By With continuous subscription price hikes and the in-game ad controversy, RuneScape developers are on the path to becoming the Adobe of game developers.
RuneScape is a unique game, but Jagex’s repeated blackmailing of the player base is beyond disgusting. Enough is enough; let’s find a great RuneScape alternative for you to try this year.
While it’s certainly difficult to find a game like RuneScape, I came across a few games that offer a similar vibe. RuneScape is mainly about life-skilling and questing. And the games on this list do a great job of offering both.
Have a look.
1. Albion Online
Albion Online is the closest thing you’ll get to a RuneScape alternative. This game looks and feels a lot like RuneScape but in a different way.
Albion Online is a sandbox MMO that lets you play the game however you like. It features a somewhat interesting questline that you can enjoy solo, has tons of life-skilling to level up, has different professions to try out, and even includes PVP stuff.
Albion Online features a classless character system where you can freely switch between different classes and even try out different professions. At one point, I went from doing combat-related content to making money doing trading and mining.
Albion Online is free to play, but there are some pay-to-win elements to it. I enjoyed the game for a while, mainly because I can cross-play the game using my PC and mobile. There’s also a subscription that is mainly for convenience.
2. Project Gorgon
If you’re going after that classic computer game vibe of the original RuneScape, then this game will be right up your alley.
Project Gorgon is an old-school MMO-style game that features retro-style graphics and a lot of life-skilling, just like RuneScape.
You can pick a profession and create your own path in the game to enjoy it however you want. From taming animals to farming loot, the choice is all yours.
This game also features lots of questing with NPCs that give out quests and rewards. The best part is that the game has a free demo that you can try out before buying the game.
3. Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker
Most folks who play RuneScape, play it for the questing and leveling a character. They rarely engage in online and multiplayer activities. This game is perfect for those gamers.
Black Grimoire is basically an offline, single-player version of RuneScape. It features questing, leveling, and many other activities similar to RuneScape. The only difference is that the game is completely offline and single-player only. And it has slightly better graphics.
For an indie game, Black Grimoire is very addictive and enjoyable. And in some aspects, it’s better than RuneScape as well.
Some folks have encountered bugs in the game, but honestly, for a $15 game that’s capable of delivering hundreds of hours’ worth of gameplay, can you really complain?
4. Guild Wars 2
Even though Guild Wars 2 doesn’t have the life-skilling aspect of RuneScape, it features tons of questing to keep you busy for months.
Unlike RuneScape, you can buy GW2 for a one-off price along with its DLCs and enjoy it for years. With GW3 on the horizon, the entire game will likely go on sale very soon.
GW2 features some of the most creative mechanics, including the jump puzzles that the game is well-known for. GW2 also has a free trial version with limited access to starting regions and without marketplace access.
5. Guild Wars Reforged
Guild Wars Reforged is the remastered version of the first Guild Wars game, which just landed on Steam.
Guild Wars Reforged perfectly captures that old-school RuneScape vibe with its classic visuals and janky combat that is kind of nostalgic and fun.
The game doesn’t have a ton of active players so don’t expect it to feel as alive as GW2 let alone RuneScape. But this game is perfect for solo players to just freely enjoy questing and grinding levels.
Guild Wars Reforged can be bought for a single price with optional DLCs you to get later.
6. World of Warcraft
I know it doesn’t make sense to ditch one subscription-based game for another, but at least Blizzard doesn’t have plans to introduce in-game ads in WoW.
If you’re willing to pay the subscription, WoW will offer you countless hours of questing and fun battles, raids, questing, and lots of other activities.
WoW also has a free trial version that allows you to level a character up to level 40. But I recommend you try Guild Wars 2 and GW Reforged before jumping into WoW.
7. Enshrouded
Enshrouded quickly became a massive hit among MMORPG fans for its deep RPG mechanics, exploration, and crafting system.
Enshrouded is not an MMORPG, but it features many aspects that are similar to RuneScape. The character leveling, crafting, questing, and the map exploration aspects of this game are quite satisfying.
The game also supports co-op play but I just love playing this game solo. It has a vibe that blends RPG elements from games like Skyrim and Minecraft with questing and exploration to offer a unique experience.
Enshrouded is on its way to 1.0 release and will be released on consoles as well.
8. Valheim
Valheim is not exactly an MMORPG. It’s not even in the same genre as RuneScape. But for some reason, many RuneScape players recommend this as a great alternative.
Valheim does feature a similarly janky play style with somewhat classic-looking graphics. It also has lots of questing and life-skilling that will get you going.
