'For all your gaming needs! KookminTree' presents the big data game rankings for the first week of May 2026. KookminTree curates these weekly charts based on search engine big data. Let's dive into what games captured the collective curiosity of players this time.

Mobile – 'Neverness to Everness' makes a striking debut at 3rd place

Hello, everyone. It is time for our first big data game ranking of May 2026. With Children's Day in the rearview mirror, the long, drawn-out string of public holidays has finally come to an end. Setting aside the post-holiday blues, let’s analyse the mobile charts based on the data captured during this period.

This week, the mobile sector is dominated by two notable rookies. First up is 'Neverness to Everness', a supernatural urban open-world RPG that some are cheekily calling a 'subculture GTA'. It launched officially on April 29th, having built up mountainous expectations with over 35 million pre-registrations. It wasted no time hitting the charts, securing a debut at 3rd place.

The game offers a buffet of content, from free-roaming urban exploration and character progression to bizarre commissions and city tycoon mechanics. It also supports cross-platform play, allowing you to sample real-time action and combo-driven combat. These factors, combined with the launch hype, have translated into solid search numbers. While it’s currently closer to 4th than 2nd, I wouldn't bet against it challenging 'Roblox' for the runner-up spot soon.

Another newcomer is 'Imjin War: Joseon's Counterattack', which kicked off at 11th. It is an MMORPG distilling the expertise of director Kim Tae-gon, the mastermind behind hits like 'Imjinrok' and 'The Great Merchant'. It leans heavily into tactical fun with an encounter-based combat system and a mix of historical heroes and weaponry. With launch events underway, I expect it to maintain its momentum, much like Neverness to Everness.

As these two rookies made their mark, the charts saw quite a few downward arrows. Still, some titles stood their ground. 'Wuthering Waves' and 'Pokémon GO' are the prime examples. The former continues to ride the wave of the anniversary event and updates we touched upon last week, while the latter saw a surge in search traffic driven by an offline event.

Online – Diablo 4 climbs 8 spots, fueled by expansion

The star of this week’s online chart is undoubtedly 'Diablo 4'. It has clawed its way up by a massive eight spots, successfully re-entering the TOP 10. The catalyst? The new expansion, 'Lord of Hatred'. It’s all about the showdown with Mephisto. Unlike the first expansion, which left many feeling a bit deflated, the consensus here is that both the narrative and presentation have been significantly tightened. That positive word-of-mouth is clearly driving the search volume.

It isn't just Mephisto; the new 'Spiritborn' class and the endgame 'War Plan' content have also provided a significant boost. Reports suggest that not only search volume but also viewership on personal streaming channels has spiked. This looks like more than just a fleeting launch-day bump—the game’s foundations seem robust. Whether it becomes a permanent fixture in the TOP 10 remains to be seen, but the trajectory is certainly promising.

Elsewhere, the rise of 'Final Fantasy 14' and 'Bubble Fighter' is worth noting. Final Fantasy 14 saw its numbers jump following the 7.5 patch on April 28th. This update finally aligns Korean players with the global version, granting them access to the latest content. It’s a long-awaited adjustment that has clearly piqued interest.

As for Bubble Fighter, it’s destined to see higher-than-average search volume for the foreseeable future due to its upcoming sunset. On June 24th at 10:30 AM, it will close the book on a 17-year journey. Given the nostalgia attached to the title, the current search momentum is likely to persist until the very end.

Steam – A surprise return for Hogwarts Legacy

The run of 'Pragmata', which debuted recently, is looking rather formidable. As expected, its metrics have improved this week, widening the gap between it and 3rd place 'PUBG'. While it isn't quite ready to threaten the top spot held by 'Crimson Desert', it seems entirely capable of holding onto 2nd place throughout May.

The Steam TOP 10 has been relatively quiet, but 'Hogwarts Legacy' made a surprise appearance, catching us all off guard. It re-entered the chart at 8th place. The reason is simple: it was offered as a free download on a different PC storefront. Even though the event didn't happen on Steam, the surge in search volume for the game was inevitable.

Note that the free distribution ended on May 4th at 12:00 AM. However, the surge in searches from players who grabbed the game is likely to continue for a while. As long as the buzz persists, expect the numbers for Hogwarts Legacy to keep trending upwards.

Pre-registration – A reshuffled chart

With Neverness to Everness and Imjin War: Joseon's Counterattack graduating from the pre-registration charts, the landscape has shifted. 'Sol: enchant' has naturally claimed the top spot, while 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad' has taken 2nd. Rounding out the top 3 is 'Infinity'.

Below 4th place, we see several new faces. 'Dragon Village 3' takes 4th, while 'Supernatural Task Force' and 'Deranged Three Kingdoms' land at 9th and 10th. Of these, Dragon Village 3 is the official numbered sequel to the original IP—12 years in the making. It reportedly inherits the core fun of the original, so if you have fond memories of the series, it’s one to keep an eye on.