Our contributor connected with the teams behind Smilegate‘s MIRESI and Chaos Zero Nightmare about their reflections on the games and on Anime Expo 2026.
Introducing MIRESI and CZN to North American Fans
Michael: Anime Expo 2026 marked Smilegate’s largest presence at a North American fan event to date. Looking back on the convention, what did it mean to introduce both MIRESI: Invisible Future and Chaos Zero Nightmare to so many fans from around the world?
Cho Sun-gu PD (MIRESI): Introducing a brand-new title like MIRESI at Anime Expo, surrounded by countless beloved IPs and passionate fans, was certainly a daunting experience… At the same time, it was exciting and rewarding to have the opportunity to introduce MIRESI’s unique art style, world, and identity to such a dedicated audience.
We hope this event served as the first spark that inspires people to take an interest in MIRESI.
Chaos Zero Nightmare (CZN) Team: Since this was Chaos Zero Nightmare’s first offline event in North America, it was a particularly meaningful experience for us. Meeting North American players in person after only interacting through online communities and social media made the event especially rewarding for us. What stood out most was seeing even visitors who discovered CZN for the first time at our booth enthusiastically participate in the card collection event and cheer during the Gold Card raffle. Watching their excitement gave us confidence that CZN’s unique blend of rogue-like deck-building gameplay has the potential to resonate with players around the world.
Designing Immersive Booth Experiences
Michael: Both the MIRESI and CZN booths were designed to go beyond a simple demo space, offering immersive experiences through live events, cosplay, photo zones, and other interactive activities. What was the philosophy behind designing these experiences, and what did you hope visitors would take away from them?
Cho Sun-gu PD: For MIRESI, we’ve always believed it’s important for players to become intrigued by the game’s world and characters even before they play the game. That’s why we designed the Anime Expo booth not simply as a demo space, but as a place where visitors could experience their very first impression of MIRESI and have their first encounter with its world.
These days, it’s easy to find gameplay videos and reviews online. But the atmosphere, excitement, and shared experiences that only exist at a live event can’t truly be recreated online. That’s why we brought together the playable demo, live stage events, cosplay, photo zones, and opportunities to meet the developers, creating an experience where visitors could naturally immerse themselves in the world of MIRESI.
Ultimately, we didn’t just want people to walk away thinking, “That was fun.” We wanted them to remember MIRESI’s world and characters long after the event, and leave wanting to experience that world again. We hope Anime Expo became the very first memory of that journey.
CZN Team: We put the greatest emphasis on designing the CZN booth so that visitors could experience the atmosphere of the “SS Nightmare,” the player’s flagship, and “Chaos,” the game’s signature battlefield, just as they do in-game. That same philosophy inspired our physical card collection program. Since cards are at the heart of the game’s combat system, we wanted visitors to collect physical versions of them. We felt that the act of collecting each card closely mirrors one of the game’s core experiences, the “enjoyment of building your own deck.” Above all, we hoped that when visitors left the booth, they would come away thinking, “The characters are compelling, but what really sets this game apart is how it plays.”
Memorable Fan Moments at Anime Expo
Michael: For many attendees, Anime Expo was their first chance to experience MIRESI firsthand. While watching players enjoy the demo throughout the weekend, was there a particular moment or reaction that stood out to you?
Cho Sun-gu PD: I remember seeing what looked like a family—a mother, father, and their young daughter—waiting in line to play the demo.
Their daughter looked to be… around ten years old, but the line was so long that she eventually gave up and stepped out while her parents stayed and finished the demo. It was a pleasant surprise to see a married couple attend the event together and genuinely enjoy the game.
After the demo, we gave participants MIRESI Happi Coats. When I noticed only the parents had one, I gave one to their daughter too. Watching the whole family happily enjoy Anime Expo together in matching Happi Coats is the moment I remember most.
Why Anime Expo Was the Right Stage for CZN
Michael: Chaos Zero Nightmare also made its first large-scale offline appearance in North America at this year’s Anime Expo. What made Anime Expo the right venue to introduce the game to Western audiences?
CZN Team: For CZN, it was important to meet an audience that would not only appreciate its dark fantasy and cosmic horror setting along with its distinctive characters, but also enjoy the strategic depth of its roguelike deck-building gameplay. Anime Expo brings together some of the most passionate fans of subculture content in North America. Many attendees are deeply invested in compelling characters and immersive worlds while also enjoying a wide variety of game genres. That made AX the ideal venue to showcase both of our game’s greatest strengths, its rich worldbuilding and its unique gameplay experience, to the same audience.
The Role of Visual Identity in New IPs
Michael: Both MIRESI and Chaos Zero Nightmare feature distinctive visual styles that blend anime-inspired artwork with striking worlds and settings. How important is visual identity when developing a completely new intellectual property?
Cho Sun-gu PD: A game’s first impression is often shaped by its visuals, so we believe it’s important to create artwork that feels distinctive and memorable rather than something common or familiar.
At the heart of that identity is Hyulla’s artwork. Our goal is to recreate the look and feel of Hyulla’s 2D illustrations as faithfully as possible in 3D.
CZN Team: I believe visual identity is what allows people to instantly recognize a game or IP the moment they see a piece of artwork, a character, or even a single screenshot.
That said, establishing a truly original and distinctive visual identity is no easy task in today’s rapidly growing subculture game market.
For CZN, the element we chose to focus on was its dark, despair-filled world. At the heart of the game’s visual identity are beautiful, compelling characters
who are gradually broken down and driven toward a Mental Breakdown by their trauma, circumstances, and the world around them. We believe this contrast between beauty and despair is something uniquely CZN.
Another defining aspect is our 2D character cut-in animations, built on Super Creative’s years of expertise in 2D game production.
