The " Tokyo Game Show 2026 " was held for four days from Thursday, September 17, 2026, to Sunday, September 20, 2026.
On the first day of Business Days, Netmarble held a media presentation for its new smartphone game, " I'm the Only One Leveling Up: KARMA " (hereinafter referred to as "Ore Karu").
With actor Kanata Hongo as a special guest, we bring you a report on the exciting atmosphere of the stage event, which featured the world premiere of a story trailer and live gameplay demonstrations!
"Ore Karu" Media Presentation! Kanata Hongo Joins the Event as the Latest Information Is Unveiled One After Another
Taking the stage were MC OooDa ( @OooDa ), Yamato Yamashita, Head of Netmarble Japan Operations and producer of the Japanese version of the game, and special guest actor Kanata Hongo ( @k_hongo_staff ).
Hongo, who said he had watched every episode of the anime “I’m the Only One Leveling Up” (hereinafter “Ore-Reve”), expressed his excitement, saying, “I’ve been really looking forward to this.”
"OreKaru" is a roguelike action RPG for iOS and Android that blends the "Ore-Reve" IP with roguelike elements.
The story takes place during the latter half of the " Ore-Reve" series and depicts a completely original, never-before-seen episode—one not even featured in the WEBTOON adaptation.
The story follows Shun Mizushino, who lost part of his power due to a new enemy’s scheme, as he defeats and purifies monstrous hunters that appear in the interdimensional void, gathering “Karma” to regain his strength.
After watching the story trailer—which was unveiled for the first time worldwide—Mr. Hongo commented, “It felt like he’d leveled up even further compared to the Shun Mizushino I know.”
In addition to original characters like Shun Mizushino, Shizuku Mukosaka, and Makoto Mogami, the game also features the “Shadows”—including Igrit, Bell, and Kaisel.
Some of the Shadows are playable characters, and game-original characters such as Azalea, Curly, and Nemel will also join the fray.
Video messages from the anime production team and Taito Saka, the voice actor for Shun Mizushiro, are also included
During the press conference, video messages were shown from Sota Furuhashi of Aniplex (who worked on the anime “Ore Rebuild”), Atsushi Kaneko ( @kanegone_1006 ) of A-1 Pictures, and voice actor Taito Saka ( @TaitoB_1218 ), who plays Shun Mizushiro.
Saka highlighted the series’ appeal, stating, “The more familiar you are with the original story or the source material, the more you’ll enjoy it.”
Development Producer Jin Song-gon Explains the Game System
According to the game system explained by Jin Seong-gon of developer Netmarble Neo, the most distinctive feature is the “buffs” randomly provided in-game.
There are “weapon-specific buffs” tailored to each weapon and “Ruler’s Powers”; depending on how you choose from among the approximately 200 types of buffs, you can enjoy a completely different gameplay experience.
Additionally, the game features “Shadow Summon,” which allows players to summon a shadow at the right moment to counter a boss’s attacks.
It’s also reported that players can use a powerful combined skill with Shun Mizushino.
Kota Hongo Plays the Game on a Real Console! He Shows Off a Gamer’s Quick Learning Curve
Finally, Mr. Hongo plays "Ore Karu" on the actual console!
True to his words—"I’m a gamer, so I might pick this up quickly"—he defeated the enemies appearing one after another in Story Mode using normal attacks and skills, while also demonstrating skillful dodging.
As the story progressed, Chairman Kiyotomi Goto—now transformed into a monstrous form—blocked his path, leading to a moment of surprise as Hongo exclaimed, “This isn’t the Chairman Goto I know.”
Noting the slightly higher difficulty level, he remarked, “Even for an action gamer, this is a challenging experience,” before summoning the Shadow Bell and securing a spectacular victory!
In the following “Episode 1,” he used the Gauntlet to experience the unique gameplay of a roguelike, building his character by selecting buffs with each level-up.
In the wave-based “Survival Mode,” he controlled Bell, the “Ant King,” and shared his impressions: “It felt incredibly exhilarating, with so many things to do—I got really excited.”
Kota Hongo wearing the “Cooling Poncho,” a demo bonus item
On stage, he also introduced the “Cooling Poncho ” featuring an original illustration by Shun Mizushino, which was distributed as a reward for completing the post-demo survey at the booth.
After actually putting it on, Mr. Hongo confirmed its comfort, saying, “It really does feel cool. This might be good for summer.”
Pre-registration for “Ore Karu” is now open!
Saiga NAK Pre-registration for “Ore Karu” is now open in Japan and South Korea.
You can register on the official website, as well as via the App Store and Google Play, to receive rewards such as the exclusive “Shun Mizushino” Predator costume.
Check the official X account ( @Sololv_KARMA_JP ) for the latest updates!
Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese and 繁體中文. at the moment.
