RuneScape - The Re-Review 2023 Edition

mmorpg.com:

RuneScape is one of the oldest MMORPGs and it has created a legacy for itself that many modern games can only hope to achieve. Both Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and RuneScape 3 are popular in 2023 and have a loyal fanbase even amidst high-profile releases in the MMORPG spaces. 

I’ve had people tell me that RuneScape is driven purely by nostalgia and I think that’s only partially true. The game wouldn’t survive this long if it was pure nostalgia and I decided to start off on a fresh account to see what it feels like to play RuneScape in 2023 and review the game from the perspective of a new player.

One of the best things about RuneScape is that you are not tied to one “class.” you can train melee, ranged, or magic at any time and play however you wish. While I see the appeal of class systems in games, it’s nice to have games that do not restrict what you can do within the game.

While I appreciate the freedom that the game offers, I do feel that RuneScape’s combat lacks polish. There seems to be a desync between the animations and your hits landing and I shrug it off all these years as a networking issue. Project Combat covered the issue in depth last year and that is when I realized that it was just how the game is designed. 

But the inconveniences aside, you can master melee, ranged, and magic and take on any content with a single character. All three playstyles are viable and you can max out your stats over time and be prepared for any type of content. On my new account, I started off with Magic and had no trouble during my leveling experience. 

Every time you achieve a new milestone, it feels like there’s something new to do. It is an endless cycle as a new player and there are no goals in RuneScape. You get to