The sandbox MMORPG Pax Dei relies on an old-school payment model with a purchase price and (optional) subscription. To give interested players an impression of the game before purchasing on Steam, the developers are introducing a new trial phase.
What kind of trial is this? The Pax Dei trial is set to launch soon on Steam and will be detailed thereafter. However, on the official Discord channel, the developers have already shared some key points about the free trial version:
- The trial version will grant 7 days of full access to Pax Dei. As trial users, you can explore the world, build, craft, trade, join clans, and team up with other players for PvE and PvP.
- Trial users will receive a temporary plot of land to claim and build a home.
- Your character progress will be saved just like any other character.
- When the trial ends without purchasing the game, the plot will be frozen for 72 hours. After that, your property will be moved to the Redeeming Queue (so unused trial plots do not block the game world forever).
- If you decide to purchase the game, you can return to your trial character and reclaim your belongings.
- The trial version is not a limited-time event like a Steam free weekend, but should remain available indefinitely.
Beautiful, but also very grindy
Why is it worth checking out Pax Dei? Even during the early access phase, the sandbox MMORPG from Mainframe Industries impressed with its beautiful game world and perhaps the best building system in the genre. Already in the alpha, guilds created incredible structures from scratch.
However, some of the game’s issues have always included the combat experience (lacking hit feedback and depth), the enormous grind factor (especially when playing solo), and the linking of plots to the optional subscription (at least plots can now also be paid for with earnable grace).
The good news is that the developers are not deterred by the falling player numbers and the quite valid criticism, and continue to work on their MMORPG. For example, just about a week ago, update R47 went live, introducing a success system, chat improvements, bird hunting, a revised bow experience, and more. You can find the patch notes on Steam.
If you’re looking for a new sandbox MMORPG focused on building, resource gathering, trading, and establishing a social community, you should check out Pax Dei with the introduction of the free trial. My last short visit was in October 2025 – you can find the experience report here: I played 3 major and current games this weekend, I had the most fun with the non-MMORPG
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