Trickcal: Chibi Go
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding articles in Korean and Japanese. (May 2026) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| Trickcal: Chibi Go | |
|---|---|
 App icon for the global half-year anniversary event, featuring Speaki | |
| Developer | EPIDGames |
| Publishers |
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| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Release | |
| Genres | Role-playing, comedy |
| Modes | Single-player, multi-player |
Trickcal: Chibi Go,[a] also known as Trickcal: Re:VIVE or simply Trickcal, is a South Korean free-to-play auto battler role-playing mobile game developed by EPIDGames. Initially released in South Korea in 2021, it was re-launched and self-published by EPIDGames in September 2023. A global version was published worldwide by Bilibili Game in October 2025, and a mainland Chinese server followed in December 2025.
The game won the Best Game Award in the 2024 Korea Game Awards. Speaki, a character in the game, became an internet meme, spawning the creation of Raising Spiki, an unofficial MMO based on the character.
Gameplay
[edit]Trickcal: Chibi Go is an auto battler fantasy role-playing game with card collecting elements in which combat is divided into two parts: the “team build" phase in which the player selects cards to strengthen their party, and the “battle" phase utilizing auto-chess mechanics. The player can manually activate characters' “senior skill" abilities during this phase.[1][2]
Trickcal is characterized by its level of interactivity with characters on-screen. At any point, players can pull a character's cheeks, such as in stories, the gacha screen, home screen, and during dedicated animations with accompanying voice lines.[1][2] The game also features daily tasks.[3]
Story
[edit]Trickcal: Chibi Go is set in the world of Elias, a fantastical realm inhabited by chibi characters who live under the protection of a world tree named Yggdrasil. The player is a human transported to Elias who is shortly appointed the leader of a religious organization called the Order of Yggdrasil. The main story chronicles the adventures of the "Master"[b] and their attempts to solve the conflicts that arise between the different races of Elias, which include sprites, werebeasts, elves, elementals, phantoms, dragons, and witches.
The story is divided into the main story (the chapters of which are unlocked via the "Crusade" campaign mode), side stories for other game modes, and limited-time "Themed Theater" story arcs that each focus on a specific playable character.
Season 1
[edit]| No. | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "At Least Spread Some Jam" (Korean: 최소한 잼은 발라줘) | |
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Amidst a violent insurgency in the Sprite Kingdom of Erpien, a human struggles to get their bearings and ends up in the company of a fleeing Erpin and Ner. Cornered by insurgents, the human finds a revolver on the ground and fires it to scare them away. Having confirmed this new unusually tall individual's identity as a human, Ner declares them the savior of Elias and the Master of the Order of Yggdrasil. Erpin enlists the help of baker and magic teacher Ashur, pyromaniac adventurer Marie, and seedy collector Mayo. The party attempts to forcibly enter the palace and reclaim Erpin's throne with the help of the royal guards, but a fight between the guards and insurgents ensues, forcing the party to flee the kingdom. Ashur disappears in the chaos. After the Master suggests addressing the cause of the insurgency directly—a sugar shortage caused by Erpien's sole elven supplier—the party heads to Werebeast Forest for help. | ||
| 2 | "Chow Unites Us All" (Korean: 사료로 대동단결) | |
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In Werebeast Forest, the Master's party encounters a cat werebeast named Kommy and a dog werebeast named Butter eating canned chow. Kommy describes a rumor spread by the Chow Rebels, a three-member freedom fighter front, that the cans were set as bait by the sprites as part of a larger plot to assume control of the werebeast population. The Chow Rebels are currently exploiting a piece of evidence against the sprites: the labels of Erpin on the boxes of chow. Granted a brief moment of lucidity from intelligence-enhancing pills in the chow, Erpin muses out loud to werebeast chief Diana that the chow is part of a false flag operation meant to open a rift between the sprites and werebeasts, and reveals that the labels are covering labels of Elena, the elven mayor of Monatium. Confronted by the Chow Rebels, the Master again fires their revolver to scare them away. Ner suggests that the chow deliveries are connected to the Erpien sugar shortage, and the party, sans Marie, departs for Monatium with the tenuously allied Chow Rebels. | ||
| 3 | "Getting Schooled on Tragedy" (Korean: 참극의 참교육) | |
