EverQuest

EverQuest is the hit MMORPG that brought the genre into the mainstream. Originally developed by 989 Studios and published by Sony Online, the game was a passion project that aimed to take the multi-user dungeons, a text-based online multiplayer RPG genre, into 3D. It was one of the earliest games of the time to require 3D acceleration, and was both infamous and lauded for its demanding, difficult, social game play. The MMO is heavily based off of the mechanics of Dungeons and Dragons, requiring spell memorization, the consumption of food and drink, and group play in order to survive its harsh, daunting world.

EverQuest is still active to this day, with a dedicated community of fans and multiple servers both in the live and time locked progression styles, where the game cycle starts fresh every few years and slowly unlocks expansions as time moves forward so that new players can have a chance to experience a more classic representation of the game. It also enjoys the presence of fan-run servers, the most popular being Project 1999, which aims to take the game back to its roots by being as faithful a representation of the core game and its first two expansions as possible, all with the blessing of Daybreak games.

Although the population has been in decline, EverQuest still remains one of the more unique MMO experiences on the market, with new content and expansions released on a regular basis. It was succeeded by EverQuest 2, EverQuest Online Adventures, and the canceled EverQuest: Next.