Participating in the Nexon PEAK Post Challenge

When you play a game, the music often blends so naturally into the experience that you barely register it. But every so often, there is a game where a single track is enough to make a particular scene stay with you for a long time. For me, Mabinogi Mobile was one of those games.

It was not just that the BGM was good,

it gave the game’s atmosphere greater depth through songs created with real K-pop artists. In particular, voices that fit Mabinogi’s distinctive sensibility so well made the scenes in the game linger even longer in my memory.

From Kim Chang-wan and CHUU’s “Old Legends My Grandmother Told Me When I Was Young,” to CHUU’s raid boss Aerele theme “Lullaby of the Wind,” and “Seize the Future,” sung by Ailee, who is known to be a genuinely passionate player, the OST made the experience of playing the game feel even more special.

① “Old Legends My Grandmother Told Me When I Was Young,” the song that shaped the game’s first impression

The first thing that stayed with me when I started the game was the main theme song I had first heard in its advertisement.

“Old Legends My Grandmother Told Me When I Was Young”, performed by Kim Chang-wan and CHUU, captured Mabinogi’s fairytale-like atmosphere from the very first listen. It felt warm and comforting. Through the music alone, I could already sense what kind of place Erinn was, and what kind of emotion would guide my journey through it. 

With the warm vocal tones of two artists from different generations coming together, I felt that Mabinogi’s uniquely cozy world was expressed perfectly. 

② CHUU’s “Lullaby of the Wind,” which made the raid more immersive

I had always thought of raids as the kind of content where the tension makes you focus only on patterns.

But while playing the Aerele raid, “Lullaby of the Wind” changed that feeling completely. CHUU’s clear voice blended with the tension of battle in a strangely beautiful way, and instead of simply focusing on defeating the boss, there were moments when I even found myself humming along as I played.

It reminded me all over again that a single piece of music can completely change the impression a raid leaves behind.

③ The sense of connection created by passionate player Ailee and “Seize the Future”

The part I found most interesting was “Seize the Future”, created with Ailee.

It did not feel like a famous singer had simply been brought in as a promotional model; once I heard that she was someone who actually enjoys Mabinogi Mobile, it immediately felt much more familiar. 

Because it felt like someone who genuinely plays the game was speaking about the same world, it came across less like a promotional video and more like a personal play review. Even compared with other game collaborations, that aspect left a strong impression on me.

④ Mabinogi Mobile’s music remains even after play has ended

I do not think a good collaboration is achieved simply by bringing in a famous artist.

Mabinogi Mobile stayed with me because the game’s own sensibility and the artists’ voices came together so naturally. Because of that, I found myself going back to the OST even when I was not playing, and whenever I hear those songs, my memories of Erinn return almost on their own.

In the end, I think what matters most in a game is whether the experience stays with you. Mabinogi Mobile was one of the few games that made even its music feel like part of that lasting experience.