MUD games are the focus of this category. Originally known variously as Multi-User Dungeons, Multi-User Dimensions, or Multi-User Domains, MUDs are like MORPGs, only text-based.
MUDs include elements of role-playing games, player-versus-player combat, interactive fiction, and online chat. MUDs are text-based RPGs, generally set in a fantasy world populated by fictional races and monsters. As with other RPGs, players choose a character class, defined as a job or profession, that is used to determine the varying abilities of different game characters.
Player objectives in a MUD include exploring the fantasy world, completing quests, going on adventures, slaying monsters, and participating in a story through roleplaying, as well as advancing the player's character. Many MUDs were patterned after the tabletop Dungeons and Dragons games.
While fantasy settings are common on MUDs, others use settings from medieval Europe, or even science fiction settings, sometimes based on books, movies, or historical eras.
Some MUDs are designed more for educational purposes, rather than as games, while others are largely chatting environments.
Although MMORPGs have claimed a large number of players who might otherwise participate in MUDs, there are still a large number of active MUDs, some of which are hugely popular. Some MUDs are operated as hobbies and are free to players. Others accept donations or are funded in part through in-game purchases of virtual items, while others charge a monthly subscription fee.
MUDs are accessed through telnet clients or through specialized MUD clients.
The origins of MUDs go back to early text-based adventure games, many of which included elements of D&D. In the late 1970s, a multiuser text adventure game was developed by a student at the University of Essex for the DEC PDP-10. He named his game MUD, for Multi-User Dungeon. The game was later converted to BCPL, a predecessor of the C programming language. That game, later known as Essex MUD and MUD1, became widely accessible when a guest account was set up that allowed users on JANET to connect to it on weekends and from 2:00 am to 8:00 am on weekdays. It became the first multiuser online roleplaying game in 1980 when JANET connected to ARPANet. This game closed in 1987 under pressure from CompuServe, to whom its author licensed the game.
Another early MUD was MIST, a derivative of MUD1, that also ran on the University of Essex network, but it shut down when the PDP-10 that hosted it was replaced in 1991.
In 1985, MUDS began to be hosted on computer bulletin board systems (BBS), some of which included Gods and MirrorWorld. Gods became the first commercial MUD in 1988.
CompuNet, a UK-based interactive service provider catering primarily to the Commodore 64, then the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST, launched the Multi-User Galaxy Game, which was essentially a SciFi-themed MUD. It was alter renamed Federation II, although no Federation I existed at the time. Begun in 1989, it was later acquired by AOL, where it became known as Federation: Adult Space Fantasy.
The traditional MUD is played much like a text adventure game. The room that a player is standing in is described to him, including a list of objects, players, and non-player characters in the area, as well as any known exits. To advance play, the player would enter a text command, such as "take gem" or "attack dragon". Movement is accomplished by entering the direction that the player wishes to go, or an abbreviation of it, such as "north" or simply "n". Some MUD clients include functions that make tasks easier within the game, such as buttons that can be clicked on to move in a specific direction or to pick up an item. Within the available MUDs, there are variations in the overall focus of the game, the gameplay, and in-game mechanics, genres, and other features.
A graphical MUD is a MUD that uses computer graphics to represent portions of the virtual world to visitors rather than depending entirely on text. Graphical MUDs require players to download a special client as well as the game's artwork. At a point which has not been definitively established, a graphical MUD becomes a MORPG or an MMORPG and would be listed in that category instead. Unless the use of graphics is severely limited within the game, graphical MUDs should be listed in the MORPG/MMORPG category. However, if the game is defined as a MUD, we will accept it in this category.
Otherwise, appropriate sites for this category are those representing text-based MUDs, MUD portals, or other sites whose topic is focused on MUDs.
