Unknown Heroes
Unknown Heroes was a free-to-play 3D, hero-collecting, turn-based mobile RPG that mixed science fiction with mythic fantasy. Players built a squad of four heroes and jumped between different eras and realities to fend off an alien threat to Earth, with progression built around straightforward, stage-based missions.
 | Publisher: Nexon Type: Mobile RPG Release Date: September 11, 2017 Shut Down: 2018 PvP: Arena Pros: +Eye-catching art direction. +Huge roster (150+ heroes) to hunt down. +Plenty of ways to tune and upgrade heroes. +Includes a free summon to get started. Cons: -Core loop can feel samey over time. -Many desirable heroes rely on the gacha/summon system. -Auto-play reduces hands-on strategy. |
Unknown Heroes Overview
Unknown Heroes was a free-to-play 3D mobile RPG developed and published by NEXON, built around classic turn-based battles and a collectible cast. Progression followed a linear, stage-by-stage structure, with the setting leaning into a sci-fi fantasy blend that moved between timelines and locations rather than sticking to a single world map. Over the course of the campaign, players assembled a four-hero team and traveled through a variety of eras and regions, including a futuristic Hong Kong, medieval-style kingdoms, and present-day environments, all while pushing back against alien invaders.
A major draw was the roster size, with 130+ recruitable heroes spanning fantasy staples (elves, werewolves, and other monsters) alongside more futuristic concepts like androids and cybernetic fighters. Each character came with a basic attack plus a distinct kit of skills, which encouraged experimenting with different squad roles and synergies instead of relying on a single all-purpose lineup. Combat also used a Moon Compatibility weakness system that functioned similarly to elemental advantages in games such as Summoner War, rewarding players for matching the right heroes against the right enemies.
Outside the main stages, the game offered additional activities to break up routine grinding, including limited-time event missions, an arena-focused PvP mode, and cooperative real-time boss raids where players teamed up for larger encounters and better rewards.
Unknown Heroes Key Features:
- In-depth Customization – Strengthen heroes using runes, gear, and upgrade materials earned from the campaign and specialized PvE missions.
- Traditional heroes collector – Recruit 130+ characters across fantasy and sci-fi archetypes, then develop them through a familiar stage-based progression system.
- Timing-Base Intercept system – Trigger certain skills at the right moment to interrupt enemy actions, adding a light reflex layer to otherwise turn-driven fights.
- Various game modes – Earn extra resources through daily content, compete in the arena, and join real-time boss raids for cooperative challenges.
Unknown Heroes Screenshots
Final Fantasy Record Keeper Featured Video
![[GSTAR 2016] Unknown Heroes Official Trailer [KR]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FLJQDEt7vJo/0.jpg)
Unknown Heroes Review
Unknown Heroes aimed to sit comfortably in the mobile hero-collector space by pairing familiar turn-based combat with a more unusual “time travel through myths” framing. In practice, its strongest first impression came from presentation. Character designs were bold and varied, and the sci-fi fantasy mashup gave the roster room to include everything from classic supernatural creatures to sleek, tech-heavy fighters without feeling completely random. For players who enjoy collecting and building teams as much as actually fighting, the game’s style did a lot of the heavy lifting.
The combat itself leaned traditional. You entered a stage, faced a set of enemies, and took turns cycling through basic attacks and skill rotations. Where it tried to add texture was the Moon Compatibility system, which effectively asked you to treat matchups as a puzzle. When you were paying attention, choosing the right squad for a stage could noticeably speed up clears and reduce incoming damage. The Timing-Base Intercept mechanic also helped keep battles from becoming purely passive, since well-timed taps could disrupt enemy actions and turn a rough encounter into a manageable one.
That said, the overall structure was still built around repetition, which is common for the genre but especially noticeable here due to the linear stage flow. Much of your time was spent clearing similar missions to gather upgrade materials, which made the game feel more like a steady routine than an evolving adventure. Auto-play was available and often efficient, but it also highlighted the downside of the design, if the optimal way to progress is letting the game play itself, the strategic layer can start to feel optional rather than essential.
Progression and customization were where Unknown Heroes tried to keep players invested long-term. Between equipment, runes, and other upgrade items, there was enough tuning to make two players’ versions of the same hero feel meaningfully different, especially once you started planning around synergy and weaknesses. The catch, as with many gacha-driven RPGs, was that team-building depended heavily on summoning. While you could assemble functional squads without chasing every top-tier unit, many of the most appealing heroes were tied to the summon system, which created a familiar paywall pressure for anyone who wanted specific characters rather than “whoever you pulled.”
In terms of side content, the arena provided a standard PvP outlet and gave min-maxers a reason to optimize builds. The real-time boss raids were arguably the most compelling mode, since they pushed players to coordinate and offered a stronger sense of “big encounter” pacing than the campaign’s shorter stages. Even so, the game’s long-term health depended on players enjoying the core loop, and once that loop started to feel solved, motivation could drop quickly.
Unknown Heroes is also best understood in the context of its lifespan. With the game shut down by 2018, it ultimately became an example of a mobile RPG with strong aesthetics and an appealing concept, but one that struggled to hold attention in a crowded genre where content cadence and long-term incentives are critical.
Unknown Heroes System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: iOS 7.0 or later, Android 2.3 or later
Unknown Heroes Music & Soundtrack
The soundtrack and audio design in Unknown Heroes supported its sci-fi fantasy tone with energetic battle themes and more atmospheric tracks during story sequences and menu navigation. Sound effects were functional and readable in combat, with distinct cues for abilities and interrupts, helping players follow the flow of turns even when playing at faster speeds or relying on auto-battle for farming.
Unknown Heroes Additional Information
Developer: NEXON Korea
Publisher: NEXON
Platforms: iOS, Android
Release Date(Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Phillipines): August 17, 2017