What are some of your favorite features of an MMORPG?
I would like to get some people's opinions on what makes an MMORPG stand out, particularly old ones that have continued to thrive.
I'm an indie developer of a 2d mmorpg (think like tibia/OSRS) and while I want my game to be unique in it's own way I also am trying to capture the nostalgia and fun of these old games.
I never played RS much but I did play a lot of tibia and some things that really make that game stand out for me are:
Character progression
There are so many aspects of character progression in tibia that have no shortcut. Between no level cap, earned skills, and the sheer volume + complexity of quests; your time spent on your character meaningfully contributes to your progression for years.
Massive world
I guess this isn't really such a stand out anymore as most modern games have huge worlds to explore.
Death penalties
Everyone complains about it when it happens to them but I honestly like the harsh penalties for death. It makes the game feel more immersive in a way. Your character is important, you must be safe and cautious.
Pace
Tibia has mostly lost this over the years but I really liked the pace of play it used to have. If you wanted to get somewhere it took you 5 minutes just to walk there. Once there you would typically engage with mobs 1 at a time and then wait 5 minutes in between respawns.
Would love to hear about your favorite game and what is something you think makes it special for you that keeps you going back to it?