Outshining more than 60 impressive game projects nationwide, Hoi An Kien Su (Hoi An VR) by CLICK Studio from DTU made it into the Top 5 Outstanding Game Projects (no specific rankings from 1st to 4th) at GameHub 2025. The program aims to identify promising Vietnamese game projects to support their development and help bring them to market.
GameHub 2025 is jointly held by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, the Vietnam Game Development Association, VnExpress Newspaper, and FPT Online Services Joint Stock Company.
"Hoi An Kien Su" designed by CLICK Studio of DTU - Top 5 at GameHub 2025
The panel of judges, comprised of leaders from renowned game publishing companies, selected 16 projects from nearly 60 initial submissions to advance to the Evaluation Round. In this round, teams presented summaries of their game projects, including gameplay mechanics, competitive advantages, development roadmaps, and more. They also received valuable feedback from the council on how to best position their games for the next phases of development.
The Vietnam GameVerse 2025 took place on May 26, 2025, offering a key opportunity for teams with outstanding game projects to deliver more in-depth presentations, win the hearts of the panel of judges, attract investors, and secure funding.
Some 3D scenes from "Hoi An Kien Su"
The Top 5 outstanding projects at GameHub 2025 were announced, including:
- Hoi An Kien Su (Hoi An VR)
- Agents of Doom
- Just a Shadow Game
- Return to Childhood
- Ursid
Among them, Hoi An Kien Su by DTU made a strong impression on both the panel of judges and the gaming community at GameHub 2025. This tech-driven project delivers a virtual reality experience on the Oculus Quest, vividly recreating the ancient town of Hoi An, complete with historical events, traditional lifestyles, and rich cultural depth from over 400 years ago. A highlight of the experience is the re-enactment of the wedding between Princess Ngoc Hoa and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro.
Hoi An Kien Su is more than just an entertainment game, it is also an educational and cultural product, designed to introduce Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site in a lively, modern, and highly accessible way.
Experience it directly on smartphone
Hoi An Kien Su engages players with history through gentle role-playing gameplay, allowing them to explore an ancient port town. The game is designed to be accessible to a wide range of audiences - from tourists, students, and educators to museums and schools - through the immersive environment of Virtual Reality (VR). With a playtime of approximately 20 to 30 minutes, players take on the role of the main character and embark on a series of missions rooted in the historical setting of Hoi An over 400 years ago. The game’s storyline is cleverly interwoven to offer both entertainment and historical education in the most natural and engaging way.
Mr. Truong Son, a producer at CLICK Studio, DTU, presents the Game at Vietnam GameVerse 2025
During the production process, the CLICK Studio team implemented several industry-standard technologies widely used in the global video game industry:
- Unreal Engine 5 was chosen as the core platform, utilizing key technologies such as Nanite, Lumen, and Blueprint. Developed by Epic Games, Unreal Engine 5 is a cutting-edge game development tool known for delivering high-quality visuals, realistic lighting, and smooth gameplay.
- Optical motion capture (optical MOCAP) technology was also employed to create lifelike and natural character movements, significantly reducing the time required for animation and enhancing overall realism.
Character animation using optical MOCAP in "Hoi An Kien Su"
The Hoi An Kien Su project brought together a team of 20 members, including 2D and 3D artists, environment designers, effects artists, and programmers from DTU. The creative team behind the game has over 10 years of experience in graphic design and visual effects production. With a strong professional foundation, the team prioritized high production quality from the outset, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail throughout every stage of development.
Mr. Truong Son shared: "We are deeply aware of the growing importance of cultural, traditional, and historical values in today’s era of global integration and development. The Hoi An Kien Su project was born with the goal of preserving and promoting Vietnam’s traditional culture, while authentically and vividly showcasing the ancient town of Hoi An. We aim to tell the story of this iconic location from a fresh perspective, maximizing audience engagement and sparking interest among younger generations in exploring culture and history."
CLICK Studio team researches and designs "Hoi An Kien Su" at DTU
Mr. Truong Son added: “To create the most authentic experience in Hoi An Kien Su, we conducted extensive research across various fields -starting with the history of Hoi An over 400 years ago, during its golden age of trade in Southeast Asia. The CLICK Studio team worked hard to creatively recreate the ancient Hoi An, from landscapes and architecture to local residents and animals of that historical period. We paid particular attention to bringing the ancient town to life through vivid 3D modeling. Our team of artists and graphic specialists conducted on-site surveys in the Hoi An Ancient Town, collecting data in multiple formats to gain diverse perspectives throughout the creative process - all with the determination to deliver the most impressive version of Hoi An Kien Su possible.”
The Hoi An Kien Su project was designed not to keep players engaged for long periods like many commercial games. Instead, it focuses on delivering short yet high-quality and impactful experiences, making it ideal for use in tourism, exhibitions, and education. This is a “one-touch” game model filled with emotion, where even a single playthrough can leave players with lasting memories of an ancient, vibrant, and culturally rich Hoi An.
This simulation of the ancient Hoi An experience was developed by CLICK Studio at the DTU Silver Swallow Studio and within the university’s state-of-the-art Labs. DTU Silver Swallow Studio gained recognition for its 2019 documentary project "Vietnam Air War", which depicted the first aerial battle between the Vietnamese Air Force and the U.S. Air Force and Navy over the skies of Ham Rong on April 4, 1965.
(Media Center)