On January 4, 2001, the MMORPG RuneScape was released. In 2021, it celebrated its 20th birthday and is still very popular. This is also because many players never completely quit, but only take breaks, as the Design Director of RuneScape revealed.
What makes the MMORPG so interesting? The RuneScape of today is hard to compare with the release version from 2001. There have been numerous graphical and content updates. Currently, there are even two different versions:
- RuneScape 3 was released in 2013 and is graphically a bit more current but not on par with modern games like GW2 or Black Desert.
- Oldschool RuneScape brings back the old version from 2007 but has been expanded with some new features.
Although there have been numerous revisions, the game still relies on tried and tested concepts. The focus is on freedom and the sandbox idea, coupled with a vast game world and relatively a lot of grind. However, this grind is meant to feel rewarding, something that many modern games fail to achieve.
Another special feature is the close bond between developers and the community:
- Every year, a large community festival called Runefest takes place.
- New features in Oldschool RuneScape are only implemented if at least 75% of the community agrees.
- In general, the RuneScape community is considered friendly, especially towards newcomers.
RuneScape was also the first MMORPG for many players. Nostalgia plays an important role.
New players, on the other hand, are attracted by the mobile versions. Oldschool RuneScape has been available on smartphones for some time. It ranks among the best MMORPGs for Android and iOS according to us at MeinMMO.
How is RuneScape doing today? In 2019, the RuneScape franchise set several records, including the most new players since release and the highest subscription numbers since 2010.
In 2020, RuneScape 3 was released on Steam. There, it had an average of 5,634 players in the last 30 days, and more than 8,000 were online at peak times. Additionally, the rating is very good with 89% positive reviews.
“A place to escape to when you can’t leave the house”
What do the developers themselves say about their success? In an interview for the 20th anniversary, Design Director Mark Ogilvie disclosed to the website PCGamesN that many players return to RuneScape over and over:
For many, RuneScape is a game they never completely leave; they just take a break for a while. Many of these players have come back this year.
One reason for the big return this year, in Ogilvie’s eyes, is that you can dive into RuneScape and forget about everyday life. Especially during COVID-19 times, this is helpful for many:
It is a place you can escape to, where you can leave your house and meet friends, even when the world is in such a state as it is right now.
Also, with the release on Steam, the developers are very satisfied. They highlight the special community that exists in RuneScape. It has a familial character and helps newcomers, as Lead Designer Dave Osborne revealed:
So many players are just waiting for a person as a mentor. There are a lot of legacy accounts, but there is nothing better than taking a brand new player under your wing and helping them.
Dave Osborne in an interview with PCGamesN
The old MMORPG has become a part of life for many players. But this also leads to curious situations:
- For instance, there is a mafia that extorts protection money and has caused a significant inflation. This is possible because there is PvP in the game.
- Some are so attached to the game that they even go into debt for over $50,000 due to microtransactions. RuneScape was one of the first games to use loot boxes.
- Others try to earn real money through RuneScape. In Venezuela, there are even people who pay their bills by gold farming. This is due to the economic situation in the country, where not much can be earned through regular work.
If you’re now interested in RuneScape, you can create a free account on the official website or download the game through Steam or the app stores on your smartphone.
If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a modern game, you have good chances this year. In 2021, a new MMO shooter from the developer of RuneScape is set to be released.
