Given the meteoric success of KPop Demon Hunters and the extended wait for its follow-up—slated for 2029 at the earliest—it’s hardly surprising to see various projects emerging to fill the void. Stylish titles like Kemuri have already set the stage, and now, Paris-based publisher Microids and developer Old Skull Games are throwing their hat into the ring with a newly unveiled rhythm title: K-Pop Rising – Dream To Shine.
<p>Arriving this November on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC, <em>K-Pop Rising – Dream To Shine</em> casts players as an aspiring artist navigating the cutthroat K-pop industry. The experience allows for extensive customization, letting users curate their character's appearance, from couture outfits to makeup, while scouting talent to assemble their own signature group. The gameplay core revolves around high-energy rhythm sequences that blend vocal performances with intricate choreography.</p>
<div class="display-card video large no-badge">
<div class="w-adsninja-video-player">
<div class="an-ignore">
<div class="adsninja-video-player emaki-video-player emaki-video-player-07dd66bc69c0d502" id="emaki-video-player-07dd66bc69c0d502">
<script>
window.valstream = window.valstream || {};
window.valstream.queue = window.valstream.queue || [];
window.valstream.queue.push(function(){
const fallbackContent = `<button class="prem-player-close">x</button>
<video class="adsninja-video-player" id='emaki_video-07dd66bc69c0d502' poster="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/k-pop-rising-dream-to-shine-keyart.jpg?fit=crop&w=1024&h=576" controls >
<source src="https://video.polygonimages.com/2026/07/k-pop-rising-reveal-teaser-1782922613.mp4" type="video/mp4">
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>`;
const fallbackToNativePlayer = function(){
const container = document.getElementById('emaki-video-player-07dd66bc69c0d502');
if(container) container.innerHTML = fallbackContent;
};
if(!window.an || typeof window.an.monetizeVideo !== 'function'){
fallbackToNativePlayer();
} else {
window.an.monetizeVideo('.emaki-video-player-07dd66bc69c0d502', JSON.parse(`{"name":"Instream-InContent","groupName":"content"}`), JSON.parse(`{"trackingId":"in-content","playlist":[{"title":"K-POP Rising - Reveal Teaser","description":"","length":"0:35","mimeType":"video/mp4","url":"https://video.polygonimages.com/2026/07/k-pop-rising-reveal-teaser-1782922613.mp4","thumbnailLink":"https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/k-pop-rising-dream-to-shine-keyart.jpg?fit=crop&w=1024&h=576","textTracks":[{"kind":"subtitles","label":"English","language":"en","url":"https://video.polygonimages.com/2026/07/k-pop-rising-reveal-teaser-1782922613-1782922834.vtt","default":false}]}]}`)).catch(fallbackToNativePlayer);
}
});
</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Microids provides the following insight into the gameplay experience:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In <em>K-Pop Rising - Dream to Shine</em>, players are thrust into the demanding, glamorous world of professional music. Alongside their confidante, Nova, they must commit entirely to the pursuit of stardom. From grueling studio practice sessions to performing on the industry's most iconic stages, the game offers a comprehensive simulation that balances rhythmic precision, deep customization, and the realities of managing a social media presence.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It remains to be seen how effectively <em>K-Pop Rising</em> will harmonize its simulation mechanics with the rhythmic gameplay loops, and how much depth each mode will ultimately offer. While initial visuals highlight the musical performances, they also offer a glimpse into the between-gig interface and a dedicated photo mode.</p>
<p>Regarding the visual nods to <em>KPop Demon Hunters</em>, the influence goes beyond shared musical themes. The game focuses on a trio of performers and supports three-player co-op. The promotional artwork is a clear homage, featuring three pop stars whose designs echo Rumi and Zoey—though, thankfully, the demon-slaying intensity has been left out.</p>
<p><em>KPop Demon Hunters</em> currently stands as Netflix’s most-watched film to date, amassing over 500 million views. It remains the only project in the platform's history to maintain a position in the Global Top 10 for a full year, smashing previous records. Coupled with Academy Award wins for Best Original Song (“Golden”) and Best Animated Feature, as well as a Grammy, the film has set a dauntingly high bar for any successor.</p>
<p>Expect to see a wave of <em>KPop Demon Hunters</em> merchandise flooding the market in 2026 as manufacturers capitalize on last year’s cultural phenomenon, with new lines from Lego, Mattel, and Hasbro hitting shelves soon.</p>
<div class="display-card article article-card small no-badge active-content" id="kpop-demon-hunters-new-movie-debut-release" data-nosnippet>
<img width="440" height="248" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Three women, Zoey, Rumi and Mira, from KPOP Demon Hunters strike a pose with fantasy weapons." src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/KPop-Demon-Hunters-Netflix.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=220&h=124&dpr=2">
<span class="article-card-label"><label>Related</label></span>
<div class="w-display-card-content regular article-block">
<h5 class="display-card-title">A new KPop Demon Hunters film is on the way</h5>
<p class="display-card-excerpt">Could it be a prequel?</p>
<div class="w-display-card-extra">
<div class="total-info extra-comments">
<label class="total-info-label">Posts</label>
<span class="num">27</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Source: Polygon
