The MMORPG RuneScape is now considered one of the classics among MMORPGs. It was originally released in 2001 and is still very popular today, 22 years later.
RuneScape is one of the oldest MMORPGs still online. The developer is the British company Jagex. Many associate strong nostalgia with the game, others have never stopped playing.
There are 2 versions of the MMORPG:
- RuneScape 3: This is the regular game version that receives regular updates.
- Old School RuneScape: This version is reminiscent of the early days of the 22-year-old game. It features very outdated graphics and clunky mechanics.
Old School RuneScape has higher player numbers today
Player count records began 10 years ago, which can be viewed on MisplacedItems. The graph shows the numbers for the current version of RuneScape, for Old School RuneScape, as well as the total number.
- Today, significantly more people are playing the Classic version, which started in 2013 at the player’s request.
- Since the beginning of 2016, more people seem to be interested in it, previously the traditional game version was higher.
- Also noteworthy is that the numbers are overall higher in 2023 than they were 10 years ago.
- The MMORPG currently has about 115,000 players, 90,000 of whom are active in the Old School version.
Originally, RuneScape was played in the browser
What kind of game is this anyway? RuneScape is set in a fantasy world called Gielinor. You experience adventures and uncover ancient legends and tales as gods plot dark plans.
In RuneScape, you can traverse dungeons, face bosses, and collect treasures. PvP is also possible. Alternatively, you can craft or build your own farm.
The MMORPG gives you a lot of freedom. Your character is not bound to a class, but you decide which skills you level up.
It offers a classic MMORPG experience without leaning towards modern representatives of the genre. There are no solo contents or particularly captivating stories. Exploration and group content are clearly in the foreground.
In the video, you can see the trailer for Old School RuneScape:
Originally, RuneScape started in 2001 as a free browser game. Back then, it was only in English, with the German version following in 2007.
Over the years, it received regular updates and even launched on Steam in 2020. Both Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3 are available there.
In 2021, a mobile version of the MMORPG was also released. Since then, you can play RuneScape on iOS and Android as well.
RuneScape seems to never let its players go
MMORPG fans often say that they spend many hours in RuneScape. Some set themselves enormous challenges and invest 20,000 hours, or 2 years, of playtime in the MMORPG.
People report that the MMORPG doesn’t let them go. “This game ruined my life”, reads a comment next to a positive review on Steam. Another user writes: “I played the game as a child. I played the game as a teenager. Now I play the game as an adult.”
Especially Old School RuneScape retains its players due to the familiarity, as Senior Product Manager Mathew Kemp explains in an interview. It is kept simple, the mechanics are by no means simplified, and much of the content takes a long time. But because of the nostalgia that players feel with no other MMORPG, they stay.
However, there are not only veterans in RuneScape. According to Mathew Kemp, young players also find their way into the game.
We summarize some of the voices from the Steam reviews of both game versions for you:
- kosmos after 2,700 hours: “You never really leave RuneScape. You just take different lengths of breaks.”
- General Sith after 2,100 hours: “If you get addicted to games quickly: Run away… or not. I started playing in 2005 and ‘stopped’ in 2012. I returned in 2014, ‘stopped’ again in 2015, and started again in 2016. You can’t escape; you just take breaks.”
- Nazeracoo after 1,100 hours: “I’ve been playing the game since I was 11 and have never stopped.”
- Blissfull Ignorance after 1,000 hours: “I lost my wife because of the game.”
Is it worth starting RuneScape in 2023?
Even in 2022, there are MMORPG fans who have not yet tried RuneScape. It seems to never be too late to start in the MMORPG.
In both game versions, you’ll encounter fellow players, so you are certainly not in a “dead” MMORPG. According to the Steam reviews, they will likely remain or at least return after a break.
For veterans, nostalgia is at the forefront, but new players who do not value great graphics can also find enjoyment in RuneScape.
Players agree that RuneScape, both the old and the more modern version, offers a tremendous amount of content. Even 22 years after release, there is always something new being added.
How much does RuneScape cost? The base game is free, but it offers a premium membership that costs you €10.99 per month. This then gives you more quests, 11 additional classes, and the ability to own your own house.
What do you think about RuneScape? Which version do you play? Are you also among the players who have never let go of the MMORPG? Feel free to let us know in the comments here on MeinMMO!
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