Link to GameDonga article
Developed under an IP licensing agreement with Sanrio Korea, ACT Games’ new title “Hello Kitty My Dream Store” is rapidly gaining traction in the global market.
This merge puzzle game features pastel-toned graphics and over 30 Sanrio characters, offering visual delight and gameplay charm. Beyond simple expansion, players can customize both the interior and exterior of their shopping town, adding a unique layer of fun. The game has already proven its success by ranking No. 1 in the merge puzzle genre in Japan.
Notably, the game was selected as a featured title in KOCCA’s Korea Game Roadshow booth at the 2025 Tokyo Game Show (TGS), drawing significant attention.
So what’s driving the growth of “Hello Kitty My Dream Store”? We spoke with CEO Jung Sei-jin at TGS to learn more about the game’s success and future vision.
Q. What kind of game is “Hello Kitty My Dream Store”?
It’s a mobile title based on the merge puzzle genre, developed and serviced under an IP license agreement with Sanrio Korea. Players decorate a shopping town alongside 30+ Sanrio characters rendered in pastel graphics. Since the Season 2 update, users can now customize exterior spaces as well, creating more attractive towns. Our fast development cycle allows us to deliver regular events and new content, boosting user satisfaction.
Q. Can you briefly introduce your backgrounds?
(Jung Sei-jin, CEO) I’ve spent over 30 years in manufacturing, service, and gaming industries. I previously served as CEO of Mybi and Kyungnam Energy, and now lead Nepstone Holdings and Nepstone Partners, while building a sustainable growth model at ACT Games.
(Chang Hyo-sik, PD) I’ve worked in the gaming industry for over 20 years, leading projects like “Rohan Online” (Playwith Korea), “Full House Casino,” and “Play Vegas” (Me2On). For this project, I’ve focused on balancing Sanrio IP with merge puzzle mechanics to create a globally competitive game.
Q. What kind of company is ACT Games?
Founded in 2019, ACT Games has partnered with various global IP companies to develop and service casual games. Each studio has around 20 members, including veterans from Nexon, NCSoft, and Wemade. These teams naturally integrate IP appeal into gameplay and foster creative development through a horizontal, collaborative culture. We plan to continue launching competitive IP-based games in both domestic and international markets.
Q. What are your milestones and update plans?
Since our grand launch in February, the game has been consistently featured on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store worldwide. In September 2025, we added Halloween-themed content and decorations. October will bring a new plaza customization event, and November will feature a winter-themed update. We’ll continue offering seasonal content and events to keep players engaged.
Q. What are your achievements and unique strengths so far?
We ranked No. 1 in the merge puzzle genre in Japan and outperformed global titles like Merge Mansion and Gossip Harbor in early revenue and key metrics. By managing development, operations, and marketing in-house, we’ve laid the foundation for long-term success.
We’ve studied various merge games but enhanced the experience with Sanrio’s identity-driven artwork and customization features, offering something truly different.
Q. How is ACT Games evolving?
ACT is more than a game developer—we’re building a sustainable content ecosystem based on global IP. In 2025, “Hello Kitty My Dream Store” is receiving positive feedback in Asia, North America, and Europe. In October, we’ll officially launch our Transformers IP game in Japan. We expect strong revenue growth in 2026. ACT is no longer a fledgling Korean studio—it’s a rising global player.
Q. What sets ACT apart competitively?
We don’t just license famous IPs—we secure top-tier global IPs and evolve them into community-driven fandom games. All decisions are data-driven, and our services are user-centric. For us, long-term fan engagement matters more than short-term revenue. That’s what makes us different.
Q. What does ACT Games look like five years from now?
After establishing a global foundation with Hello Kitty in 2025 and Transformers in 2026, we plan to expand both our original IP and global pipeline from 2027 onward. ACT will evolve into a comprehensive entertainment company centered on global fandom and IP—not just a game studio.
Q. What’s the current status of publishing and investment?
We’re currently self-publishing and servicing globally. At TGS, our main goal is to strengthen networking with global IP companies beyond Japan and the U.S. On public days, we’re focused on meeting local users and promoting the game directly.
Q. Any final message for players?
We’ll continue our rapid growth and add more Sanrio characters and fun content. We’ll keep listening to our users and updating the game to become a global top-tier title in the “Character IP × Casual Game” space.
