List of MUDs

Last updated

This is a chronological list of notable MUDs with summary information.

Contents

Legend

TitleThe MUD's title; if it has had more than one title, the most recent title. Disambiguation is included only when MUDs in this list have the same title.
FoundedThe date the MUD was founded or first made publicly accessible.
ClosedThe date the MUD ceased to be publicly accessible. A blank entry indicates the MUD continues to operate.
Business modelA brief description of the MUD's business model. "Free" means the MUD has no revenue stream. "Subscription" means that the MUD charges a periodic subscription fee for access or for a set level of in-game benefits, such as a "full" or "non-trial" account. "Pay for perks" means that the MUD accepts payments (which may be called "donations") and provides in-game benefits in exchange for them, on an à la carte basis. "Donation-supported" means that the MUD accepts payments, but its policies exclude providing in-game benefits in exchange for them. "Donation-drive supported" means that the MUD accepts payments, with policies excluding providing in-game benefits in exchange for them, only at specific times for specific purposes (most typically hardware upgrades), and does not accept payments at other times. "Freebie marketing" means that the MUD, by its existence, provides a purchase incentive for external goods.
DeveloperThe company that carried out development of the MUD, or if the MUD was not developed by a company, major individual contributors, if known by real name; "Et al." indicates other contributors, often a large number of participants in a project community.
PublisherAny third parties that published the MUD. A blank entry indicates independent publication. "Independent" may also appear with a list of third parties to indicate that the MUD was independently published in addition to being published by third parties.
SettingA summary of the genre of the MUD's setting or, if applicable, the specific setting it is based on.
StyleA summary of the style or styles of interaction the MUD focuses on.
FamilyThe general family of MUD server software that the MUD is associated with, if any.
CodebaseThe specific server software the MUD is based on; a blank entry indicates independently developed, custom infrastructure. Multiple items indicate different codebases the MUD has used over time.
MudlibThe mudlib the MUD is based on, if any.
ContributionsPublicly released software originating with the MUD or other public contributions.
NotesOther brief and significant information: MUDs in this article that are versions of one another, category origination, key clarifications. Not for general information about the MUD.

