Shenwu
Developed by Doyi Network in 2010, this free-to-play turn-based MMO based on Journey to the West has long competed with Fantasy Westward Journey as a significant pillar of the Chinese turn-based genre.
Shenwu is a free-to-play, turn-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed and operated by Duoyi Network. It first entered technical closed beta on June 25, 2010, and quickly climbed the charts of popular Chinese turn-based online games following its official open beta in 2011, competing long-term with NetEase's Fantasy Westward Journey and Westward Journey series. The game uses Journey to the West as its foundational worldview, with the story set during the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of Tang. Players choose from twelve distinct sects—covering tactical roles such as physical single-target bursts, area-of-effect damage, magical suppression, support healing, and sealing control—to combat the mysterious "Faceless Ones" and the revived ancient Jiuli Clan, all while protecting Tang Sanzang on his pilgrimage to the West. In terms of gameplay, it follows the traditional 2D chibi turn-based aesthetic and includes classic modules such as sect systems, storylines, dungeons, PvP arenas, and guild wars. It also innovatively introduces pet cultivation systems including refining, codexes, transformations, and demon refining, where pets grow alongside the player from level zero. With an operational strategy focusing on being "truly free" and providing a lightweight social experience, it became the preferred choice for a vast number of casual turn-based gamers in the early 2010s. Subsequent sequels, including Shenwu 2, Shenwu 3, and Shenwu 4, were released along with multiple mobile versions, establishing it as a flagship IP for Duoyi Network.