BUSAN -- Nexon's mobile action role-playing game “Heroes of Incredible Tales” won the grand prize at the 2016 Korea Game Awards on Wednesday.

“Heroes of Incredible Tales,” also known as “HIT,” was developed by game development studio NAT Games, owned by Korea’s leading game company Nexon.

Released in November 2015, "HIT" has secured more than 13 million users in just one year. Featuring cutting-edge graphic technology and diversified game modes, the game is available worldwide in some 140 countries around the world.

“I’d like to express my sincere thanks to our users as well as all our employees who had to work under such a difficult boss,” said NAT Games CEO Park Yong-hyun in receiving the prize. 

“We will continue to develop fun games that our users can enjoy,” Park said.

“HIT” was also awarded the “Most Popular Game Award,” alongside Blizzard Entertainment’s “Overwatch” during the Wednesday ceremony.

In second place was Netmarble Games’ mobile role-playing game “Stone Age.” Neowiz Bless Studio’s “Bless” and IMC Games’ “Tree of Savior” together came in third-place.

The “Next-generation Game Award” went to “Mortal Blitz VR” by local game developer Sknoec, an arcade-style gun shooting game played on virtual reality headsets.

The “Good Game Award,” awarded to reputable educational games, went to “Battle Korean History for Kakao” by Etoos Academy Co. Ltd., a private Korean education institute operator. 

The 2016 Korea Games Awards was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and hosted by the Korea Internet Digital Entertainment Association, also known as K-iDEA.

The awards ceremony was held on the eve of the global gaming convention G-Star which also takes place in Busan.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)