List

TitleFoundedClosedBusiness modelDeveloperPublisherSettingStyleFamilyCodebase Mudlib Contri­butionsNotes
MUD1 1978Free Roy Trubshaw, Richard Bartle Fantasy Hack and slash Essex MUDDL MUDDL The first MUD; see also British Legends
MAD 19841986FreeBruno Chabrier, Vincent Lextrait BITNET Fantasy Hack and slash
Island of Kesmai 19852000 Subscription Kesmai CompuServe Fantasy Hack and slash, roguelike See also Legends of Kesmai
MUD2 1985Free Richard Bartle Fantasy Hack and slash Essex MUDDL Successor to MUD1
AberMUD 19871987Free Alan Cox, Richard Acott, Jim Finnis, Leon Thrane Fantasy Hack and slash AberMUD AberMUD AberMUD The first AberMUD
British Legends 19871999 Subscription Roy Trubshaw, Richard Bartle CompuServe Fantasy Hack and slash Essex MUDDL Commercial version of MUD1
GemStone 1988 Subscription Simutronics GEnie, AOL, independent High fantasy Hack and slash
Avalon 1989FreeYehuda Simmons Fantasy Politics, player versus player, roleplaying Pioneered plotted quests.
TinyMUD 19891990Free James Aspnes Cross-genre Social MU* TinyMUD TinyMUD
Genesis LPMud 1989Free Lars Pensjö, Carl Hallén, Jakob Hallén, Lennart Augustsson, Johan Andersson, Anders Chrigström, Ronny Wikh, Stas van der Schaaf, Tony Elmroth, Dave Richards, Thornsten Lockert, Felix Croes et al. Medieval fantasy Roleplaying LPMud LPMud, CD CD LPMud, CD gamedriver and mudlib The first LPMud
TinyTIM 1990Free Jason Scott Sadofsky et al. Cross-genre Social MU* TinyMUD, MUSH
BatMUD 1990 Pay for perks B.A.T. ry Fantasy Hack and slash, player versus player LPMud LPMud
FurryMUCK 1990 Donation-supported Furry Social, roleplaying MU* TinyMUCK
LambdaMOO 1990Free Pavel Curtis et al. Xerox PARC, independent Cross-genre Social MU* MOO LambdaCore
MicroMUSE 1990Free Cross-genre Educational, social MU* MUSH, TinyMUSE TinyMUSE Arguably first educational MUD
Lost Souls 1990 Pay for perks Michael Rice, Rebecca Willey, Matthew Sheahan et al. Medieval fantasy Hack and slash, roleplaying LPMud LPMud 2.4.5, LPMud 3.1.2, Amylaar, LDMud Ain Soph
TubMUD 1990Free Medieval fantasy Hack and slash, roleplaying LPMud LPMud 2.4.5, Amylaar, LDMud TublibFirst MUD hosted in Germany
Ancient Anguish 1991 Donation-supported Balz Meierhans, Olivier Maquelin et al. Fantasy Hack and slash LPMud Amylaar Loch Ness
Armageddon 1991 Donation-supported, freebie marketing Dan Brumleve, Nasri Hajj, Santiago Zorzopulos, Cat Rambo et al. Post-apocalyptic low fantasy Roleplaying DikuMUD DikuMUD
DikuMUD 19911991FreeSebastian Hammer, Michael Seifert, Hans Henrik Staerfeldt, Tom Madsen, Katja Nyboe Fantasy Hack and slash DikuMUD DikuMUD DikuMUD Refers to the first DikuMUD at freja.diku.dk 4000
Discworld MUD 1991FreeDavid Bennett, Craig Richmond, Sean A. Reith, Evan Scott, Derek Harding, Jake Greenland et al. Discworld Hack and slash, roleplaying, social LPMud LPMud, MudOS, FluffOS Discworld Discworld mudlib, FluffOS
Dragon's Gate 19912006 Subscription Darrin Hyrup GEnie, AOL, Mythic Realms, independent Fantasy Hack and slash, roleplaying
Elendor 1991Free Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, social MU* MUSH
PernMUSH 19912014Free Pern Roleplaying, social MU* MUSH
Star Wars MUSH 1991Free Star Wars Roleplaying, social MU* MUSH
Xyllomer 1991Free Fantasy Roleplaying LPMud LPMud, DGD CD First public DGD MUD
Genocide 1992Free Fantasy Player versus player LPMud LPMud, MudOS, Amylaar First "pure PK" MUD
AmberMUSH 19922009FreeJennifer Smith et al. Amber Roleplaying MU* TinyMUSH
Infinity (LPMud) 1992FreePeter William Friedman, Bill Mackiewicz et al. Cross-genre Hack and slash, social, player versus player LPMud LPMud 3.1.2, LDMud LPMud 2.4.5
3Kingdoms 1992 Pay for perks Cross-genre Hack and slash LPMud LDMud
The Shadow of Yserbius 19921996 Subscription Sierra On-Line The Sierra Network, The ImagiNation Network, AOL Fantasy Hack and slash, graphical
MorgenGrauen 1992Free Medieval fantasy Hack and slash LPMud LDMud MorgenGrauen MorgenGrauen Mudlib
Diversity University 19932006FreeJeanne McWhorter et al. Modern Educational MU* MOO First educational MOO, arguably first educational MUD
BioMOO 19932001FreeGustavo Glusman, Jaime Prilusky et al. Modern Educational MU* MOO File Utilities Package, intermoo GNA Network
Infinity (AberMUD) 1993Free Fantasy Hack and slash AberMUD AberMUD
BayMOO 1993FreeTim Keanini et al. Modern Social, educational MU* MOO
MediaMOO 19932000Free Amy S. Bruckman et al. Modern Educational MU* MOO Mirror archived at Clemson University
DragonSpires 19941997 Pay for perks Dragon's Eye Productions Fantasy Social, roleplaying, graphical
LegendMUD 1994Free Raph Koster, Kristen Koster, Rick Delashmit, Sherry Delashmit et al. Historical fantasy Hack and slash DikuMUD DikuMUD
Legends of Terris 1994 Subscription Paul Barnett, Doug Goldner, Online Games Company Fantasy Hack and slash, roleplaying Horizon Engine
Realms of Despair 1994FreeDerek Snider et al. Fantasy Hack and slash DikuMUD Merc 2, SMAUG SMAUG
LinguaMOO 1995FreeCynthia Haynes, Jan Rune Holmevik et al. Modern Educational MU* MOO
ATHEMOO 19952010FreeJuli Burk et al. Modern Educational, theatrical MU* MOO
The Ruins of Cawdor 19951996 Subscription Sierra On-Line The Sierra Network, The ImagiNation Network, AOL Fantasy Hack and slash, graphical
DragonRealms 1996 Subscription Simutronics GEnie, AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy, Microsoft Gaming Zone, independent Fantasy Hack and slash, roleplaying, player versus player
MOOSE Crossing 19962007Free Amy S. Bruckman et al. Modern Educational MU* MOO
Legends of Kesmai 19962000 Subscription Kesmai independent, AOL, GameStorm, EA Fantasy Hack and slash, graphical, roguelike Tile-graphics version of Island of Kesmai
TorilMUD 1996FreeKris Kortright et al. Forgotten Realms Hack and slash DikuMUD Sequent
Achaea, Dreams of Divine Lands 1997 Pay for perks, subscription Iron Realms Entertainment Fantasy Roleplaying, Player versus player RaptureATCP
Alter Aeon 1997 Pay for perks Dennis Towne et al. Medieval fantasy Hack and slash DikuMUD DentinMUD
ifMUD 1997FreeLiza Daly et al. Interactive fiction Social MU* PerlMUD Hosts the XYZZY Awards
Darkness Falls: The Crusade 19992006 Subscription Mythic Entertainment GameStorm, AOL, Centropolis Entertainment Fantasy Player versus player
Legacy of the Sith 2001Free Star Wars Hack and slash, Politics, player versus player, roleplaying, DikuMUD SWR FotE Oldest SWR MUD still running
RuneScape 2001 Subscription, pay for perks Jagex Fantasy Hack and slash, graphical
Wyvern 20012013FreeCabochon Inc. Fantasy Hack and slash, graphical, roguelike
God Wars II 2002FreeRichard Woolcock et al. Dark fantasy Player versus player Gladiator Pits IIGladiator Pits II, MSDP
HellMOO 20032022Free Post-apocalyptic player versus player MU* MOO

References

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