Hanuman Ansh Expands Into Gaming With nCore Games

Hanuman Ansh is moving beyond cinema through an exclusive worldwide, multi-year partnership between Swambhu Media Network and nCore Games. nCore subsidiary Dot9 Games will develop and publish three titles for PC, mobile, and console platforms.

Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh is a live-action biopic centered on Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji, and his life and teachings.

The film was reportedly produced for roughly INR 2 Cr and crossed INR 300 Cr in net domestic collections within five weeks of its Aug 7, 2026, release. It was also running more than 7K shows daily during its fifth week, according to the announcement.

What Will the Hanuman Ansh Games Offer?

The first game will launch worldwide on mobile and focus on learning and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa verse by verse using the player's own voice. It will feature avatars representing different Indian states and regions, with the Chalisa experience remaining free-to-play.

Two action-focused PC and console games are also in development, although gameplay details and release dates have not been disclosed.

Dot9 and nCore bring experience with Indian-focused gaming properties, with the portfolio including FAU-G, Apna Games, ICC Cricket Mobile, Ram Setu: The Run, and FAU-G: Domination. The history of FAU-G: Domination also highlights the importance of matching marketing with the quality of the game itself.

The franchise had Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as a prominent promoter, while FAU-G: Domination was supported by LAN tournaments and competitive events. Despite that visibility, the FAU-G series faced criticism from players over graphics, gameplay mechanics, bugs, and the gap between pre-launch expectations and the final experience.

For Hanuman Ansh, delivering strong gameplay, visual quality, and sustained engagement will be important if it is to grow beyond its cultural appeal.

Is Indian Mythology Becoming a Bigger Part of Gaming?

The project arrives as Indian developers continue adapting local mythology and cultural material into games. Raji: An Ancient Epic drew from Hindu and Indian mythology, while its upcoming sequel, Raji: Kaliyuga, expands the series into a third-person action-adventure.

The 2026 India Games Showcase also featured other mythology and supernatural projects such as Rakshasa.

For Hanuman Ansh, however, the approach begins with devotional participation rather than conventional action gameplay. Founder of nCore Games, Vishal Gondal, stated that the partnership seeks to bring the Hanuman Chalisa to a global audience. Meanwhile, Dot9 Games CEO, Deepak Ail, claimed that the games are being designed as long-term experiences built around the festival calendar.

The three-game strategy gives Hanuman Ansh a route into interactive entertainment while allowing nCore to build on its existing Indian gaming portfolio and reach audiences beyond the theatrical release. However, the opportunity for India’s gaming industry goes beyond turning successful films or religious properties into games.

Does Indian Gaming Have the Scale to Match its Stories?

India’s gaming industry still has a long way to go.

God of War shows how mythology can become the foundation for a large gaming franchise when supported by character development, combat, world-building, and a long-form storyline. Its Greek mythology roots eventually expanded into Norse mythology, giving the series room to introduce new characters, conflicts, and settings while remaining focused on the player experience.

India has a similarly deep collection of mythology, folklore, and history that could support expansive game worlds. Raji: An Ancient Epic has already demonstrated that Indian mythology can work within an action-adventure format, while projects such as Palm Sugar from Mono Tusk Studios represent other efforts from Indian developers.

However, recent Indian games such as Palm Sugar, along with older titles like Fishbowl and Malhaar, reflect a side of the industry that often remains closer to retro or 16-bit-inspired presentation than the larger-scale experiences seen in international gaming. Storytelling remains important, but players also increasingly expect strong narratives to be paired with modern gameplay and high-end visuals.

Games such as God of War and Black Myth: Wukong show how detailed worlds and cinematic presentation can complement strong combat systems and expansive storylines. Indian developers could increasingly explore this combination while drawing from the country’s mythology and cultural themes.

At the same time, parts of India’s gaming output have continued to rely on mobile-first formats and relatively simple visual and gameplay systems.

Ultimately, the Hanuman Ansh deal reflects a broader shift toward adapting Indian stories for gaming. Its multi-platform approach also highlights the different ways cultural properties can be developed for mobile, PC, and console audiences.