Hello.

This time, the theme is real-life accuracy: a look at elements of the real world that appear in the game.

MapleStory has recreated real-world people and objects in pixel art through numerous collaborations. These recreations are often impressively faithful, so I thought it would be worth bringing some examples together.

Real-World Foods in Pixel Art

In 2015, a collaboration with the ice cream bar 돼지바 introduced related items and pixel art to the game. Collaborations have continued since then, with Isaac Toast, 용사라면, NeNe Chicken, and melon bingsu all looking notably appetizing in their in-game forms.

The reverse has happened, too: some foods first appeared in the game and were later recreated in real life. One notable example is Nemi's Lunchbox, a well-established item with a long history in the game. The real-life version is sold at 메지트, a MapleStory-themed PC café.

g.o.d's Park Joon-hyung and Comedian Jang Dong-min

This event took place quite some time ago, and I did not take part myself. Still, I remember seeing the advertisements and event page at the time, and they left a lasting impression.

Even looking back now, the event itself was not particularly unusual. What made it memorable was how faithfully the two men were recreated in pixel art, as you can see here. There are more examples of celebrities rendered in pixel art below, but for sheer attention to detail, I think these two may be the best.

MapleStory Ambassadors: Kim Je-deok and BLACKPINK's JISOO

MapleStory Ambassadors was a project launched in 2021. According to the official description at the time, its aim was to “spread MapleStory's positive influence by highlighting MapleStory heroes active across a wide range of fields, both at home and abroad.” The project partnered with celebrities who play MapleStory to make charitable donations.

The first ambassador was archer Kim Je-deok, and a package inspired by him was released at the time.

The second ambassador was BLACKPINK's JISOO. A chair inspired by her was also created and given out as a gift. There have not yet been any further collaborations under the MapleStory Ambassadors title.

BTS's Jin

The ongoing collaboration with BTS's Jin has already included several events, resulting in more creations inspired by him than by the other celebrities.

Pixel art of Jin from the 2022 <Jin's Worldwide Handsome> event

Pixel art of Jin from the 2026 <Jin's Mysterious Garden> event

Pixel art of Jin from the 2026 <AmaJin Hot Time> event

Pixel art and illustrations of Jin from the 2026 <Maple Warrior Jin> event

Seen together, the subtle differences between these versions reveal the care put into each one. I suspect no other real-life person has been depicted in such a variety of pixel art and illustrations in MapleStory—or is likely to be in the future.

The Art Balloon at Seokchon Lake D

Finally, as the Maple Attack event enters its final month, its Seokchon Lake map has been updated to a nighttime view to reflect the real-world setting.

The view of Lotte World is faithfully recreated, but the most recent addition is the giant Orange Mushroom balloon on the left side of the map.

This cute, giant Orange Mushroom balloon went on display on May 22 (Friday). Alongside it, there are various other exhibits, in-person events, and collaboration merchandise for sale. If you are interested, visit the official website for details.

Thank you for reading.