This marks the fourth round of approvals since China lifted its ban on games in December, with Tencent and NetEase missing out on all three prior bouts. Between them, the two internet giants operate local versions of popular titles including Tencent's PUBG and Monster Hunter: World and NetEase's World of Warcraft and Overwatch. The companies' blockbusters remain in limbo, however, as this time round the regulator only gave the all-clear to a small batch of their titles.

Those that made the cut include Tencent's educational mobile games Wood Joints and Folding Fan, which teach traditional Chinese architecture and craftsmanship. NetEase's Zhan Chun Qiu -- a game featuring Chinese warlords and swordsmen -- also received the thumbs-up. The increased scrutiny of video games comes during a wider cyber crackdown led by President Xi Jinping. More recently, China imposed stricter guidelines on short-form video apps, like TikTok, that hold creators responsible for the content they post.