as the core gamer entry in that slate while the Kabam title targets collection focused players.
What to Watch Before the 2027 Launch
With the title and key art now public, the next milestones to watch are gameplay footage, closed testing dates and the confirmed launch regions for the global release. Netmarble has committed to a 2027 mobile launch window, and further details on service regions and scheduling should follow as development progresses. Players who want to revisit the world that started it all can still jump into the original Guardian Tales on mobile while waiting for the mine doors to open.
When does Guardian Tales Dig Dot launch
Netmarble targets a global mobile launch in 2027. The official title and key art were revealed on November 6, 2026, and service regions plus exact scheduling will be announced at a later date.
What kind of game is Guardian Tales Dig Dot
It is a casual roguelite for mobile with simple controls, deck building and character combinations. Players explore an underground mine where each run offers fresh combat, and town growth systems progress between runs.
What does the name Dig Dot mean
Dig refers to excavating earth in the mine setting and Dot refers to the pixel art graphics carried over from the original game. Together the words summarize the core concept of mine exploration with a dot art aesthetic.
How successful is the original Guardian Tales
The 2020 mobile role playing game passed around 41 million cumulative downloads and approximately 600 billion won in cumulative global revenue as of late July 2026. It found strong audiences in South Korea, Japan and China.
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