9Dragons is a martial arts MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), published by Korean game company Indy21 and remastered for the Western Market for Acclaim Games by American author Steven-Elliot Altman. The game features 3D graphics and traditional MMO control schemes. Set in China during the Ming Dynasty, it includes actual Chinese geography and historical features such as the Great Wall of China and the famous Shaolin Temple.

The Clans a player may join in 9Dragons are based upon various schools of Kung Fu and are separated into two major factions, The White Clans (loyal to the Imperial Emperor) and The Black Clans (who have no allegiance to him). The White Clans include: Shaolin (male disciples only), Wu-Tang, and The League of Beggars. The Black Clans include: Sacred Flower (female disciples only), The Brotherhood of Thieves, and Heavenly Demon Clan. Each Clan has its own separate but very similar requirements for admission. There are also three Advanced Clans that have not been released in any version of 9Dragons: The Union of Noble Families, The Black Dragon Clan, and Disciples of the Iron Fist. Not much is known about this clan as yet.

ndy21, a game developer in Korea, originally created the video game 9Dragons, then they made agreements with both "Persistent Worlds" and "Acclaim", to allow them to market and sell 9Dragons to the European and American markets. The original In-game story for Indy21`s Korean version was written by Wuxia novelist Jwa Baek and then Steven-Elliot Altman was hired by Acclaim to rewrite the game in its entirety so that it would become accessible to Western audiences. Steven-Elliot Altman is no longer working on the Acclaim version of 9Dragons. Both companies released the game in "Open Beta" to the public in January 2007.[2] The deal that Indy21 has with both companies allows them to market and sell the game using their own method of choice. Acclaim (American) states that the game continues to be F2P (Free to Play) and integrated advertisement and an Item Mall to obtain their profits. Later Persistent Worlds announced that they would cease trading and that their servers would be shut down. Indy21 has now granted European Rights for 9Dragons entirely to Acclaim. According to the 9Dragons message board, Acclaim is currently recruiting players to help translate the game into various languages. The Romanian, French and Dutch translations have been completed.

The game uses a unique leveling system, in which each level has 12 Cheng as a kind of sub-level system. Each time a character receives a title change (such as when leveling from Losing Self 12 to Gathering Chi 1) a mini-game is required to level, and extra stat and skill points awarded (6 chi points, more are awarded depending on the speed at which you clear the mini-game).

Running parallel to the release of these new roles are the advanced tomes that allow the player to upgrade their skills past the previous limit of Cheng 10 to Chengs 11 and 12. There are also new skills that are available to people who have completed the role upgrade.