On Steam, a new MMORPG has started its playtest this weekend and attracted many players, but those who prefer a relaxed experience are not welcome.
What kind of game is this? Apogea is an old-school MMORPG from an isometric perspective, featuring simple graphics but much more challenging encounters. Apogea aims to fulfill the dream of the hardcore community and specifically targets players who find regular MMORPGs too easy and relaxed.
Players can choose from four classes: Squire, Knight, Mage, and Rogue, all of which can be further developed and customized through talent trees. Content-wise, players can expect a mix of theme park and sandbox, with challenging boss encounters and PvP.
As stated in the Steam description of the game: “We also enjoy challenges. Here, you have to earn your triumphs; they are not given away easily. The path is tough, and a lot is at stake. If you are looking for a game that doesn’t hold your hand, then you are in the right place.”
But the developers take it a step further.
Here you can watch the trailer for Apogea:
No Entry for Casual Players
What does that mean? That Apogea is only meant for hardcore players is emphasized by the developers not only in the Steam description. Anyone starting the MMORPG, which is currently in playtesting, must first confirm several warnings.
According to a Reddit post, players are also asked what type of player they are. If you answer “I prefer casual”, the game closes, and your browser opens Google with the search query “casual mmo”. While this has likely provided a laugh or two, it is probably meant to make clear to the last player that this MMORPG does not cater to the needs of casual gamers.
How successful is the MMORPG? The playtest of the MMORPG has already attracted nearly 6,000 players at peak according to SteamDB in its first weekend. While that may not seem like much at first glance, given the hardcore aspect and indie production, it is already a success.
On the Discord server of the new MMORPG, over 30,000 players are already active, and there is also a small, active German community.
Apogea aims to be the opposite of the mainstream and the developments of the genre in recent years towards a game for everyone. Its hardcore focus seems to find a fanbase that otherwise gets bored in other titles. It remains to be seen when the official release date will be and how much the MMORPG will cost. Apogea is not the first successful indie MMORPG of 2026: New surprise hit on Steam is an MMORPG from a solo developer, and it has only one weakness
