2026 is the year of the classic MMO. EverQuest, MapleStory, Dragon Nest and World of Warcraft have all launched, or are about to launch, official versions built around their early years, and each takes a different approach: one is a faithful-but-modernized remake, one is a solo-friendly reimagining, and one adds brand-new content on top of the original. Here’s every official classic-style MMO launching this year, what each one actually is and what it costs.
At a Glance
EverQuest Legends
EverQuest Legends is a reimagined version of the original 1999 EverQuest, developed by Game Jawn with publisher Daybreak Game Company. It keeps the original art style, zones and music, but it’s built for solo and casual play: each character can have up to three classes at once, and content is sized for groups of up to four and raids of up to eight.
Launch content covers Antonica, Faydwer and Odus, before the Kunark expansion, with all of the original game’s playable races. The Kunark expansion, the Rujarkian Hills and the Nektropos Castle mini-expansion are on the roadmap. It’s PC only, sold through the official website for $19.99, which includes the first month, and then $9.99 a month.
Best for: EverQuest veterans who no longer have time for the original’s group-heavy grind.
MapleStory Classic World
Nexon’s MapleStory Classic World launched worldwide on October 21, 2026, free to play on Windows and macOS. It brings back Maple Island and Victoria Island, the four original jobs up to 2nd job, a level 100 cap and bosses like Mushmom and Jr. Balrog. It also adds systems the original never had: crafting, town citizenship and player housing in Henesys and Kerning City.
Nexon has more planned, including a new area called Forgotten Hollow and, later, guilds and a 3rd job test server. Read our full MapleStory Classic World overview for the details.
Best for: Anyone who played MapleStory in the 2000s and wants the official version back.
Dragon Nest Classic
Dragon Nest Classic launched in North America on October 21, 2026, recreating the early years of Eyedentity Games’ action MMO. At launch, the level cap is 32 and the four base classes are available, Warrior, Sorceress, Archer and Cleric, each with two first-job advancements. The first Nests are Minotaur Nest and Cerberus Nest, and the four main cities, including Saint Haven, are open.
It isn’t a straight copy either. The launch version adds a free skill reset after job advancement, a damage meter and adjustable camera distance, and every mount is rideable from level 1. It earns money through a costume gacha and two Monthly Passes, which also give priority in the login queue.
Best for: Action-combat fans who remember Dragon Nest’s early days.
World of Warcraft: Forever
World of Warcraft: Forever is the biggest of the year. Blizzard announced it at BlizzCon 2026 as its long-rumored Classic Plus: the 1-60 Classic game with new zones, new dungeons, three new raids, class changes and a new race, the Skyborne. It launches on November 4, 2026, and it’s included with a regular WoW subscription, though the Skyborne race costs extra.
We cover it in depth: start with our WoW Forever announcement roundup and every new zone in WoW Forever.
Best for: Classic WoW players who want new content without leaving the classic game behind.
Ragnarok Origin: Classic
Ragnarok Origin: Classic opened its Americas server on July 23, 2026. Its pitch is a “no pay-to-win” version of Ragnarok: the game says it doesn’t sell stats that break the balance of power, and makes its money through a Monthly Pass instead. Much of the coverage so far has come from sponsored articles, so we’d wait for more player feedback before recommending it.
Best for: Ragnarok players who want a fresh start without heavy monetization.
Why Classic MMOs Are Everywhere
The pattern is the same across all five. Each developer is going back to the version of its game that players remember most fondly, then adding modern conveniences on top. Old School RuneScape and WoW Classic showed this works: a slower, more social game with fewer shortcuts can hold a large audience for years.
The difference between them is how far they go. Dragon Nest Classic and MapleStory Classic World stay close to the original. EverQuest Legends changes how the game is played for solo players. WoW Forever goes furthest, adding new zones, races and raids that never existed in the original.
For more coverage beyond WoW and RuneScape, see our Other MMOs section.