Month: June 2015

Audition Online

Audition Online is a 3D rhythm MMO built around competitive dance rooms and a surprisingly social lobby culture. You string together directional inputs to the beat, show off flashy routines, and dress your avatar like a stage performer, all while chasing high scores against other players.

Publisher: Redbana (T3Fun)
Playerbase: Low
Type: Rhythm
Release Date: April 2, 2007 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Huge variety of avatar fashion and cosmetic options. +Simple basics with a high skill ceiling. +A soundtrack full of familiar, catchy tracks.
Cons: -Visuals show their age. -Core loop can feel samey over long sessions. -No support for user-supplied or imported songs.

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The Settlers Online

The Settlers Online: Castle Empire is a browser-based MMORTS spin on the long-running Settlers franchise, built around expanding a settlement, keeping citizens productive, and turning a tiny foothold into a self-sustaining hub. Where many free web strategy games lean on endless resource nodes, this one puts more pressure on planning and upkeep, you will eventually need to replace depleted deposits and manage your production chain instead of simply stacking more buildings.

Publisher: Ubisoft
Playerbase: Medium
Type: Web Strategy
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Pros: +Polished presentation and art direction. +Deeper economy tracking than most browser rivals. +Active, supportive community.
Cons: -A lot of waiting for construction and production. -Familiar structure for the genre. -Monetization can feel pay-to-win.

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Kingdom Rift

Kingdom Rift is a browser MMORPG set in a classic fantasy world, built around fast, top-down action and a steady stream of enemies to mow down. You choose between three familiar archetypes, Warrior, Hunter, or Warlock, then bolster your character by recruiting Goddesses who join fights and add extra damage and utility. The overall loop leans heavily into Diablo-style hack-and-slash pacing, but it is wrapped in the kind of feature checklist common to web MMOs, including dungeons, arenas, guild progression, and large guild battles.

Publisher: R2 Games
Playerbase: Medium
Type: Browser MMORPG
Release Date: November 2014
Pros: +Big guild and large-scale PvP options. +A lot to do between modes and progression systems. +Isometric, action-RPG style presentation.
Cons: -Combat can feel routine and samey. -Auto systems reduce hands-on play. -Monetization can edge into pay-to-win.

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