Although the official servers of Warhammer Online have been offline since December 2013, a fan project called “Return of Reckoning” has been keeping the MMORPG oldie not only alive since 2014 but also regularly adds new content. The last patch is only a few days old…
What do I need to know about Warhammer Online?
- Warhammer Online was an MMORPG by Mythic Entertainment, released in September 2008, and was meant to be the unofficial successor to Dark Age of Camelot from 2001.
- As the name suggests, the game is based on the rich Warhammer license (Fantasy) and successfully translated this into an MMORPG world at launch. As a result, it received high ratings and various awards.
- Although there were reportedly about 800,000 subscribers playing the online role-playing game at its peak – which would be an incredibly strong number today – publisher EA apparently expected more. The license acquired from Games Workshop expired, leading to the shutdown after just five years.
- Many fans could not understand this decision, as Warhammer Online had a lot of potential. Just a year later, a private server called “Return of Reckoning” went live, preserving the beloved gaming experience and adding balancing patches and new content since then.
Here you see the trailer for “Return of Reckoning”:
Very lively even after 10 years
What has happened on the server recently? Although the private server has been active for over ten years now, the game is impressively updated regularly with new content and patches.
The big highlight at the end of 2024 was a major content update that opened a new story dungeon, established fresh public quests, and launched an event to honor fallen veterans.
In addition, several patches went live in December 2024 and January 2025. For example, on January 24, the event “Rise of the Tomb Kings” started, where the titular tomb kings rise until February 3.
Why should I try “Return of Reckoning”?
- The regularly occurring Realm-versus-Realm battles between the player factions of the MMORPG are still among the best things for PvP fans and are available to low-level characters.
- The Warhammer license is wonderfully reflected in the MMORPG, which is evident in the exciting selection of classes and races.
- All six races (Dwarfs, Empire, High Elves, Chaos, Dark Elves, and Greenskins) each offer four of their own classes that fulfill the roles of Tank, Melee Fighter, Ranged Fighter, and Healer. Included are: Rune Priest, Slayer, Choppa, Chosen, White Lion, and many more.
- Moreover, through the quests and their backstories, one can wonderfully dive into the fantasy universe of Warhammer and learn more about its rich lore.
- Warhammer Online had some clever ideas like the trophy system, which allows one to earn special items to embellish their character, mount, or guild banner.
- Although the technology may seem outdated today, Warhammer Online creates an engaging atmosphere due to the well-implemented license, the ever-present conflict between Order and Destruction, and the varied areas.
- Due to its old age and the fact that it is a private server, you will mainly meet players in “Return of Reckoning” who have a great passion for the project, log in regularly, and are willing to help newcomers with tips and advice. The multiplayer aspect works wonderfully well on the server even after all these years.
You can play “Return of Reckoning” completely for free. There is even a team of Game Masters in the game who ensure that the server rules are followed for a pleasant experience.
With Throne and Liberty, a modern MMORPG is currently focusing on large battles:
How can I play “Return of Reckoning”? You can download the MMORPG for free at returnofreckoning.com. There are clients for Windows, Linux, and Mac. To log in to the launcher, you need to register on the website and create an account.
New Warhammer MMORPG in the making
Since July 2023, it has been known that MMORPG veteran Jack Emmert (City of Heroes, City of Villains, Neverwinter) is working with his studio Jackalytic on a new MMORPG for the Warhammer universe for the Chinese company NetEase.
However, not much is known about the project. Apparently, the new online role-playing game is being developed for PC and consoles. Some statements from Emmert also suggest that the game will have a strong PvE focus. Release date? Uncertain! You can find more about the MMORPGs of the future here: From Aion 2 to Chrono Odyssey: Outlook on the MMORPG Year 2025
