《旅者禹治》（Woochi the Wayfarer）是Nexon Games於2025年8月12日正式發表的東方奇幻動作冒險遊戲。作品的靈感源自於朝鮮王朝時期的古典小說《田禹治傳》，並由LoreVault Studio使用虛幻引擎5開發，Nexon Games擔任發行。將於PS5、Xbox Series與PC平台推出，目前尚未確定具體的上市日期。

故事背景設定在朝鮮時代，以融合歷史氛圍與神話傳說的方式，展現既真實又奇幻的世界。劇情的開端是一名正在進行詭異儀式的巫女，她口中念誦著與蛇相關的四字咒文，並以活蛇作為祭品。隨著畫面轉換，一隻戴著小巧斗笠的喜鵲飛越山川城鎮，來到林間祭壇，將訊息傳達給身著儒生服飾、口中叼著菸斗的主角禹治。禹治是一名道士，他擁有強大的法力與聰慧，專門戲弄貪腐官員，並對抗世間的不公與邪惡。在接收到喜鵲的報訊後，禹治踏上旅程，前往一處陰森詭譎的宅邸，與化為妖魔的巫女展開激烈戰鬥。玩家將在這些場景中體驗結合劍術與法術的戰鬥，感受到傳統東亞神怪題材與現代遊戲技術所交織出的獨特魅力。

操作將以動作冒險為核心，不僅能使用寶劍進行近身戰鬥，還能施展各種道術與法力，形成兼具快感與策略的戰鬥體驗。角色動作的流暢度與打擊感受，透過虛幻引擎5的強大表現力得到強化，而環境場景也充滿濃厚的東方風情與神秘氛圍，讓玩家宛如置身於朝鮮時代的奇幻世界之中。

至於市場評價，雖然遊戲尚未正式推出，但從公開的宣傳片與音樂配置來看，玩家社群已展現高度期待。《旅者禹治》被視為少數以朝鮮古典文學為核心題材的動作冒險作品，不僅填補韓國遊戲在文化輸出上的獨特空缺，也讓人看見東方神話題材能在國際舞台上以高品質的方式呈現。部分媒體評論指出，若最終成品能在戰鬥系統深度與劇情表現力上保持一致水準，那麼這款遊戲極有可能成為韓國自製AAA級作品的代表作之一，並在全球範圍內吸引對東方文化與奇幻冒險題材感興趣的玩家。

補充:《田禹治傳》作為朝鮮王朝時期流傳的古典小說，本身是兼具娛樂性與社會批判意涵的作品。小說的主人公田禹治是個聰明狡黠、擁有法力的道士，他一方面能變幻莫測、施展道術戲弄世人，另一方面則透過惡作劇與懲戒揭露官場腐敗與不公現象。原典中的故事往往帶有諷刺與民間智慧的意味，帶給讀者一種既輕鬆又深刻的閱讀體驗。

相比之下，遊戲則將這個文學形象重新塑造為一個東方奇幻世界的行者英雄。遊戲保留田禹治「道士」與「戲弄腐敗、對抗不公」的核心設定，但將敘事轉向更具戲劇張力與冒險氛圍的方向。例如，在遊戲的開篇，故事引入一位進行邪惡儀式的巫女，並透過與妖魔對決來展開主角的冒險旅程，這與原典中較多以機智惡作劇、鬥嘴與小型法術對抗的情節相比，顯然更偏向視覺化、史詩感的演出。

另一個顯著差異是題材表現手法的轉換。小說《田禹治傳》本質上是一部帶有幽默與社會諷刺色彩的作品，禹治有時甚至被刻畫成一個半英雄、半惡作劇者的矛盾角色。而在《旅者禹治》遊戲中，角色形象更趨向正統的英雄定位，他手握寶劍，既是對抗邪惡的戰士，也是肩負使命的行者。這樣的轉變既是因應遊戲媒介需要高張力的劇情推進，也迎合現代玩家對「英雄敘事」的期待。

音樂與氛圍的處理同樣體現文化再創作。原典本身並未有特定音樂元素，但遊戲則請到鄭在日以韓國國樂為基礎，結合現代編曲來渲染氛圍。這種將傳統文化轉化為沉浸式感官體驗的做法，使玩家不僅能「玩」田禹治的故事，還能在聲音與視覺的多重層面上感受朝鮮時代的精神氣韻。

從文化意涵的角度來看，《旅者禹治》代表著古典文學向全球娛樂產業的跨界嘗試。將一個原本屬於朝鮮半島民間的英雄形象，以現代遊戲的語言重新包裝，不僅保留批判不公、伸張正義的精神核心，同時也讓這位東方道士有機會成為全球玩家認識韓國文化的窗口。

Woochi the Wayfarer is an oriental fantasy action-adventure game officially announced by Nexon Games on August 12, 2025. The title draws inspiration from the classic Joseon-era novel The Tale of Woochi and is developed by LoreVault Studio using Unreal Engine 5, with Nexon Games serving as the publisher. It is set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC platforms, though its exact release date has yet to be determined.

