'Mecha Chameleon' has written a new indie game mythic, surpassing 15 million units in global sales less than a month after its release. Recently, however, a 'knockoff game' has emerged, sparking controversy by attempting to ride the coattails of its success.

The game at the center of the controversy is 'Scribble Hunt,' which is being developed and serviced by Scribble Bunny. According to screenshots and game information released on Steam, the game systems and rules of 'Scribble Hunt' are nearly identical to those of the original 'Mecha Chameleon.' While the basic concept of hide-and-seek is not the exclusive property of any single game, the similarities in the UI and other systems are severe.

The most contentious aspect is the mechanic where hiding players paint their bodies and change their texture to blend into the background, deceiving the seeker. As this is a core system unique to 'Mecha Chameleon' that distinguishes it from existing tag or hide-and-seek games, it seems difficult for the title to avoid accusations of plagiarism.

The game's title is also adding fuel to the fire. While the Japanese title for 'Scribble Hunt' is 'Drawing Hide-and-Seek' (お絵描きかくれんぼ), its Korean title is registered as 'Mecha Chameleon,' exactly the same as the original. The Chinese titles in both simplified and traditional characters are also 'Super Chameleon.' Given that the original 'Mecha Chameleon' was created by a solo Japanese developer, speculation is mounting that the Japanese title was intentionally kept different to avoid immediate detection.

It is nothing new for copycats to emerge and capitalize on the popularity of a trending game. Even so, the actions of 'Scribble Hunt' are enough to make gamers frown. Not only has it copied the core systems of the game, but by using the exact name 'Mecha Chameleon' for its Korean title, it risks causing serious confusion among users.

It has only been a little over a month since 'Mecha Chameleon' was released. All eyes are on how many more knockoffs will flood the market and how the industry will respond.