Ultima Online

The grandfather of all massively multiplayer online roleplaying games, Ultima Online was developed by Origin Systems from 1997 to 2004. After Electronic Arts took over Origin Systems, EA and Mythic Entertainment took turns for its development and it is now currently developed by Broadsword as of 2014. The brainchild of legendary creator Richard Garriott, the game had a graphic and gameplay revamp in 2007 called Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn. Ultima Online is available for the Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms.

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The Players and Daily login numbers are estimations based on subscriber numbers and online sentiment.

Ultima Online was not the first online roleplaying game, as it was preceded by MUDs and MUSHs, as well as games like Neverwinter Nights, The Realm Online, and Meridian 59. However, Ultima Online is probably the most well-known MMORPG that established the familiar features and gameplay elements that most people associate with the genre.

In Ultima Online, players create their Avatar by first choosing one of the 3 playable races: Human, Elf, or Gargoyle. There are options to further customize their character Avatar's appearance, from gender, skin tone, clothing, and hair. Ultima Online players will then select from a variety of skills. There are pre-selected skill sets that determine a basic Trade the character will play, such as Warrior, Mage, Paladin, Ninja, Necromancer, Blacksmith, or Samurai. Or the player may choose the Advanced creation, which lets them select and allocate their Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity and the starting skills. They would then select their starting location from the Trammel or Ter Mur areas.

Anything after character creation is largely up to the player. Although there are quest-granting NPCs, there is no main storyline. Players in Ultima Online can travel the world, develop their craft and resource gathering skills, build a house, go on adventures hunting monsters, become bandits that attack other players in unprotected areas, and more.

Ultima Online has received 10 expansions since Ultima Online: The Second Age in 1998 to Ultima Online: Time of Legends in 2016, each introducing new gameplay elements, such as new races, skills, areas, and balancing. Ultima Online can be played in the Endless Journey mode, which is free to play or Premium subscription. However, Endless Journey imposes limitations, such as having no access to personal housing or gain rewards from Champions.