Sweeping Global Awards and Sending Gamers to the Dictionaries: Why Chinese Video Games Are Taking the World by Storm

When people think of "Made in China," smartphones or electric vehicles often come to mind first. Yet in recent years, another export has been quietly sweeping the globe, capturing the hearts of young audiences worldwide: Chinese video games.

The hard numbers speak for themselves. At the Game Awards (TGA)—often dubbed the "Oscars of the gaming industry"—China’s first AAA blockbuster, Black Myth: Wukong, took home two prestigious honors: "Best Action Game" and the player-voted "Players' Voice." At August's Gamescom in Germany, the Chinese open-world wuxia title Where Winds Meet achieved another milestone, beating out powerhouse contenders like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero to win "Best Mobile Game."

The "Where Winds Meet" exhibition zone at Gamescom in Germany. (Source: Guancha.cn / Fengwen)

Even more striking: for the first time in history, all five nominees in the "Best Mobile Game" category were developed by Chinese studios—Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, Arknights: Endfield, Silver Palace, and Where Winds Meet. This was no echo chamber of domestic self-congratulation; international judges and players across the globe cast their official votes of confidence.

Beyond Entertainment: Deep Cultural Roots

What sets these titles apart is that they are far more than just visually stunning entertainment. Black Myth: Wukong draws its soul directly from the classic literature Journey to the West, steeped in traditional Buddhist and Daoist philosophy to tell a story of self-discovery and confronting one's true nature. Taking the stage to accept their award, the team from Game Science cracked a lighthearted joke: "We'd like to thank the organizers for not putting up an invisible wall as I walked up to the stage." That single line reflected pure confidence—a poise born of undeniable craft.

A still from "Black Myth: Wukong".

Meanwhile, Where Winds Meet is set during the tumultuous transition from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period to the early Northern Song dynasty. The in-game city of Kaifeng recreates the bustling metropolis depicted in the masterpiece painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Publishing lead Wen Jie revealed that fascinated overseas gamers have taken it upon themselves to research 10th-century Chinese history, study wuxia lore, and explore Eastern philosophy—with some even planning real-life trips to China to visit the actual historical landmarks. Turning gameplay into a desire to visit the country is arguably the ultimate form of cultural reach.

A panoramic view of Kaifeng in "Where Winds Meet".

Similarly, Genshin Impact distills classical Chinese landscapes and historic architecture into a unique virtual Eastern aesthetic. Tides of Annihilation, developed by Chengdu-based Eclipse Glow Studio, reimagines the Arthurian legend through a Chinese narrative lens, beating out established international franchises like Crimson Desert and Warhammer 40K at Gamescom to claim the "Most Epic" award.

Concept art of Liyue from "Genshin Impact".

Gameplay footage from "Tides of Annihilation".

Breaking Free from Western Narrative Tropes

Where Western game narratives heavily lean into tropes of conquest, plunder, and individual glory, Chinese games forge a distinct path, seamlessly weaving values of duty, sacrifice, and honor over material gain into virtual adventures. As Wen Jie notes, the underlying ethos of a Chinese xia (knight-errant) and a Western superhero shares a common foundation: both push past their limits to protect what they believe in.

The true mastery lies in this subtle, seamless influence. By the time the credits roll, players aren't feeling preached to; instead, they are left genuinely curious about the real China. That is the art of gaming as a vessel for culture.

An Industry Explosion by Design

This global breakout is no happy accident. Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research, notes that while individual breakthroughs have occurred, a gap still remains between Chinese titles and top-tier global benchmarks in the core AAA console market. However, Chinese gaming has officially transitioned from simply "exporting products" to exporting industrial capabilities and content standards as a whole.

For readers in Hong Kong, this phenomenon feels particularly resonant. Having grown up on Journey to the West and wuxia novels, these cultural stories are baked into our shared heritage. Today, mainland Chinese developers are using world-class technology to retell these exact stories to a global audience—and international players are eagerly tuning in. When the game ends, curiosity lingers; after a virtual battle, the real China gains a new friend. This is Chinamaxxing at its absolute finest.

Chinamaxxing

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An ancient Chinese proverb declares: "Food is the primary necessity of the people." The weight of this saying extends far beyond mere flavor. Food security forms the bedrock of national security, while dining table order serves as a microcosm of social stability. A society that can nourish 1.4 billion people according to seasonal cycles—warming them with hot meals and gathering them around shared tables—rests upon the long-term, seamless alignment of agriculture, logistics, public health, and social governance. This is the most grounded, everyday manifestation of China’s holistic national security framework.

Recently, this deeply rooted dietary philosophy has quietly emerged as a viral global trend among Gen Z and young adults worldwide. On international social platforms, users are replacing morning cold smoothies with warm congee and nourishing soups, candidly sharing that "now, whenever I think of breakfast, I just want warm congee." Others post daily check-ins showcasing Chinese wellness routines—brewing apple-red date-goji tea, taking warm foot baths before bedtime, and practicing Baduanjin Qigong—eagerly announcing that they have "entered a very Chinese era of life." Xinhua News Agency reported that related topics have accumulated hundreds of millions of views.

