Have you ever heard of Royal Quest? It’s OK if you haven’t because this one likely flew under the radar even when it was new. Originally from developer Katauri Interactive and publisher 1C Online Games, this MMO made its worldwide launch on Steam back in 2014, but the developers shut down the US version in 2020. Following that, new owners BASE and Forward Gateway confirmed its return, initially projecting an October 2024 release but instead rescheduling to December 19th, 2024, as Royal Quest Online.
The game itself appears to have maintained its original form, with four classes to choose from that can branch out into two subclasses each and the promise of plenty of PvE and PvP content including boss fights, dungeons, and guild castle sieges. The game also lets players trade items for cash in the Steam Marketplace, which isn’t exactly a font of money but is still something to be careful about.
While Royal Quest Online currently sits at a “very positive” user review score, there are some meme-y and joke-laden positive reviews, while a couple of negative reviews point out that the game is a relic of its time, accuse it of being pay-to-win, and complain about a primarily Russian playerbase across all servers that supposedly has free rein to slaughter all newbies. Genre fans also voiced concerns over the new owners, raised eyebrows related to a contest that asked for suggested tags, and declared the game a “Russian cash grab.” So, you know. Happy 2025, Steam gamers.
