Mudang: Two Hearts was recently unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase. Here's everything we know so far about the stealth action thriller from Korean studio EVR.
Are you waiting for a new Splinter Cell or sorely missing the days of Metal Gear Solid? EVR is taking matters into their own hands and offering a new kind of stealth action experience.
Mudang: Two Hearts Is Sure To Captivate You
Mudang: Two Hearts combines a profound story with stealth, third-person shooter, and melee elements, already setting the hearts of Splinter Cell and Metal Gear fans racing. The game was unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase, with a release date set for 2026.
Although the game will be built on Unreal Engine 5, which is enough to give some people a heart attack just hearing about it, EVR is taking a completely different approach: the focus will be on hyper-realistic characters, fluid motion-adapted animations, spatial audio, and an open level design that gives you plenty of room to sneak around. And then there's the bombshell: the premise of the story you find yourself in.
A Somewhat Different Setting
In a near-future Korea, South and North Korea finally unite after years of tension to bring peace to the region. Or so it seems, because behind the scenes, something darker is brewing. On the day a peace agreement is signed, an unknown terrorist group attacks the South Korean National Assembly.
You play as Ji Jeongtae, a Special Forces agent tasked with solving the whole thing. He's quite a maverick whose job is to stop the terrorist attacks that are throwing the population into chaos. In the process, you encounter a group called Beolmuban and discover the nasty schemes behind them.
Meanwhile, the country is under constant surveillance. When the K-pop group ORDO is scheduled to hold its first concert under these strict conditions, the terrorist organization storms the stage. Jeongtae, who has been tasked with ensuring security at the venue, discovers that there is more to GAVI, the group's biggest star, than initially assumed.
Big Level? Yes, Please
If that doesn't convince you, Mudang scores bonus points with gameplay elements that have already been announced. The open level design is designed to allow you to play the game your way. Want to remain completely undetected? You'll have plenty of options, with steel beams above the ceiling, houses, and other hiding places. But even if you are discovered, the gameplay will seamlessly switch to different combat strategies.
Hyperrealistic Strategies
It is precisely this gameplay that allows you to truly immerse yourself: between various melee options, stealth, and shooter elements, you must decide strategically how you want to proceed. While the game allows you to simply shoot aggressively at any time, the magic comes from the tactical depth.
The gameplay is inspired by real Korean special forces missions, and the motion capture was performed by real soldiers. The game therefore has everything it needs to potentially become one of the best stealth games of all time.
Not Just Any Bossfight
Don't think that's all: the soldiers you encounter in the game react to pretty much everything that happens around them. And they're there to break you: heavy infantry have heavy armor and lots of firepower while saboteurs set traps to catch you when you least expect it. In addition, there are grenade specialists who will lure you out of your hiding place. And bosses aren't just the next checkpoint: enemies have access to the same equipment as you, which makes bosses more of a test of what you've already learned.
One small detail that could be a treat for many: cutscenes are not introduced by loading screens or sudden cuts, but are instead seamlessly integrated into the game. After all, the last thing you want is to be pulled out of the captivating story.
Are you curious yet? If EVR manages to achieve what they set out to do, you can be sure that Mudang: Two Hearts will be one of the best stealth games ever released.