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The arrival of a human in Monatium puts Elena and her secretary Amelia on high alert, as the elves had previously been enslaved by humankind after a failed invasion. The party stumbles upon a medieval armor-clad elf named Rohne, who introduces herself as a tour guide. Agitated by the Master's presence, she confesses to being a spy and requests extraction, attracting the attention of the elven police. Elena discloses over an intercom her scheme to force the sprites to migrate for the expansion of Monatium, and her intent to dissect Yggdrasil for research into a means of returning the elves to their home dimension. Rohne, having turned coat, reveals to the Master that the elves' aversion of humans comes from an attempt to invade the United States of America that ended in defeat and slave labor before the elves escaped and became marooned in Elias. The party and Rohne messily infiltrate Monatium City Hall with the help of the Chow Rebels and encounter Elena in her underground lab. Elena attacks the group with her M.E.O.W.[c] mecha. The Master attempts to retaliate with their revolver, nicknamed "Coco" by Mayo, but is stopped by a witch named Fricle, who had been conspiring with Elena but has turned on her after hearing of her planned dissection of Yggdrasil. Fricle damages the M.E.O.W.'s weapons system and disappears, and Chow Rebels leader Tig destroys the mecha altogether. Sympathizing with the elves, Erpin offers Elena help with dimensional research via the sprites' inherent magical abilities in exchange for a proper apology from Elena. As the group and Elena leave Werebeast Forest after Elena's apology to Diana, Butter alerts them to a new crisis in Erpien. | ||
| 4 | "5-Minute Countdown to Kingdom Implosion" (Korean: 왕국 폭발 5분 전) | |
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The Master's party returns to a ruined Erpien. Elena tries to escape from her bindings, but is stopped by Ashur. Erpin attacks Ashur for her supposed act of treason before Marie clears things up. Ashur recounts what had happened in Erpin's absence—mysterious individuals began supplying a sugar substitute to the kingdom's citizens, but after the substitute was found to be made of ground aphids and the suppliers were revealed to be witches, the relative peace that followed gave way to a second insurgency and a witch hunt. Erpin's formal return to Erpien is interrupted by Velvet, a witch after Erpin's throne. Velvet challenges Erpin to a duel. A heavy blow from Velvet's axe ricochets off of Erpin's head, merely knocking her unconscious much to the Master's amazement.[d] Velvet announces to the sprite citizens her intent to replace their sugar-dependent diets with healthy food, resulting in yet another riot. Ner believes that Velvet and Fricle are acting behind the back of the Witch Queen Belita, Erpin's sister and a respected ruler; Elena suggests that Belita has gone missing, and her absence has in turn plunged the Witch Kingdom of Belitein into chaos. Having laid claim to Erpin's throne, Velvet claims that Belita deliberately left Belitein out of cowardice, enraging Erpin. Velvet counters a punch from Erpin and easily subdues her, but is ganged up on by the sprites of the party in return. With the witches' invasion thwarted, the kingdom is rebuilt and sugar supplies are restored. Ner is seen meeting with a shadowed figure offering her information on the witches for a price. | ||
| 5 | "Watching the Neighbors Crash and Burn" (Korean: 옆 집 불구경) | |
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Erpien's sugar shipments from Monatium are replaced with saccharin, with Rohne sent as a diplomatic envoy to explain that the elven factories are under attack by elementals. Erpin reluctantly decides to help the elves, bringing the Master and Rohne along. The fire elemental Ifrit is responsible for the attacks; she blames the elves for polluting Yggdrasil and enslaving lesser elementals to run power plants. Elena in turn accuses Ifrit of enslaving her own kind, citing the favourable benefit-laden power plant employment contracts and the elementals' willingness to work for the elves. Ifrit is caught in one of the factories' fire sprinkler systems and retreats to a steam power plant to regain stamina. Elena's efforts to douse Ifrit with water are unsuccessful in stopping her rampage. Just as Ifrit prepares to attack, a girl riding a large frog intervenes. Introducing herself as Ui, a drizzle elemental, she summons a light rain that finally subdues Ifrit. Back at the palace, Erpin is devastated to learn that the state of affairs in Monatium's industrial district has resulted in a one-month delay before proper sugar shipments resume. Ner meets again with her informant, the amethyst dragon Sist, who states that Fricle is behind the factory incident. | ||
| 6 | "Bow 4 Times, Kneel 4 Times" (Korean: 네 번 절하고 네 번 박아) | |
| 7 | "A Beating Should Do the Trick" (Korean: 빠따가 약이다) | |
| 8 | "Power. House." (Korean: 파.워. 하우스) | |
| 9 | "Last-Minute Comeback" (Korean: 막판 뒤집어버리기) | |
| Interlude | "Remembrance & Prayer" (Korean: 회고와 기도) | |
Characters
[edit]- Erpin (에르핀; エルフィン)
- Voiced by Kang Eun-ae (Korean)[4], Hina Kino (Japanese)[5]
- The gluttonous figurehead queen of the sprites. She boasts above average physical aptitude but below average intelligence. Erpin serves as the Master's usual sidekick in the main story.
