Place 8 – Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds
Setting: Fantasy | Developer: Nexon | Platform: PC, Mobile | Release Date: April 5, 1996 | Model: Free2Play
What is known about the total number of players? In a financial report for Q2 2023 (via pdf.irpocket.com) from Neople, it states that the MMORPG has accumulated over 26 million players in the nearly 30 years since its release, with most accounts likely coming from the Asian region.
You can find more MMORPG history here:
What kind of game is this? With the start of the 3D era of MMORPGs in the West, the first relevant online role-playing game also appeared in Asia. Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds became the first million seller in the genre in 1996 despite its 2D graphics. Along with Meridian 59, the game is among the longest-lasting graphic MMORPGs.
In July 2020, a successful mobile version of the game was released. The Kingdom of the Winds is based on Korean mythology and a graphic novel and offers a flexible character system where you can take several sub-paths from the four paths of warrior, rogue, mage, and poet.
Those who reach the maximum level of 99 can continue farming experience points and exchange them for permanent bonuses in health, mana, strength, magic, and agility.
Who is this game worthwhile for? For anyone who wants to catch up on a piece of (Asian) MMORPG history, this can still be done in Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds. There are also private servers for the game, which the developers vehemently combat: MMORPG giant is going against private servers – €336,777 in fines will be due