Recommended Resources
The RPG is a text-based roleplaying game set in the fantasy world of Andolor, where magic is commonplace and there are hundreds of exotic realms to explore, quests to complete, and puzzles to solve. Each area of the game includes a line-of-sight overhead map that shows other characters and nearby places of interest. The MUD includes an in-game help system, as well as volunteer helpers who can help new players get started. An introduction is presented on the site.
http://www.aardwolf.com/
Developed and published by Iron Realms Entertainment has been under constant development since 1995, during which time it has built an active player community. Players in the text-based MUD explore a fantasy world that revolves around six city-states and their respective houses. Players can fight monsters for experience points and treasure, complete quests for non-player characters, and interact with other players, including player versus player combat.
https://www.achaea.com/
Created in 1998, the text-based, multi-user dungeon (MUD) game is set in the fantasy world of Tharei. Within the game, players are given the opportunity to experience the game world as one of nine different classes and seventeen different races, each with unique abilities. Also included are twelve unique gods and goddesses, with a temple devoted to each, and players may choose their religion. An overview of the game, player rankings, area maps, and a forum are available.
https://www.tharel.net/
Released in 1989, Avalon is a text-based role-playing adventure game and has maintained a continuous presence online, with player histories since the late 1980s, making it the longest continuously running online RPG ever. The game follows in the tradition of another early multi-user dungeon (MUD) games. Players are invited to fully immerse themselves in the game world, which is one of merchants and thieves, princes and gods, dragon, and other creatures. A guide to the game is included.
https://www.avalon-rpg.com/
Developed and published by Drizzly Bear for the Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms, Hack MUD is a massively multiplayer online video game that simulates 1990s hacker subculture through text-based adventure. Gameplay requires the use of social engineering, scripting, and cracks in a text-based terminal, with the goal of influencing and controlling other players in the simulation. The game requires a personal computer with keyboard attachment and dedicated Internet connection.
https://www.hackmud.com/
Originally published for computer bulletin board systems in 1989, LORD is a text-based online role-playing video game that operates on DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows. As MUDs began to overtake BBS door games, LORD went out of production for a time, but development was continued in 2001, but its last release was in 2009. This game is a browser-based RPG based on the original game and licensed under a Creative Commons License. A modder forum is available.
http://www.lotgd.net/
Created in 1990, Lost Souls is a MUD, which is a text-based online role-playing game set in a medieval fantasy world. The game is accessed through a telnet client or specialized MUD agent, and the interface is text-based, in the style of a text-based adventure game, although the structure of the game follows common roleplaying conventions, with characters exploring the world, going on quests for experience, gold, and items, and fighting with one another.
https://lostsouls.org/
Free to play online, through Telnet, or another client, Materia Magica is a multi-user dungeon (MUD) role-playing game created in 1996. Originally known as Moongate, the old-school, text adventure game requires no subscription fees, but reward units may be purchased or players may opt to subscribe to its patron perk program. The game world and its inhabitants are described, a game guide is available, plus game news and a player discussion forum are included.
https://www.materiamagica.com/
SWmud is a modified LPmud based on the Star Wars universe. While the game is not primarily a role-playing MUD, roleplaying is not forbidden as long as it’s within the rules, which are posted on the site. Most of the MUD is set during the time period of the Star Wars trilogy, and the game includes around forty planets and space stations, averaging between 150-200 rooms each, some approaching 1,000. Characters attributions include strength, dexterity, technical, mechanical, and force.
http://www.swmud.org/
Text-RPG allows members to view, rate, discuss and participate in online text, play-by-post role-playing games and MMORPGs for free. Its text RPGs are sorted by genre or type. A text RPG is an update to the 1980s text adventures, with more details and enhancements. Text RPG genres include medieval, science fiction, drama, detective, superhero, Matrix, horror, religious, dungeons and dragons, and book share. MMORPG options are included.
https://www.text-rpg.com/
Although it might also be considered an MMORPG, given the number of players and the roleplaying genre, but Time of Castles is a browser-based text-based game, based in medieval times. Players join thousands of other players, develop skills, battle enemies, and joining epic wars between orders. The game may be played on any computer, with no downloads required, and there is no charge for registering an account. A description of the game and screenshots are featured.
https://timeofcastles.com/
This is a directory of multi-user Internet games based on fantasy, science fiction, cyberpunk, book themes, or something else, the most common being Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) sites, but including similar sites based on other themes. The site also includes forums, where players and implementors discuss coding, rules, themes, and other MUD-related topics, as well as an articles section, where knowledgeable players and implementers discuss MUD-related topics, although anyone can submit an article.
http://www.topmudsites.com/
A free online text based role playing game with over 40,000 daily players. Torn is a crime themed MMORPG played directly through your web browser and is massively multiplayer. Game features include committing crimes, getting a job or running a business, joining factions, getting an education, buying properties, attacking other players, trading items, trading on the Torn City stock market, getting married, racing stolen cars, and more.
https://www.torn.com/