- Ner (네르; ネル)
- Voiced by Jeong Yoo-jeong (Korean), Yuriko Anderson (Japanese)[5]
- The current High Priestess of the Order of Yggdrasil and the power behind the throne of the Sprite Kingdom, having raised Erpin since childhood. Despite her constant nagging of Erpin, she cares deeply for her.
- Kommy (코미; コミー)
- Voiced by Kang Sae-bom (Korean), Maki Kawase (Japanese)[5]
- A smart yet lazy cat werebeast. Her name and references to a little red book she owns are puns on communism.
- Butter (버터; バター)
- Voiced by Kang Sae-bom (Korean), Aoi Nagatsuki (Japanese)[5]
- A friendly dog werebeast who is prone to be taken advantage of due to her kindness.
- Elena (엘레나; エレナ)
- Voiced by Kim Do-yeong (Korean), Yui Tsukada (Japanese)[5]
- The mayor of the elven city of Monatium and an avid engineer. Despite being primarily responsible for the advanced technology of the elven race, she often uses her inventions to gain an underhanded advantage over the other races of Elias.
- Speaki (스피키; スピッキー)
- Voiced by Park Si-yoon (Korean), Yurie Kozakai (Japanese)[6]
- A copycat phantom whose affinity for pumpkins and dressing up embodies the spirit of Halloween. Her current impersonation target is the sprite priestess Ner.
Development and release
[edit]Development began in 2019 under the name Roll the Chess; a beta was released the same year which was considered a failure by developer EPIDGames.[2] However, the cheek-pulling interactions with the characters were well-received. Therefore, the decision was made to remake the game with the cheek-pulling mechanic as a core aspect.[7] The prototype of the game named Trickcal was first released on September 27, 2021.[8][9] Due to the incomplete state of the game, with bugs such as payment errors and login failures, it was negatively received. They decided to end the service, which only lasted for two hours.[7][9] It was initially expected to be relaunched in October, but the two reworkings of the game nearly bankrupted the company until the EPIDGames CEO mortgaged his home for ₩1 billion (2021) (US$874,164.08) to raise funds and continue to rework the game. The game was re-released in South Korea as Trickcal: Re:VIVE on September 27, 2023.[7][9]
The global version of the game, developed by Bilibili Game,[1] was announced in January 2025 during the 2025 Taipei Game Show.[10] Originally also named Trickcal: Re:VIVE, it was changed to Trickcal: Chibi Go in May 2025. Pre-registration was also opened.[11] A demo was featured at the 2025 Tokyo Game Show.[12] It was released on October 9, 2025, on iOS and Android.[1] The Chinese server was opened on December 18, 2025.[13]
Reception
[edit]The original 2021 release saw 50,000 concurrent players[9] but was negatively received, with comments like "the cheek-pulling was the only positive thing in the game".[7]
The 2023 version of the game was well-received by players,[9][14] and topped the list of “Korean mobile games we would love to see get a global launch” published by Pocket Gamer in 2024.[8] It generated $4.5 million in the first year of the game's release.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Korea Game Awards | Best Game Award | Won | [14][18] |
Internet memes
[edit]Speaki's Korean voice lines, such as joayo joayo (좋아요 좋아요; 'I like it, I like it')[e] and Heueuaak! Seupiki meori jabadanggiji maseyo! (흐으아악! 스피키 머리 잡아당기지 마세요!; 'Aaaargh! Don't pull Speaki's hair!')[f] became viral as a meme in the Japanese internet, following the game's global release, nicknaming the character "Spiki" (ｽﾋﾟｷ, Supiki; spelled in halfwidth katakana). Various MAD videos were uploaded on sites like YouTube and Niconico Douga about the character.[19][20][21][2] Denfaminico Gamer called the meme the “strongest electronic drug”.[2]
Raising Spiki[g] is an unofficial browser-based MMO based on the character. It was released on August 6, 2026. In the game, players take on the role of Spiki and can hunt enemies in the field, including challenging bosses at altars with time limits, to acquire equipment or grow pumpkins in a pumpkin patch. It was officially recognized by EPIDGames after the company donated server hardware to the developer. The game became available on mobile on August 21, 2026.[22]
See also
[edit]- Princess Connect! Re:Dive - Japanese auto-battler game that inspired the Re:VIVE name
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Korean: 트릭컬 리바이브; RR: teurikkeol ribaibeu; 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
- ↑ Korean: 교주; RR: gyoju; kyōshu (Japanese: 教主)
- ↑ Mechanical Emotion Observation Weapon
- ↑ It is later revealed that Velvet struck with enough force to kill Erpin were it not for everyone in Elias being granted an immunity to grievous injury or death; the concept of death itself is only understood by the Master and the elves.
