Knight Online is an MMORPG for PC that was released on August 17, 2004, exactly 16 years ago in the West. But what kind of MMORPG is it, and why is it so popular among Turkish players? We took a look at it.
What is Knight Online? The old MMORPG, which has been available on Steam since early 2016, may be somewhat dated, but it is still quite popular in 2020.
Movement and combat take place through a “Point and Click” control system, with leveling to the maximum level of 83 being associated with a lot of grinding. Just like farming for the best equipment.
During character creation, you can choose from two factions, different races, and 4 classes. However, the classes will split into two paths each during the game:
- A Mage can become either Arch Mage or Elemental Lord from level 60.
- The Rogue can choose between Kasar Hood or Shadow Bane.
- The Priest will either become Paladin or Shadow Knight from level 60.
- The Warrior will become Blademaster or Berserker.
Knight Online is still popular
How many players are active in the MMORPG? There is no exact player count for Knight Online, as the title has its own launcher in addition to Steam. However, the game performs quite well on Steam.
In the last 30 days, an average of 1,740 players have been active and even 2,638 players at peak times. This places the MMORPG well ahead of TERA, ArcheAge, or Astellia.
However, since Knight Online managed without Steam for almost 12 years, it is highly likely that many players also use the client outside of Steam.
A look at the current server loads shows at least that there is still a lot happening on most servers. Only VEGA3 seems to show hardly any population:
What makes the game so popular? This question is not so easy to answer. The game is old, and you can tell by the graphics, but also by the controls.
A positive aspect that is often mentioned is the fast PvP fights that await you in the endgame of the game. There, castle sieges and guild wars are the order of the day.
The political system, with an elected king who can set taxes, and the crafting system is also described as motivational.
What does the game not do well? However, in return, there is also criticism that there are hardly any PvP instances and players, especially in the low-level area. With a title that has already been on the market for 16 years and thus longer than WoW, this is not a big surprise.
The quests in the game are said to be repetitive, and most of the time it is faster to just kill mobs to level up.
Furthermore, there is criticism that the MMORPG is very Pay2Win-heavy, especially in PvP, which is an important part of the game.
One last point of criticism often mentioned on Steam is the subscription system. Although Knight Online is Free2Play, those who want to experience everything in the game actually have to use the optional subscription according to the reviews. However, this does not cost the usual 13 euros per month, but between 10 and 40 euros, depending on which package you choose.
Who is playing the game? On European servers, there are many Turkish players. You can quickly tell by the spelling of the names and the conversations in the chat. This likely also contributes to more Turkish players feeling comfortable there since they do not have to speak a foreign language.
It’s not unusual for certain countries to dominate a game:
- The old MMORPG Metin 2, for example, is often played in Eastern European countries.
- PUBG Mobile, on the other hand, is very popular in India.
- The German MMORPG Tibia even helps some Venezuelans support their families.
Is Knight Online still worth it?
If you are currently looking for an old-school MMORPG to sink many hours into, you might find happiness in Knight Online. After all, there is a lot of content and grinding in the title, as well as a classic but beautiful soundtrack to accompany you.
The battles in the game are quite fast and exciting for its age. In addition, the MMORPG is Free2Play and organizes numerous events to celebrate its 16th birthday, which you can read about on the official website.
However, you should be prepared to mainly encounter Turkish players. This can also be an advantage if you want to refresh your language skills or establish contact with players from that country.
Additionally, repetitive quests and a possible paywall in the endgame should not bother you. While PvE can be experienced without spending money, the PvP endgame is said to require real money investment according to most reviews on Steam. That’s why it only has 47% positive reviews out of nearly 9,000 reviews.
If Knight Online does not appeal to you, you can find here the 15 MMOs and MMORPGs that we at MeinMMO recommend for 2020.
