RuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Jagex. Created by Andrew Gower with assistance from his brother Paul Gower, it was first released on 4 January 2001 as a Java-based browser game; the original Java client was later largely replaced by the standalone C++ NXT client in 2016. The game is set in the medieval fantasy world of Gielinor, where players control customisable avatars and pursue open-ended activities such as questing, combat, skill training, trading, socialising, minigames and cooperative play.
Several major versions of RuneScape have been released. The original version became known as RuneScape Classic after the release of RuneScape 2 in 2004, while RuneScape 3, the third major iteration of the main game, was released in July 2013. Old School RuneScape, a separate game based on an August 2007 build, was released in February 2013 and is maintained alongside the main game. Old School RuneScape was released for iOS and Android in 2018; the main RuneScape game was released on Steam in 2020 and on iOS and Android in 2021.
RuneScape is recognised for its longevity and scale. Jagex has reported that more than 300 million accounts have been created for the franchise, and Guinness World Records has listed RuneScape as the MMO video game with the most users. By January 2026, RuneScape and Old School RuneScape had generated more than US$3 billion in lifetime revenue. The game has also drawn criticism over changes to trading, player-versus-player combat and microtransactions. In January 2026, Jagex removed the Treasure Hunter microtransaction system after a community vote.
