Anyone curious about Chinese youth culture today quickly stumbles upon Wángzhě Róngyào (王者荣耀), known in English as “Honor of Kings.” If you learn Mandarin online or through an online Chinese teacher, you’ll quickly realize how often this game pops up in everyday conversations. But what exactly makes this mobile game such a phenomenon?

Launched in 2015 by Tencent, Honor of Kings is a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game where two teams of five players fight to destroy the enemy’s base. It’s fast-paced, colorful, and highly social. Each character, or yīngxióng (英雄, hero), is often inspired by figures from Chinese history, literature, and mythology — so by playing, you might find yourself commanding heroes like Li Bai, Mulan, or Lü Bu, and picking up pieces of culture along the way.

The game rose to unprecedented popularity, not only because it was free-to-play, but because it perfectly fit Chinese lifestyles. You can jump into a match during a bus ride, a lunch break, or late at night in a dorm room. In 2020, the game even had over 100 million daily active users. Beyond casual play, professional esports tournaments have turned Honor of Kings into a national spectacle, with live-streams and stadium events rivaling traditional sports.

When studying with GoEast Mandarin, teachers often point out how language learning can benefit from cultural immersion like this. Thopics help learners decode the in-game terminology, connect with Chinese friends online, and even explore how kids and adults use slang from gaming in daily life. 

Honor of Kings is a shared cultural experience. To really “get” Chinese youth culture, you might just need to play a few rounds. And don’t be surprised if your teacher asks: “你玩王者荣耀吗?” (Do you play Honor of Kings?) — because in China, it’s as common a question as asking about your favorite sport.