- ↑ Transliterated in Japanese as chowayō chowayō (ﾁｮﾜﾖｰﾁｮﾜﾖｰ),[2] and in Indonesian as cuayo
- ↑ Transliterated in Japanese as Uwaa! Supiki deruji baseyo! (ｳﾜｧｰ！ｽﾋﾟｷﾃﾞﾙｼﾞﾊﾞｾﾖ)[2]
- ↑ Korean: 스피키 키우기; RR: seupiki kiugi; Japanese: スピキ育成, romanized: Supiki Ikusei
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Sheehan, Gavin (October 8, 2025). "Trickcal: Chibi Go Has Launched For Mobile Devices". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.]. Denfaminico Gamer (in Japanese). December 28, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Colosi, Verna (May 27, 2025). "Jujutsu Kaisen game publisher announces a cheeky new card-collector RPG". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ EPIDGames (February 25, 2021). [캐릭터 성우 공개] 에르핀 (CV.강은애) [[Character Voice Actor Revealed] Erfin (CV. Kang Eun-ae)] (video) (in Korean). Retrieved May 30, 2026 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Trickcal:Chibi Go-Trickcal or Treat！". Trickcal:Chibi Go. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ 『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.]. Denfaminico Gamer (in Japanese). March 23, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 『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?]. Denfaminico Gamer (in Japanese). March 26, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- 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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 ［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.
- ↑ Morris, Iwan (January 29, 2025). "Trickcal: ReVive to get global launch and major fanfare at Taipei Games Show". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ Botadkar, Tanish (May 28, 2025). "Trickcal: Chibi Go opens global pre-registration with a new name and trailer". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ B站超解压二次元手游《嘟嘟脸恶作剧》公测！ [Bilibili's super stress-relieving anime-style mobile game "Trickcal: Chibi Go" is now in open beta!]. Yangtse Evening Post. December 18, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
- 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."]. Denfaminico Gamer (in Japanese). June 13, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ V, Amber (August 7, 2025). "Epic Games launches trademark dispute against small Korean studio over the name "EPIDGames"". Automaton Media. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Yong-Jun, Cho (November 13, 2024). "Solo Leveling: Arise takes top prize at 2024 Korea Game Awards". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ 【トリッカル】“スピキ”配布であまりのかわいさに悶える教主たちが続出。今から始めてもまだ間に合う！ [[Trickal] The distribution of "Spiki" has caused many cult leaders to swoon over its overwhelming cuteness. It's not too late to start now!]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). January 8, 2026. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
- ↑ “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.
- ↑ 『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.
- ↑ 【トリッカル】非公式MMO『スピキ育成』にEPID Gamesがサーバー提供して公認作品に。“モナティウムから盗んできたコンピュータ”を贈呈。8月21日16時からスマホ対応 [[Trickcal] EPID Games provides servers for the unofficial MMO 'Supiki Training,' making it an officially recognized title. They will present it with a "computer stolen from Monatium." Mobile compatible from 4 PM on August 21st.]. Famitsu (in Japanese). August 21, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
