Vortex Gaming

If you were to ask someone who has never played Goddess of Victory: Nikke, 'Who is the most famous character?', what would they say? 'Hongryeon' wielding a sword on a gunpowder-filled battlefield? Or 'Modernia,' loved for her deep narrative and cute design?

Neither. The answer is 'Doro,' also known as 'Dororong.'

The initial reactions of players who see Dororong for the first time are generally similar. 'What kind of creature is that?', 'Why is this character so popular?' I had the same thoughts.

But as time passed, many users were drawn to an unknown addiction and were soon 'Dorofied,' all shouting 'Doro' together. And not just in Korea, but worldwide. Currently, it has been released as a KakaoTalk emoticon and has appeared in a collaboration video with 'Stellar Blade,' actively utilized in official content.

Like this, Dororong, a suspicious character that has 'Dorofied' everyone. What is its identity, and how did it start and become such a powerful meme?

※ Very mild spoilers related to Nikke and Stellar Blade are included.

#. The original form of Dororong is Dorothy, the main character with a sad story!

This strange creature (?) called 'Doro' or 'Dororong' started from a secondary creation that expressed Nikke's core character 'Dorothy' in SD (Super Deformed) form. Dorothy is a central figure in the main story, a character who left a strong impression with her extreme narrative.

But users, unlike this heavy narrative, turned Dorothy into 'Dororong.' Dorothy gradually diverged into a new creature (?) named Dororong.

Dororong is endlessly bright and cute, contrasting with Dorothy's heavy and dark setting. This gap may be one of the secrets to Dororong's popularity.

#. The origin of 'Doro-fication' is surprisingly not Nikke, but another game!

The character that became the motif for Dororong is Dorothy. So, where did Dororong originate?

Interestingly, the origin of Dororong does not come from within Nikke, but from a completely different game. It is said to have started from an emoji called '댕*콘' that was popular in a domestic game community. You could say it's Dororong's mother (?).

Later, the '뜌땨콘' emoticon series became popular, and a similar format appeared in the Nikke community, and Dorothy was naturally incorporated into this trend. In the end, Dorothy's unique character, combined with the memes of 댕*콘 and 뜌땨콘, developed among fans, and the character of Dororong as it is now was completed.

#. And what about Dororong now? A 'symbol' representing Nikke that has spread globally

Dororong now has recognition beyond a simple humor character. Dororong's popularity is better overseas than in Korea. In particular, fan content using Dororong is actively created on Chinese Bilibili and blabla, and American Reddit. Some fans say, 'I don't know Nikke, but I know Dororong.'

#. Active push even from the officials! Dororong is already 'official'

Dororong, which was once considered just a fan joke, has now become an official character that frequently appears in Nikke's official content. In addition to April Fool's Day content, various event videos, illustrations, and recently at the 2.5th anniversary event, even a derivative form called 'Serorong (Little Mermaid Siren + Dororong)' has appeared and is active.

In a developer interview, there was mention that Dororong 'could affect the original character Dorothy, so we are cautious.' Looking at the expansion, it seems like they are utilizing and enjoying it more actively than anyone else.

#. Numerous Dororongs being mass-produced even in reality!

Dororong is appearing in various forms beyond the in-game. From official merchandise to KakaoTalk emoticons, it has been released. Some merchandise is so popular that it is causing out-of-stock situations.

#. Dororong infiltrated even Stellar Blade, how far will its influence go?

Stellar Blade is a AAA-class action RPG developed by Shift Up, the developer of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, and has received much attention for its unique gameplay, attractive characters, and narrative. The two games share a post-apocalyptic world, and they also have several things in common in that beautiful female characters are at the forefront.

Recently, a collaboration between the two games was announced, and the Nikke collaboration teaser video released by Stellar Blade a while ago received much praise for its high quality. Nikke's unique combat direction was naturally implemented in Stellar Blade's visual style, and the appearance of 'Hongryeon,' which was elaborately depicted at a level that transcended the original, became a big issue among Nikke fans.

But the real topic was at the end of the video. Yes, it was Dororong. The scene of Dororong, realized in 3D, moving and filling the screen, instantly focused the attention of fans and even made them forget all the impressive scenes throughout the video.

Like this, Dororong already feels like it has been created into something completely new (?) beyond the game Nikke. How far will Dororong spread? It is difficult to estimate the end at this time.

웹진 인벤양예찬 기자
2025-05-27