Hello,

I'm 제이메르, a Nexon Picker 😊

Have you ever heard of a mood board?

A mood board brings together images to convey a particular atmosphere or theme at a glance.

Today, I put together some mood boards inspired by MapleStory!
With so many years of adventures and stories to draw from, I wanted to capture a little of that history in these collections.

1. Orange Mushroom

For me, Orange Mushroom is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of MapleStory.
It may be just one of countless monsters, but I think it captures MapleStory's signature charm and cuteness.

It's such a familiar character that it even features in the official YouTube channel's profile picture,

so I chose it for the first mood board!

2. Henesys

MapleStory has plenty of towns, but my pick for its most iconic would have to be Henesys.

As is often the case with PC MMORPGs, you tend to spend a lot of time in town in MapleStory,

and Henesys was always bustling with players!

I still remember setting up a minigame sign as a kid, hoping to make friends.
It felt like MapleStory's own little metaverse, so I couldn't leave it out of these mood boards!

3. Friends from 코믹 메이플스토리

These are the main characters from '코믹 메이플스토리', a comic as beloved as the game itself.
The adventures and friendships of characters like 도도, 아루루, 델리키, and 바우 got plenty of people talking at the time.

Its inventive story, which reimagined the game's setting,

even inspired some of today's MapleStory players to try the game.

The comic is especially nostalgic for players in their 20s and 30s, so I included it in a mood board.

4. Zakum

This is Zakum, the giant boss with 8 arms.
Once, Zakum was MapleStory's final boss, with raids bringing together up to 30 players.
I still remember the tension as we gathered to take down its arms one by one and claim the helmet.

5. Heroes

These are the Heroes who sealed away the Black Mage and lay dormant in ice.
Their individual stories and dazzling skill effects added depth to MapleStory.

Stepping into the role of a Hero and following their story felt fresh, too.
Of all of them, I remember having the most fun playing Evan!

6. Pink Bean

This is Pink Bean, an iconic boss reached after a lengthy prerequisite questline.
Its quirky, adorable appearance was a memorable contrast to the somber atmosphere of the Temple of Time!

I think Pink Bean challenged the idea that boss characters have to look scary.

That helped it become just as famous as Orange Mushroom.

On a side note, I once heard a piece of background music I liked while playing a homemade Flash game.

It was so distinctive and lovely that it stayed with me, but I couldn't track it down.

It turned out to be the Temple of Time's background music!

I remember getting chills when I first entered the Temple of Time.

7. Lucid

If you only played MapleStory before Big Bang, you might not be familiar with the story from Arcane River onward.

Lachelein in Arcane River is a much-loved area, known for its upbeat music and festive atmosphere.
And its signature character is Lucid!
She's remained popular ever since her debut, so I included her in a mood board.

8. Black Mage

This is the Black Mage, the final boss who spent so long shrouded in mystery.
I remember many players returning to MapleStory when he arrived.
As a symbol of MapleStory's long-running story, he had to be part of these mood boards.

9. 기어드락

On February 12, MapleStory is set to introduce '기어드락', a new level 295 area.
Seeing the game already reach areas at this level really brought home how long it's been running!
I chose it for the final mood board to represent the latest chapter of the story.

From the familiar Orange Mushroom to the new area 기어드락,

I've captured MapleStory's history in 9 images.

Just looking at the Henesys image still brings its music straight to mind for me ㅎㅎ
Which image brings back the strongest memories for you?