RuneScape

As a game that has undergone many changes in the decades since it first debuted, RuneScape is a sprawling MMORPG that has maintained success for a long time. This fantasy adventure puts player freedom at the front of the package, letting you dive into a personal journey that's rarely limited by the game. Over two dozen skills let you craft the ideal adventurer as you explore fields filled with dangerous creatures, mountaintops, and even fiery volcanoes. Acting as a good entry point for newcomers but with enough content to keep you playing, RuneScape always provides some fantasy fun.

Main Game Features

• Massive online fantasy world to explore
• Level up in 28 different skills
• Complete quests and battle other players

Story

RuneScape takes place in a huge fantasy world called Gielinor, which encompasses numerous cities, landscapes, and areas to explore. However, unlike other MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft or The Elder Scrolls Online, there isn't exactly a main story you're pursuing. Instead, after you create your hero and complete the tutorial, you're dropped into Gielinor and encouraged to explore at your own pace. As you trot through the world, meeting characters and wandering the streets of towns, you'll encounter quests that lead you on exciting journeys to different points of interest on the map. Within these quest lines, RuneScape gets very creative, offering a variety of different types of stories set within its world. You'll get into all sorts of standard fantasy scenarios, like slaying dragons and saving maidens. However, there are also quests that feature haunted houses, vengeful bears, separated lovers, and more. That's what makes RuneScape so fun to return to time and time again, as the stories you uncover during your sessions are always unique and different. It's great to play an MMORPG that doesn't recycle the same quest content over and over.

Gameplay

When it comes to leveling up and earning experience towards skills, RuneScape is way easier than a game like FINAL FANTASY 14: Endwalker. There are 28 skills that you can improve on your character, which affect your strength in combat, resourcefulness, and more. Whether you're working on your fishing stat, woodcutting, or smithing, there's always a skill to improve in RuneScape. You'll have plenty of time to make these improvements, as the map is enormous and begs to be explored. While some places can be reached simply by foot, areas like the Isle of Souls require you to board a boat and set sail.

Conclusion

Inevitably, you'll encounter enemies during your quests, but combat in RuneScape is as simple as can be. You can take advantage of either melee, ranged, or magic attacks, each of which are more powerful depending on how high their respective skills are. Fighting enemies is simple and most of the work is done for you, so you won't need to quickly switch between skills or buffs. Players can battle each other in The Wilderness zone, where loot is on the line if you die.

Pros

• Hundreds of quests to tackle
• Active and loyal community
• Easy to learn

Cons

• Fighting feels very basic
• Lots of grinding
• Overwhelming map for beginners