Link to GameDonga article
Developed under an IP licensing agreement with Sanrio Korea, ACT Games’ new title “Hello Kitty My Dream Store” is rapidly gaining traction in the global market.
This merge puzzle game features pastel-toned graphics and over 30 Sanrio characters, offering visual delight and gameplay charm. Beyond simple expansion, players can customize both the interior and exterior of their shopping town, adding a unique layer of fun. The game has already proven its success by ranking No. 1 in the merge puzzle genre in Japan.
Notably, the game was selected as a featured title in KOCCA’s Korea Game Roadshow booth at the 2025 Tokyo Game Show (TGS), drawing significant attention.
So what’s driving the growth of “Hello Kitty My Dream Store”? We spoke with CEO Jung Sei-jin at TGS to learn more about the game’s success and future vision.
Q. What kind of game is “Hello Kitty My Dream Store”?
It’s a mobile title based on the merge puzzle genre, developed and serviced under an IP license agreement with Sanrio Korea. Players decorate a shopping town alongside 30+ Sanrio characters rendered in pastel graphics. Since the Season 2 update, users can now customize exterior spaces as well, creating more attractive towns. Our fast development cycle allows us to deliver regular events and new content, boosting user satisfaction.
Q. Can you briefly introduce your backgrounds?
(Jung Sei-jin, CEO) I’ve spent over 30 years in manufacturing, service, and gaming industries. I previously served as CEO of Mybi and Kyungnam Energy, and now lead Nepstone Holdings and Nepstone Partners, while building a sustainable growth model at ACT Games.
(Chang Hyo-sik, PD) I’ve worked in the gaming industry for over 20 years, leading projects like “Rohan Online” (Playwith Korea), “Full House Casino,” and “Play Vegas” (Me2On). For this project, I’ve focused on balancing Sanrio IP with merge puzzle mechanics to create a globally competitive game.
Q. What kind of company is ACT Games?
Founded in 2019, ACT Games has partnered with various global IP companies to develop and service casual games. Each studio has around 20 members, including veterans from Nexon, NCSoft, and Wemade. These teams naturally integrate IP appeal into gameplay and foster creative development through a horizontal, collaborative culture. We plan to continue launching competitive IP-based games in both domestic and international markets.
Q. What are your milestones and update plans?
Since our grand launch in February, the game has been consistently featured on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store worldwide. In September 2025, we added Halloween-themed content and decorations. October will bring a new plaza customization event, and November will feature a winter-themed update. We’ll continue offering seasonal content and events to keep players engaged.
Q. What are your achievements and unique strengths so far?
We ranked No. 1 in the merge puzzle genre in Japan and outperformed global titles like Merge Mansion and Gossip Harbor in early revenue and key metrics. By managing development, operations, and marketing in-house, we’ve laid the foundation for long-term success.
We’ve studied various merge games but enhanced the experience with Sanrio’s identity-driven artwork and customization features, offering something truly different.
Q. How is ACT Games evolving?
ACT is more than a game developer—we’re building a sustainable content ecosystem based on global IP. In 2025, “Hello Kitty My Dream Store” is receiving positive feedback in Asia, North America, and Europe. In October, we’ll officially launch our Transformers IP game in Japan. We expect strong revenue growth in 2026. ACT is no longer a fledgling Korean studio—it’s a rising global player.
Q. What sets ACT apart competitively?
We don’t just license famous IPs—we secure top-tier global IPs and evolve them into community-driven fandom games. All decisions are data-driven, and our services are user-centric. For us, long-term fan engagement matters more than short-term revenue. That’s what makes us different.
Q. What does ACT Games look like five years from now?
After establishing a global foundation with Hello Kitty in 2025 and Transformers in 2026, we plan to expand both our original IP and global pipeline from 2027 onward. ACT will evolve into a comprehensive entertainment company centered on global fandom and IP—not just a game studio.
Q. What’s the current status of publishing and investment?
We’re currently self-publishing and servicing globally. At TGS, our main goal is to strengthen networking with global IP companies beyond Japan and the U.S. On public days, we’re focused on meeting local users and promoting the game directly.
Q. Any final message for players?
We’ll continue our rapid growth and add more Sanrio characters and fun content. We’ll keep listening to our users and updating the game to become a global top-tier title in the “Character IP × Casual Game” space.