Just as the rise of 3D animation and CGI has never replaced the appeal of traditional 2D animation,
we believe 2D has an emotional expressiveness that cannot be replicated in 3D. Those dynamic cut-in animations, infused with that distinctly 2D sensibility, are another key part of what makes CZN visually unique.
Insights From an International Audience
Michael: Anime Expo brings together fans from dozens of countries, all with different gaming backgrounds and interests. Did interacting with such an international audience provide any new insights or perspectives for your development team?
Cho Sun-gu PD: First, it really drove home just how much interest there was in Hyulla’s artwork. Some of that undoubtedly came from previous projects, but it was still exciting to see just how many fans were drawn to his distinctive art style.
Second, we thought MIRESI’s strategic combat system might be difficult, but we were surprised by how quickly most visitors understood it.
Finally, I thought curvier characters like Tieria would be the clear favorites, but Itsuka and Ende were just as popular. It made me realize I had my own biases.
CZN Team: One of the most memorable experiences for us was the card trading event. Based on our experience in other regions, we expected players to arrange trades in advance through online communities before coming to the event. Instead, North American fans approached it very differently. They spontaneously traded cards with people they had just met at the venue, enjoying the process of completing their collections through chance encounters rather than pre-planned exchanges. We believe this reflects the region’s long-standing appreciation and culture surrounding trading card collecting. Another insight was how eager North American fans were to engage directly with the development team. Because opportunities to meet the developers in person are relatively rare, many visitors wanted much deeper conversations than we had anticipated. Rather than simply stopping by to say hello, they stayed to ask thoughtful questions about the game’s lore, worldbuilding, and behind-the-scenes development process. Since these fans are geographically far from us and have fewer opportunities to interact with the team offline, we felt that this distance made each in-person encounter even more meaningful.
Fan-Favorite Events and Programming
Michael: Throughout the convention, visitors were able to do much more than simply play the games. They participated in live events, met the developers, and enjoyed a variety of interactive experiences. Looking back on the weekend, which program or activity do you feel resonated the most with fans?
Cho Sun-gu PD: Without question, it was Hyulla’s panel drawing show.
More than 400 people officially attended the session, and with unofficial attendees included, the audience was probably close to 500.
Even after the show ended, so many fans lined up for autographs on Hyulla’s previous art books and merchandise, as well as photos with him, that many waited for nearly another hour.
CZN Team: If I had to choose two, the first would be the 15-card collection event. The chance to win a 24K Gold Card by completing the full collection generated tremendous excitement among fans, and watching attendees trade cards with one another to complete their sets became one of the convention’s big attractions. The second would be our panel session. It was where we unveiled the new season, “Shattered Light and Claw,” along with the new combatants Hilde, Arabella, and Olga, for the very first time anywhere in the world. Seeing the audience’s reaction as each reveal unfolded is something that has stayed with us. It was especially meaningful to witness North American fans’ excitement for our upcoming content before anyone else, making the panel a truly memorable experience for the team.
Bringing CZN’s Dark Universe to Global Audiences
Michael: Smilegate has created games loved by players around the world, and is now introducing an entirely new universe with Chaos Zero Nightmare. As you’ve brought this new world to an international audience, what has been the most exciting part of that journey?
CZN Team: One of our biggest questions during development was whether CZN’s dark themes, such as the characters’ descent into Mental Breakdowns and its striking Fatal sequences, would resonate with a global audience. These elements are central to the game’s identity, but we weren’t sure how broadly they would be embraced outside our core market.
Fortunately, the response has exceeded our expectations. Since launch, we’ve seen far more players than we anticipated connect with and appreciate the world of CZN. Seeing that positive reception has given us confidence in the world’s potential and its ability to continue growing and expanding in many different directions.
What’s Next for MIRESI and CZN
Michael: Looking ahead, what can players look forward to over the coming months as development continues on MIRESI: Invisible Future and Chaos Zero Nightmare?
Cho Sun-gu PD: We’ll continue sharing regular development updates, including new systems, upcoming characters, and many other features currently in development.
CZN Team: For now, we’d love for players to dive into Season 4.
In addition to a brand-new Season Power system and an exciting new main story, we’re introducing several new Combatants. In particular, we placed a strong emphasis on team synergy when designing these new characters. Compared to previous Combatant combinations, they offer far greater synergy, allowing players to build more interconnected and dynamic team compositions.
As for what’s beyond Season 4, I can share a small teaser. Season 5, which will coincide with the game’s first anniversary, is being prepared on a scale every bit as ambitious as our half-anniversary celebration. While I can’t reveal too much just yet, I can say that we’re finally getting ready to introduce some of the most requested content and systems that our Protos have been eagerly waiting for. We hope you’ll look forward to what’s coming next.
Smilegate at Anime Expo 2026: Messages to Fans Around the World
Michael: Finally, do you have a message for everyone who visited the Smilegate booths at Anime Expo 2026, as well as for the readers of Anime Diet and fans of MIRESI and Chaos Zero Nightmare around the world?
Cho Sun-gu PD: We’d like to sincerely thank everyone who took an interest in MIRESI after seeing it for the first time at Anime Expo.
At the end of the day, we believe games should simply be fun. That enjoyment comes from every part of the game, including the characters, the world, and the combat.
We’ll continue doing our very best to make MIRESI an even better game and deliver an experience worthy of your support. Thank you.
CZN Team: During the signing session at our booth, so many visitors shared words of encouragement with us.
It was a truly humbling and deeply moving experience, and your support meant more to us than we can express.
Walking around Anime Expo, we came away feeling that the subculture genre is truly timeless.
As someone who is also a fan of this genre, I want to continue listening closely to what players want in this fast-changing market and do my best to create content that is both exciting and memorable.
We hope you will continue to support Chaos Zero Nightmare. Thank you.