On top of that, you will be able to put your creativity to the test with building houses and structures as well.
9. Elder Scrolls Online
ESO is one of the favorite MMORPGs. This game may not look anything like RuneScape but it has some of the coolest quests you’ll ever find.
I’ve played ESO solo for many years, and I still haven’t completed the entire map. The game has thousands of side-quests, achievements, and skills to master. It will take at least a couple of years for you to complete all the DLCs.
ESO has a different style of life skilling. You can follow many roles like crafting, fishing, and even treasure hunting, while leveling your respective skills. And then there’s the campaign quests and side quests to chase after as well. And every quest in the game has voice overs.
ESO usually goes on sale with all the DLCs in a bundle for pretty cheap.
10. Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic, or SWTOR, is another great MMO you can try to scratch that RuneScape itch. However, this game is mainly suitable for Star Wars fans.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a free-to-play MMORPG that has a very engaging campaign that you can play solo. You can actually play a huge chunk of the game for free and level your character all the way to 60. But to access all the content in the game, you will need a subscription.
Thankfully, you can unlock all the content by just getting the subscription for one month. Then you will have access to all the content even after cancelling the subscription. But of course, there are some caveats.
11. EverQuest II
EverQuest II is another classic game loved by many MMO players. This game also features classic questing gameplay with old-school graphics.
Personally, I couldn’t get into this game, but if you enjoy games like RuneScape, this is not a bad alternative to try out.
EverQuest II has a free-to-play version with limited access. But to get full access, you’ll have to pay for the subscription, which costs just as much as RuneScape.
12. Crimson Desert
I know this game doesn’t deserve to be mentioned on a list full of games with classic, nostalgic vibes. But Crimson Desert is actually a great RPG that can feed your addiction to loot and questing.
Truth be told, the storytelling side of this game lacks depth and engagement. But it excels in every other aspect.
Crimson Desert will easily net you 200 hours of gameplay full of exploration, questing, upgrading gear, and incredible combat.
13. Black Desert Online
I’ll do anything to avoid paying for game subscriptions. I’ll even go as far as to play a P2W game like Black Desert Online. There, I said it.
Jokes aside, BDO is one of my favorite games. It does have a ton of P2W elements but those are only required if you want to play competitively. The game is solo-friendly and has tons of (hot) characters for you to play around with.
BDO also has life-skilling aspects, which are fun. The questing, however, doesn’t even come close to the quality of RuneScape or ESO.
BDO is developed by the same folks behind Crimson Desert. So try this game if you want the same stuff as Crimson Desert but as an MMO.
14. Project Zomboid
If you’re tired of all the BS of playing online games and MMOs, go give Project Zomboid a try. This indie game goes even more hardcore in terms of life-skilling than RuneScape, and it’s a ton of fun.
It takes place in a zombie apocalypse, and your goal is to survive. You get to level up different skills to make your life easier. Sounds simple, but it’s pretty much like real life. Drinking the wrong type of water, running too fast, or even breaking a window is enough to get you killed in this game.
I almost quit this game in the beginning but I’m glad I stuck around because there’s no other game like it.
15. Stardew Valley
If Project Zomboid is too hardcore for you or if you much rather prefer a game with a chill vibe, there’s no game better than Stardew Valley.
Even though this game is about farming, it has lots of other life skills to master. There’s everything from fishing to mining, crafting, and even romancing in this game.
A great thing about this game is that it’s available everywhere, including on Android, iOS, and Switch. You can play it everywhere you go, and believe me, you will.
16. Grim Dawn
If you’re willing to give a new genre a try, go and try out Grim Dawn. It’s an ARPG with a completely different vibe than RuneScape. But it will keep you hooked for months.
This game is similar to games like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile, but it’s way better because there are no microtransactions, pay-to-win stuff, or even online connectivity issues.
Grim Dawn is completely offline and single-player with optional co-op but offers tons of value in terms of replayability. Questing is my favorite part of this game and there’s also tons of loot to collect and builds to try out as well.
In Conclusion
You won’t find a game like RuneScape anywhere. It’s a unique game with very addictive gameplay mechanics. And that is what made it such a successful game.
However, you shouldn’t let the developers manipulate you however they like just because you like their game. Boycott the game and show them that you, the player, hold the power. Play a couple of these RuneScape alternatives in the meantime. And maybe, the developers will learn the lesson and revert back their changes.
Hearth & Haven, Wurm Online, Mabinogi, Guild Wars Reforged.