EverQuest

About

EverQuest is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released on March 16, 1999. Players move their character throughout the medieval fantasy world of Norrath, often fighting monsters and enemies for treasure and experience points, and optionally mastering trade skills. As they progress, players advance in level, gaining power, prestige, spells, and abilities t…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,102 reviews

story26 positive mentions

graphics41 negative mentions

EverQuest is a nostalgic experience for players who enjoyed MMORPGs from the late 90s and early 2000s, offering a rich world filled with lore and exploration.
The game has a dedicated and friendly community that is willing to help new players, making it easier to navigate the complexities of the game.
Despite its age, EverQuest still provides a vast amount of content and gameplay depth, with numerous expansions and a variety of classes and races to choose from.

The user interface and graphics are outdated, making it difficult for new players to engage with the game and navigate its systems.
The game has become increasingly pay-to-win, with many features and content locked behind a subscription or microtransactions, which can frustrate players.
Finding groups and engaging with other players can be challenging, especially for new players, as many veteran players are focused on high-level content and may not be as welcoming.

graphics
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
65%
19%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 1999 origins, with many users noting that they fall short of modern standards. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the visuals, others criticize them as clunky and poorly designed, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these graphical shortcomings, many reviewers emphasize that the game's depth, gameplay mechanics, and community engagement more than compensate for its visual limitations.
- “Despite its age, the game's visuals hold up remarkably well, capturing the essence of its fantastical world with vibrant landscapes and iconic character designs.”
- “Additionally, the timeless graphics (although dated, but charming) and art style of Everquest contribute to its immersive atmosphere.”
- “The graphics may be old and cheesy, but there is a long wealth of class and race options and endless ways you can build your character around a certain weapon and playstyle.”
- “The UI and graphics are incredibly dated.”
- “The graphics are terrible, and the grind is real, but it's so damn fun!”
- “The major problems with Everquest are the graphics, UI (default), complicated nature of the game, and very loud menu music. All of this turns away so many new players.”
story
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The story aspect of EverQuest is characterized by its rich lore and expansive quest content, offering players a deep sense of exploration and immersion. However, many players find the quest system outdated and frustrating, with broken quests and a lack of clear direction, making it challenging for newcomers. Despite these issues, the game's community and the nostalgic feel of its storytelling continue to resonate with long-time fans, emphasizing teamwork and the rewarding nature of completing difficult quests.
- “Often hailed as one of the foundational titles in the genre, Everquest offers a rich tapestry of storytelling, community, and exploration that continues to resonate with both longtime fans and new adventurers alike.”
- “Players can uncover the tales of ancient civilizations, powerful deities, and legendary heroes, making every quest feel meaningful and immersive.”
- “With its deep and immersive world, engaging story, and strong community, Everquest is a classic MMORPG that has stood the test of time.”
- “The beginning quests are broken, and so many other quests in the game are broken, not worth the time to play.”
- “It's a shame that there isn't more of a quest system to help you progress through the game and storyline... there might very well be one, but the sheer size of the game makes finding such difficult.”
- “Unfortunately, after trying for over an hour to accept and move through the tutorial quests, I quit the game in frustration.”
gameplay
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay of EverQuest is characterized by its depth and complexity, offering a challenging experience that rewards strategic planning and community interaction. While some players appreciate its nostalgic mechanics and immersive world, others find the gameplay outdated and overly reliant on grinding, making it difficult for newcomers to engage. Overall, the game remains a classic in the MMO genre, praised for its intricate systems and rich lore, despite criticisms regarding its accessibility and modern relevance.
- “The gameplay in Everquest is both deep and rewarding.”
- “With its vast, immersive world, intricate gameplay mechanics, and strong sense of community, Everquest has left an indelible mark on the genre, captivating players for decades.”
- “The gameplay is immersive, the world is vast and expansive.”
- “Why waste my time if the gameplay isn't good.”
- “Basically, the game is bloated with content, while the gameplay itself is tragically unrevised.”
- “The gameplay mechanics and controls are so outdated for a game that boasts that they still get updates.”
grinding
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant focus, with many players noting it can be both tedious and time-consuming, especially for new players trying to catch up in a community that heavily relies on grinding for progression. While some appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering the grind, others find it overwhelming and repetitive, particularly in the absence of quests. Overall, the experience is described as a mix of nostalgia and frustration, with a strong emphasis on the need for time investment and group play to make the grind more enjoyable.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unless you catch a krono farming wave at the start of a TLP launch or join later and level to end game solo before the TLP hits the pop expansion, your best bet is to go to a regular server and level solo because at least you'll have your merc to talk to.”
- “Hope you like grinding mobs for hours on end, since they don't have the nice features and many quests from live, since the servers are locked on a specific expansion (depending on the server).”
- “The basics of the game are still in place, but everything around it, the tedious addition of quests for example, have made it a bit of a slog to get through.”
