Wikipedia

Trickcal: Chibi Go

Trickcal: Chibi Go,[a] also known as Trickcal: Revive or simply as Trickcal, is a South Korean card collecting role-playing mobile video game developed by Epid Games. It was released in South Korea in 2023. The game won the Best Game Award at the 2024 Korea Game Awards. The global version of the game was released in 2025.

Trickcal: Chibi Go
Game logo for the 0.5 year anniversary featuring Speaki
DeveloperEpid Games
Publisher
    • Epid Games (Korean)
    • BiliBili Games (Global)
PlatformsiOS, Android
Release
  • KO: September 27, 2023
  • WW: October 9, 2025
GenresRPG, Gacha

Characters

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Kommy (코미; コミー)
Voiced by Maki Kawase (Japanese/Global)[1]
Erpin (에르핀; エルフィン)
Voiced by Hina Kino (Japanese/Global)[1]
Butter (버터; バター)
Voiced by Aoi Natsuki (Japanese/Global)[1]
Ner (네르; ネル)
Voiced by Yuriko Anderson (Japanese/Global)[1]
Elena (엘레나; エレナ)
Voiced by Yui Tsukada (Japanese/Global)[1]
Speaki (스피키; スピッキー)
Voiced by Park Si-yoon (Korean); Yurie Kozakai (Japanese/Global)[2]

Gameplay

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Trickcal: Chibi Go is a card collecting role-playing video game with turn-based combat in which combat is divided into two part: the “team build phase” in which the player select cards to strengthen the party using the coins earned during the previous battle to strengthen your character, and the “battle phase” in which has an auto-chess mechanics played using the selected character. The player can also activate a “higher skill” attack during this phase. It is characterized by the fact that the player can pull the character's cheeks everywhere such as in stories, gacha screen, home screen and dedicated animations and voices are also implemented for actions such as fist clenching.[3][4] The game also features daily tasks.[5]

Development and release

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The Korean version of the game was developed by Epid Games.[4] The predecessor of the game Roll the Chess which was released in 2019 as a beta, which was considered by Epid Games to be a failure. However, the cheek-pulling mechanics of the game were well-received. They decided to remake the game with the “cheek-pulling” mechanics.[6] The prototype of the game named Trickcal was first released on September 27, 2021.[7][8] Due to the incomplete content of the game, and bugs such as payment errors and login failures, it was negative received. They decided to end the service, which only lasted for two hours. It was initially expected to be relaunched in October, but the two reworkings of the game nearly bankrupted the company until the Epid Games CEO mortgaged his home for ₩1 billion (2021) (US$874,164.08) to raise funds and decided to continue to rework the game. The game was released in South Korea on September 27, 2023.[6][8]

The global version of the game was developed by BiliBili Games.[3] The global release was announced in January 2025 during the 2025 Taipei Game Show.[9] It was originally named Trickcal: Re:VIVE, it was changed to Trickcal: Chibi Go in May 2025. Pre-registration was also opened. [10] A demo was featured on Tokyo Game Show 2025.[11] It was released on October 9, 2025, on iOS and Android.[3]

Reception

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The original game, released in 2021, initially received 50,000 concurrent players,[8] but was negatively received with comments like “the check-pulling was the only positive thing in the game”.[6] The 2023 version of the game was well-received by players.[8][12] The game topped the “Korean mobile games we would love to see get a global launch” published by Pocket Gamer published in 2024.[7] It generated $4.5 million in the first year of the game's release.[13] By August 2025, the Korean version of the game was downloaded 500,000 times, and had a five-star rating out of 35,000 reviews on Google Play Store.[14] By April 9, 2026, the game ranked fifth in the highest grossing games in the Korean Google Play Store and as well as in the Japanese Google Play Store and iOS App Store, placing 11th and 13th, respectively.[15]

Internet memes

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Speaki’s, one of the game's characters, Korean voice lines such as “Joh-ayo joh-ayo” (좋아요 좋아요, lit. Good, Good) and “Heueuaag! Seupiki meoli jab-adang-giji maseyo!” (흐으아악! 스피키 머리 잡아당기지 마세요!, lit. Aaaargh! Don't pull Speaki's hair!) became viral as a meme in the Japanese internet, following the game's global release.[16][17][4] Denfaminico Gamer called the meme the “strongest electronic drug”.[4]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Result Ref.
2024 Korea Game Awards Best Game Award Won [12][18]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Korean: 트릭컬 리바이브; RR: teuligkeol libaibeu; Japanese: トリッカル・もちもちほっペ大作戦, romanized: Torikkaru Mochi Mochi Hoppe Dai Sakusen; Chinese: 嘟嘟脸恶作剧; pinyin: Dū dū liǎn èzuòjù

