Cross thirteen passes
of Korean literature
Neomteo reimagines thirteen classics of Korean literature as games — a creation myth, a village trial, a poet’s duel. Each is read in the original and won by judgment, not luck. Made with the scholar who wrote the book.
A studio built on a single idea
Grapevine Games is an independent studio with one obsession: games you win by understanding, not luck. No guessing, no chasing green checkmarks — you read, you weigh what you’re told, and you judge.
Our flagship is Neomteo — thirteen classics of Korean literature, each turned into its own game and gathered into one anthology. Every tale keeps its real classical text on the page, and the whole project is built in step with Yun Ju-pil, the scholar whose book gives Neomteo its name. Free to play in your browser, on any device.
Thirteen passes,
one long road
Neomteo means “a place to cross over.” Each of its thirteen tales is a pass — a creation myth, a village trial, a battle of poems — with its own world and its own way to win. Cross them in any order.
The original, intact
Every tale carries its real classical passages, shown as they were written, with the book and page cited. You don’t read about the classics — you read them.
Won by judgment
No luck, no guessing. Read the tale, weigh what each voice tells you, and choose — the game knows whether you understood.
Made with the author
Built hand in hand with Yun Ju-pil, the scholar who wrote the book, so every pass stays true to the text.
One live, one on the way
Neomteo is open now. A second world is in the making.
Neomteo 넘터 · 한국 고전문학 열세 고개
Thirteen classics, thirteen games — myths, trials, and duels of wit, each read in the original and won by judgment.
Enter the anthology →TAL 탈 · a legend worn, not born
A masked thief steals from the powerful by night, and gives it all away by dawn. The mask has no true owner — only whoever proves worthy of wearing it next.
Questions, answered
What is Neomteo?
Neomteo is an anthology of games from Grapevine Games. It takes thirteen classics of Korean literature — creation myths, folktales, poetry, and courtroom wit — and turns each into a short game, gathered on one site. “Neomteo” means a mountain pass, a place to cross over; every tale is a pass to cross.
Is it based on a real book?
Yes. Neomteo takes its name and its thirteen tales from The Neomteo of Korean Classic Literature by the scholar Yun Ju-pil, and the games are built in step with him. Every tale keeps its real classical passages on the page, quoted as written, with the book and page cited.
What language is it in?
Neomteo is played in Korean — the tales are Korean classics, and their original passages are shown in Korean. This introduction page is in English so the project can be shared more widely.
How many games are there, and how long are they?
Thirteen, all live now. Each is short and self-contained — a single sitting — and you can cross them in any order.
Can I play now, and what does it cost?
Yes — all thirteen passes are live and completely free, right in your browser on phone or desktop. Nothing to install; just open Neomteo and start.
Do I need to know the classics to play?
No. Each pass explains its world as you go, and unfamiliar words are opened right there on the screen. You win by reading closely and judging well — not by prior knowledge.
“We don’t make games you win by chasing green checkmarks. You win by reading, weighing, and judging.”