The story is set during the Joseon dynasty, blending historical atmosphere with mythological elements to create a world that feels both authentic and fantastical. The narrative begins with a shaman performing a sinister ritual, chanting a four-character incantation related to serpents while sacrificing a live snake. The scene then shifts to a magpie wearing a small bamboo hat, flying across mountains and towns until it reaches a forest altar, where it delivers a message to the protagonist, Woochi—a Taoist scholar dressed in Confucian robes and smoking a pipe. Woochi, gifted with both intelligence and supernatural powers, is known for mocking corrupt officials and fighting against injustice. After receiving the magpie’s message, Woochi embarks on a journey to a gloomy mansion, where he confronts the shaman who has transformed into a demon. Within these scenes, players experience combat that blends swordsmanship and Taoist magic, capturing the unique charm of East Asian folklore brought to life with modern gaming technology.

Gameplay is centered on action-adventure mechanics. Players can wield a sword for close combat while also casting a variety of Taoist spells and powers, creating battles that are both exhilarating and strategic. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, character animations and impact feedback are more fluid and immersive, while the environments are richly designed with Eastern aesthetics and mystical atmospheres, making players feel as though they have stepped into a fantastical Joseon-era world.

As for market reception, while the game has yet to be released, its trailers and soundtrack have already generated significant anticipation among players. Woochi the Wayfarer is regarded as one of the few action-adventure titles built upon Korean classical literature, filling a cultural gap in Korea’s game industry while also showcasing how Eastern mythological themes can be presented on a global stage with high production values. Some media outlets have noted that if the final product maintains consistent depth in both its combat system and narrative delivery, it has the potential to become one of Korea’s representative AAA titles, appealing to worldwide audiences with an interest in Eastern culture and fantasy adventure.

The source material, The Tale of Woochi, is a classical Joseon-era novel that combines entertainment with social critique. Its protagonist, Woochi, is a clever and mischievous Taoist who wields magical powers—sometimes transforming himself or playing tricks on people, while at other times exposing corruption and injustice among officials. The stories often carry satire and folk wisdom, offering readers both humor and thought-provoking insights.

In contrast, the game reimagines Woochi as a heroic wanderer in a fantastical oriental world. While it retains his core identity as a Taoist who challenges injustice and mocks corruption, the narrative shifts toward a more dramatic and adventurous tone. For instance, the opening sequence introduces a dark ritual and a battle against a demonized shaman, a stark departure from the original tales, which more often featured witty tricks, verbal sparring, and small-scale magical duels. This creative decision emphasizes cinematic spectacle and epic storytelling, aligning with the expectations of modern players.

Another notable difference lies in Woochi’s characterization. In the novel, he is depicted as a semi-heroic trickster—sometimes righteous, sometimes mischievous. In the game, however, he is portrayed more squarely as a heroic figure: a swordsman and wanderer who fights evil while carrying a sense of mission. This shift reflects both the needs of the gaming medium, which thrives on high-stakes narratives, and the broader appeal of a clear hero’s journey in contemporary storytelling.

The treatment of music and atmosphere also reflects cultural reinterpretation. While the original novel had no musical component, the game features a soundtrack by Jung Jae-il—renowned for his work on Parasite and Squid Game—who combines traditional Korean gugak elements with modern orchestration to create a deeply immersive atmosphere. This approach transforms traditional culture into a sensory experience, allowing players not only to play Woochi’s story but also to feel the spirit of the Joseon era through sound and visuals.

From a cultural perspective, Woochi the Wayfarer represents a bold attempt to bring classical Korean literature into the realm of global entertainment. By reimagining a folk hero for the modern gaming audience, the game preserves the core themes of challenging injustice and exposing corruption while simultaneously elevating Woochi as a potential cultural ambassador. Through this transformation, the mischievous Taoist of Korean folklore may find new life as a heroic wanderer, introducing players worldwide to the richness of Joseon-era storytelling and mythology.