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Trickcal:Chibi Go-Trickcal or Treat！". Trickcal:Chibi Go. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ 『トリッカル』日韓の“ｽﾋﾟｷ”がついに邂逅。日本語声優の小坂井祐莉絵さん&韓国語声優のパク・シユンさんが3月23日19時から「POPOPO」で生配信 [The Japanese and Korean voice actors for "Trickal" finally meet. Japanese voice actress Yurie Kosakai and Korean voice actor Park Si-yoon will be live streaming on "POPOPO" from 7 PM on March 23rd.]. Denfamicogamer (in Japanese). March 23, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Sheehan, Gavin (October 8, 2025). "Trickcal: Chibi Go Has Launched For Mobile Devices". BleedingCool. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 謎のミーム「スピキ」発祥の地『トリッカル』は、もちもちほっぺを全力で愛でる狂気の癒しゲー。リリース2時間でサ終決定→社長の自宅を担保に再開発!? 「ほっぺを引っ張る」ことに命かけすぎ [The mysterious meme "Spiki" originated in the game "Trickal," a crazy healing game where you wholeheartedly adore squishy cheeks. Service was shut down just two hours after release → the CEO's house was used as collateral for redevelopment!? They're taking "pulling cheeks" too seriously.]. Denfamicogamer (in Japanese). December 28, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  5. ↑ Colosi, Verna (May 27, 2025). "Jujutsu Kaisen game publisher announces a cheeky new card-collector RPG". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 『トリッカル』救世主“ｽﾋﾟｷ”さん過労死寸前!? 日本をメロメロにした謎ミームを限界まで使い倒す運営、正気か？ ["Spiki," the savior of "Trickal," is on the verge of death from overwork!? Are the developers sane for pushing the mysterious meme that has captivated Japan to its limits?]. Denfamicogamer (in Japanese). March 26, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Han, Anderson (July 3, 2024). "Korean mobile games we would love to see get a global launch". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 ［インタビュー］家を抵当に入れた真因は，PDの確信犯的な嘘だった。「トリッカル」開発元の代表と，「代表を売った」副代表が語る波瀾万丈な物語 [[Interview] The real reason the house was mortgaged was the PD's deliberate lie. The CEO of the company that developed "Trickal" and the vice-CEO who "betrayed the CEO" tell their tumultuous story.]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). February 21, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ Morris, Iwan (January 29, 2025). "Trickcal: ReVive to get global launch and major fanfare at Taipei Games Show". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ Botadkar, Tanish (May 28, 2025). "Trickcal: Chibi Go opens global pre-registration with a new name and trailer". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ Morris, Iwan (September 5, 2025). "Trickcal: Chibi Go to open pre-registration on iOS and Android ahead of TGS appearance". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  12. 1 2 "もちもちほっぺをひっぱる"ことに全力なゲーム『トリッカル』が、可愛くて、癒されて、最高。もはや"触れるセラピー"だった [The game "Trickal," which is all about "pulling squishy cheeks," is cute, soothing, and just the best. It's practically "touch therapy."]. Denfamicogamer (in Japanese). June 13, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ 트릭컬 리바이브, 1주년 이벤트로 450만 달러 매출 : 게임샷 [Trickcal Revive Generates $4.5 Million in Sales with 1st Anniversary Event]. www.gameshot.net (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  14. ↑ V, Amber (August 7, 2025). "Epic Games launches trademark dispute against small Korean studio over the name "EPIDGames"". Automaton Media. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ Kim, Donghwi "Kobee" (April 9, 2026). "Trickcal Revive Hits New Peaks: 5th on Google Play in Korea, 13th on iOS in Japan". Inven Global. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ “スピキ”ミームで話題の『トリッカル』、担当声優に「純金のスピッキーコイン」を贈呈―二次創作の作者まで招いた“謎のアワード動画”公開 [The anime "Trickal," which gained popularity with the "Spiky" meme, presented its voice actors with "pure gold Spicky coins" and released a mysterious awards video that even invited creators of derivative works.]. Inside Games (in Japanese). February 16, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ 『トリッカル・もちもちほっぺ大作戦』ｽﾋﾟｷに感謝の意を表すアワード動画公開。功労賞は24金のスピキコイン [An awards video expressing gratitude to Spiki for "Trickal: The Big Cheeks Project" has been released. The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to a 24-karat gold Spiki coin.]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). February 16, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ Yong-Jun, Cho (November 13, 2024). "Solo Leveling: Arise takes top prize at 2024 Korea Game Awards". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
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