International social media users document their journeys of learning to "live like the Chinese." (Source: China Daily photo)

This marks the most appetizing chapter of the "Chinamaxxing" movement: global audiences are falling in love not merely with the taste of Chinese food, but with the comprehensive worldview embedded behind every dish.

Food as a Worldview: Warming Yang, Dispelling Cold, and Eating in Season

This lifestyle framework possesses a clear philosophical lineage. A commentary in People's Daily noted that the widespread habit of drinking warm water stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles centered on "Warming Yang and Dispelling Cold" (nourishing internal vitality and expelling chill). The rich spectrum of Chinese culinary culture embodies the fundamental human pursuit of harmony through food.

Long before the current trend, content creator Li Ziqi introduced "eating in season and adapting to nature" to a global audience. Her YouTube playlists—focusing on seasonal eating and dietary moderation—feature peach blossom wine in March, loquat pastries in May, and autumn-cured meats preserved for winter. By 2019, her channel had amassed 7.46 million subscribers, with single videos reaching 40 million views; today, her subscriber base stands at 33.7 million, outperforming numerous mainstream international media outlets. As one international viewer commented: "What she shows us is a dimension of China we never understood before."

Li Ziqi incorporates edible flowers into seasonal recipes, translating natural cycles into aesthetic table presentations. (Source: Li Ziqi's Weibo photo)

Physical wellbeing provides the ultimate proof. Fröhler, a young Austrian convert to the lifestyle, shared her realization: "A proper meal must feature warm, cooked food. Hot food is rooted in TCM principles—it prioritizes internal balance and long-term wellness over quick symptomatic fixes. It’s a remarkably wise philosophy." Today, she prioritizes shared meals, chooses sugar-free options, and practices diligent sun protection. Similarly, Gwen, an American expat living in Guangzhou, found her daily life transformed from palate to lifestyle: her kitchen runs entirely on wok cooking, and habits like drinking warm water during her period—conceptually alien in the US—have seamlessly become second nature. A research team led by Professor Xiao Jun at Wuhan University analyzed over 2,000 original videos under these trending topics, concluding that the sustained momentum of this craze lies in global youth's enthusiastic embrace of Chinese holistic wellness.

Shared Meals: Human Connection Across the Dining Table

Deeper than personal wellness is the cultural tradition of communal dining. An analysis in Beijing Daily observed that fast-paced urban living and isolation represent shared challenges for global youth today. The Chinese way of life—emphasizing family bonds, shared meals, and balanced moderation—provides an emotional anchor. Communal dining fosters social belonging, while warm meals deliver a sense of safety and comfort.

In response, international creators are sharing videos of themselves wrapping dumplings and mastering Chinese recipes, while posting their progress on Chinese social platforms. Ghimire, a young woman from Nepal, introduced these Chinese habits to her family back home: "These methods are simple, yet deeply nourishing." Gathering around a table and greeting guests with tea—table customs long taken for granted in China—are becoming the aspirational lifestyle for young people around the world.

Learning to wrap dumplings serves as an entry point for international youth to experience Chinese family traditions and communal food culture. (Source: CCTV.com photo)

Harmonizing Five Flavors: "Harmony in Diversity" Within a Single Pot

At the heart of Chinese culinary theory lies the principle of harmonization. The philosopher Laozi wrote in the Tao Te Ching: "Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish"—requiring precise heat control, measured seasoning, and patient balance. The wisdom of "Harmonizing Five Flavours" dictates that distinct ingredients and seasonings coexist in a single pot, preserving their individual characteristics while combining to create a harmonious new whole.

Mapped onto society, this philosophy of "Harmony in Diversity" (He Er Bu Tong) mirrors how diverse social groups and cultures coexist inclusively while forming a cohesive unity. Preserving the continuity and authenticity of this culinary heritage is itself an essential component of cultural security—food remains the strongest tether of cultural identity, and the significance of a slow-simmered soup extends far beyond taste. From diplomatic principles to personal relationships, China's ethos of "Harmony in Diversity" offers Western youth a fresh perspective on human connection.

Chinese culinary art relies on heat control and flavor balance, allowing diverse ingredients to showcase their unique attributes while melding into a unified dish. (Source: Well-Media photo)

The path through which the world comes to understand China is evolving: moving beyond superficial gazes at the Great Wall or giant pandas, and instead traveling through the palate directly into the heart of a civilization. Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Index 2026 ranked China second worldwide with 73.5 points—making it the only nation in the top ten with an increasing score, while its international reputation ranking surpassed that of the US for the first time. Global audiences increasingly perceive China as a nation capable of offering warm, authentic experiences and deep cultural resonance.

Gathering over tea and dim sum ("Yum Cha") represents the quintessential shared-dining tradition familiar to Hong Kong residents. (Source: Getty Images photo)

For Hong Kong readers, this global phenomenon carries a comforting familiarity: Grandma's slow-simmered Cantonese soup, weekend Yum Cha at local dim sum halls, and the affectionate reminder to "drink more warm water." Having grown up immersed in this culinary wisdom, many may not have realized that these daily habits represent the very lifestyle global youth are eagerly seeking to adopt.

The most powerful cultural connection requires no translation: it requires only a shared table, good company, and a steaming pot of soup.