Late October brought an unusual cluster of MMO launches, and World of Warcraft: Forever arrives on November 4 to cap it off. They are very different games. Some are "MMO-lite" worlds built for a few dozen friends and strangers; others are large free-to-play services. Here is what each one is, roughly what it costs and who we think it suits.
Everlast: Undying Tale
InSpades' Everlast entered Steam Early Access on October 28. It calls itself an MMO-lite action RPG and "a love letter to MMO classics," with public worlds of up to 100 players. You can also play solo or privately with a few friends. Progression is skill-based: you improve skills such as woodworking, occultism and fishing by using them, and the developers say progress comes much faster than in the classics that inspired it. [1]
It is on Windows, macOS and Linux, listed at CA$29.99 with a 20 percent launch discount when we checked. [1] Who it suits: players who miss the skill-grind rhythm of older MMOs but want it in shorter sessions, in a world small enough to recognize people.
Scramble Knights Online
Funktronic Labs' Scramble Knights Online entered Early Access on October 26. It is another MMO-lite: a shared online kingdom where up to four players party up for short, Zelda-inspired quests and puzzle dungeons, then return to a town square to upgrade gear, fish and hang out. Faction PvP is optional. [2]
It is listed at CA$16.49, with a 25 percent launch discount when we checked, and runs on Windows and Linux. [2] Who it suits: friends who want bite-sized co-op adventures with a social hub, not a second job.
VAMPIR
Netmarble's VAMPIR launched in more regions worldwide on October 27, after earlier releases in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Japan. It runs on mobile and on PC through the Epic Games Store, with full cross-platform support. It was built by developers at Netmarble Neo who previously led Lineage 2: Revolution and Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds. [3]
This is a large, mobile-first Korean MMORPG with a gothic horror setting and themes of blood, desire and destruction. [3] Expect mature themes, and expect the systems and monetization style typical of the genre. Who it suits: players who enjoy big mobile-and-PC MMORPGs and want a darker setting.
MapleStory Classic World
Nexon's MapleStory Classic World opened globally on October 21. It returns to the early days of MapleStory, with the original progression and job advancements plus some features for modern players, and it is free to play. Nexon presents it as a complement to the main game rather than a replacement, with a more relaxed and social pace. [4]
We looked at what "classic" means for Classic World before launch. Who it suits: returning players who remember the original, and anyone curious about a slower 2D MMO.
World of Warcraft: Forever
The biggest of the group launches on November 4: a long-term, level-60 version of Azeroth with new zones, quests, dungeons and a new playable race. [5] Access is included with a WoW subscription or Game Time. [6] Our launch-week guide covers what to sort out first.
Which one to try
If you want an old-school MMO feel without a huge time commitment, Everlast is the most interesting experiment here. If you have a regular group of friends, Scramble Knights is the easiest to pick up together. MapleStory Classic World and WoW: Forever are for players who want a big, established world, and only one of them asks for a subscription.
Playable demo: None of these games has a demo. MapleStory Classic World and VAMPIR are free to play; Everlast and Scramble Knights Online are paid Early Access games; WoW: Forever requires a subscription or Game Time.
Sources and reporting
- Everlast: Undying Tale — InSpades / Steam. Published or updated: date not listed. Supports: October 28 Early Access launch, MMO-lite 100-player servers, solo/private/public play, skill-based progression, platforms and current Canadian price.
- Scramble Knights Online — Funktronic Labs / Steam. Published or updated: date not listed. Supports: October 26 Early Access, MMO-lite shared kingdom, co-op for up to four, opt-in faction PvP, town square, platforms and current Canadian price.
- Netmarble Sets October 27 Global Launch Date for Vampire-Themed MMORPG — Netmarble via Gamespress. Published or updated: October 16, 2026. Supports: Global launch time, PC through Epic Games Store and mobile, cross-platform support, Netmarble Neo developers, earlier regional launches and gothic horror themes.
- Global MapleStory Classic World Officially Launched Today — MMOBomb. Published or updated: October 21, 2026. Supports: October 21 global launch, free-to-play model, original progression and job advancements, complement to the main game.
- World of Warcraft: Forever Goes Live Globally November 4! — Blizzard Entertainment. Published or updated: October 29, 2026. Supports: November 4 launch, level 60 cap, rulesets and launch content.
- Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth — Blizzard Entertainment. Published or updated: September 12, 2026. Supports: Access through a subscription or Game Time.
About the author
Able, Chief Editor
Able has spent six years reviewing games and following the stories around them. He focuses on what changed, what is worth a player’s time, and the context that gets lost in the announcement cycle.
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