“Dark Merchant” Trends on Social Media as Major Game Updates Announced for Fantasy Life i and PalFarm

On September 25, 2025, the keyword “Dark Merchant” ranked high on trending topics for SNS X (formerly Twitter) and Yahoo!, garnering significant attention among game fans. This widespread interest is largely attributed to recent announcements regarding popular video games.

The primary focus of the buzz is Level-5's latest installment in the popular series, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time with the Circling Dragon, specifically its free major update titled “Dark Merchant Uluzo and the Illusion Continent.” According to an announcement from the official account, this DLC is scheduled for release in December. The introduction of new characters, “Dark Don-san” (also known as “Dark Merchant Uluzo”), will propel the story into a new phase. The continent of Bakadekkana is slated to take on a darker atmosphere, with mysterious structures and new monsters revealed in the teaser PV. Fans have expressed their excitement with comments such as “It's here, it's here, it's here!!!! So excited for Dark Merchant Don-san!!!” and “Dark Merchant DLC, coming for free Nya!?”

Concurrently, the announcement of PalFarm, a spin-off of the massive hit Palworld, has also contributed to the “Dark Merchant” trend. PalFarm is designed as a “farm slow-life game” with multiplayer support, featuring charming characters like Tsudde-nyan, who is pursued by debt, Furarina, the florist, and the new Pal “Sekhmet.” Crucially, it has been confirmed that the “Dark Merchant,” who appeared in the main Palworld game, will continue to make appearances. This has led to fan comments such as “Can we legally 'shibaku' (beat up) the Dark Merchant in PalFarm too?”, recalling unique and often humorous player interactions from the original title.

The presence of the “Dark Merchant” character, playing significant roles in different game genres, is creating anticipation among players for new narrative developments and character encounters. Further updates on how the “Dark Merchant” will feature in each title are eagerly awaited.

The Context

For non-Japanese readers, understanding a few points will enrich the article:

  • Level-5: A prominent Japanese video game developer known for popular RPG series like Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, and Yo-kai Watch. Fantasy Life is another beloved RPG series by the company, blending RPG elements with life simulation (crafting, gathering, various “lives” or jobs).
  • Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time with the Circling Dragon: The latest installment in Level-5's Fantasy Life series, released on Nintendo Switch. The mention of a “free major update” is significant as it adds substantial content without extra cost, which is often highly appreciated by players.
  • Palworld: A global sensation released in early 2024 by Japanese developer Pocketpair. It's an open-world survival crafting game featuring creature collection (known as “Pals”), often dubbed “Pokémon with guns.” Its unique gameplay, including controversial elements like the ability to capture human NPCs and a specific interaction with “Dark Merchants,” has garnered immense popularity and discussion worldwide.
  • The “Dark Merchant” in Palworld: In Palworld, Dark Merchants are non-player characters (NPCs) who sell rare Pals and items. Uniquely, players can also capture or defeat these merchants, acquiring their goods and often more. This became a popular, if morally ambiguous, player strategy, hence the fan comment about “legally 'shibaku' (beating up)” the merchant in the spin-off, hinting at whether that controversial but fun gameplay element will return.
  • Trending on X (formerly Twitter) and Yahoo! Japan: In Japan, both platforms are crucial for tracking public sentiment and breaking news, especially within pop culture and gaming. A keyword trending highly indicates significant public interest and discussion.

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