As the game's popularity grew, the game engine was rewritten and released as RuneScape 2, with the original version of the game being renamed RuneScape Classic. The first public version of RuneScape was released in January 2001 in beta form, with Jagex as its copyright holder being formed later that year. Players interact with each other through trading, chatting, or by participating in mini-games and activities, some of which are competitive or combative in nature, while others require cooperative or collaborative play. Players can choose to fight non-player character (NPC) monsters, complete quests, or increase their experience in the available skills. RuneScape does not follow a linear storyline rather, players set their own goals and objectives.

Players are represented in the game with customisable avatars. The game's fictional universe has been explored through a tie-in video game on another of its maker's websites, FunOrb, Armies of Gielinor, and the novels Betrayal at Falador, Return to Canifis, and Legacy of Blood. Each region offers different types of monsters, resources, and quests to challenge players. Players can travel throughout Gielinor via a number of methods including on foot, magical spells, or charter ships. RuneScape takes place in the world of Gielinor, a medieval fantasy realm divided into different kingdoms, regions, and cities. The game has had over 300 million accounts created and was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest and most-updated free MMORPG.

RuneScape was originally a browser game built with the Java programming language it was largely replaced by a standalone C++ client in 2016.

RuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Jagex, released in January 2001. Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

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