Over the cited period, comparable gains for other game developers were 8.3 percent for Webzen, 4.4 percent for DoubleUGames, 7.3 percent for Wemade and 22.7 percent for Gamevil.

Market watchers attributed their strong performances to a series of new game title launches in the second half and next year. Also responsible were expectations of increased exports to China stemming from a recent thaw in Sino-Korean relations, they added.

Pearly Abyss and Gamevil are expected to launch new game titles in China down the road.

"It was difficult for South Korean game companies to make forays into China due to soured bilateral relations resulting from the row over a US missile defense shield," said Ahn Jae-min, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities Co. "But there are growing hopes that China may allow them to launch new products amid thawing bilateral ties."

Early this month, Seoul and Beijing agreed to put bilateral ties back on track, setting aside their bitter missile defense showdown, and raising hopes for the return of Chinese visitors and lifting of other sanctions.

Analysts also said the Moon Jae-in government's push to develop new growth industries will likely have a positive impact on share prices of game developers next year.

"The government has vowed to step up efforts to develop the fourth industry and game sector in order to help power economic growth in the future," said Lee Seung-hoon, an analyst at BNK Securities Co. "It is expected to help bolster the industry's growth potential further." (Yonhap)