- “After spending so much time grinding mobs in various different camps, I realized that it was the same thing over and over again.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and nostalgic value, deeply resonating with long-time players and enhancing the immersive atmosphere of the world. While some find the soundtrack dated, it remains a beloved aspect that evokes strong memories and emotions, with standout tracks from various zones that players cherish. Overall, the music complements the gameplay experience, making it a significant element of the game's enduring appeal.
- “The music and sound effects complement the atmosphere, immersing players further into the rich tapestry of Norrath.”
- “Everquest also has something special - a beautiful soundtrack.”
- “If you used to play, all you really need is your sense of nostalgia and for your memories to come flooding back once you hit up your old favorite zones and hear that old, familiar music.”
- “The game proceeded to deafen me with its music while I stared uncomprehendingly at a server menu that told me I wasn't good enough to play on whatever specific server I clicked.”
- “Do yourself a favor and turn off the combat music after hearing it maybe once?”
- “The major problems with EverQuest are the graphics, UI (default), complicated nature of the game, and very loud menu music... all of this turns away so many new players and causes an uneven population of veteran players on many servers.”
monetization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
24%
68%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as predatory and heavily focused on cash grabs, with frequent advertisements and aggressive promotion of microtransactions and subscriptions. Players report a frustrating experience with constant reminders to spend money, leading to a perception of the game as "pay-to-win" and detracting from overall enjoyment. While some free players find the game manageable, many feel that the monetization tactics overshadow the gameplay and discourage new players from engaging.
- “Just be warned, this game triple dips the monetization.”
- “Subscription game with microtransactions.”
- “What makes me not recommend this game is because it, like many other games, has fallen into a cash grab/pay-to-win black hole that has befallen many games like it.”
- “The game is an obvious cash grab, with ads popping up within minutes of entering the tutorial (please let me complete the tutorial before you advertise more content).”
- “The developers gave up on producing anything meaningful over a decade ago and instead their only focus is cosmetic microtransactions and selling in-game tradable subscription tokens for nearly $20 a pop.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its absurdities and glitches, such as loading issues and unexpected resolutions, which players find amusing rather than frustrating. Many reviewers appreciate the game's self-aware humor, particularly in its mechanics and the irony of high-level characters struggling against lower-level enemies. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment, making even frustrating moments entertaining for long-time players.
- “Yeah, it's a fetch quest, but that's not a bad thing when it's funny or interesting.”
- “The fact that somebody can have a max level character with all the best stuff in the game and still miss/have attacks dodged by lower level mobs is hilarious.”
- “Eq is a hilariously trolly game that punishes you for the slightest mistake, but I love it.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, stuttering, and outdated graphics that hinder gameplay. Despite its innovative features, the lack of proper bug fixes and optimization has rendered the game nearly unplayable for many, leading to a dwindling player base. Overall, the game's technical shortcomings overshadow its potential, leaving players frustrated with the experience.
- “10/10 would recommend for anyone who wants a challenge more than graphics that test GPU performance.”
- “- very nice performance on all kinds of computers.”
- “Heck, all the expansions are there... all we ever wanted was a company with the vision to simply update and reboot the original in a more optimized way.”
- “Bad optimization; a game with graphics that are outdated should run better.”
- “It's poorly optimized, has terrible combat and spell mechanics, looks like crap, and has maybe 33 people still playing it. But I gotta say, if I were playing this in 2004, I'd be losing my mind over how cool this MMO is.”
- “Everything about the game is significantly outdated and unoptimized, to the point where even doing the simplest tasks can be a huge pain in the rear.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players find charm in its imperfections, many express frustration over the game's inability to launch or function smoothly, compounded by a convoluted user interface and poor customer service. Overall, the game is described as being plagued by stability issues that detract from the experience.
- “You can look forward to enjoying frequent freezes and crashes for seemingly no reason.”
- “Game is too buggy to even launch without constantly crashing.”
- “I'm having a problem just getting into the game; when I try to log into a server, it immediately goes into a broken windowed screen and freezes.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of EverQuest is deeply tied to nostalgia and personal connections, with players expressing a mix of laughter and tears as they revisit the game. While it offers epic adventures reminiscent of a medieval soap opera, it lacks the emotional depth found in titles like The Witcher 3. Overall, the experience can be heart-wrenching for those with a long-standing attachment, making it less enjoyable for newcomers without that emotional bond.
- “Unless you have an emotional connection to this game, I can't imagine you having a fun time playing it.”
- “It will be oddly heart breaking.”
- “I laughed, I cried!”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The atmosphere in the game is characterized by a strong sense of camaraderie among players, enhanced by charming, albeit dated, graphics and a rich musical score that immerses players in the world of Norrath. While many appreciate the nostalgic and immersive qualities, some players feel a lack of danger and immersion, suggesting that the experience may vary significantly based on individual expectations and engagement. Overall, the game fosters a friendly environment, making it a welcoming space for newcomers despite its steep learning curve.
- “The camaraderie developed in-game creates a vibrant atmosphere where players can share stories, strategies, and unforgettable moments.”
- “The music and sound effects complement the atmosphere, immersing players further into the rich tapestry of Norrath.”
- “It's got a steep learning curve and the graphics are dated, but it's worth the effort. I felt like I had stepped into a first-person game of D&D when I first started playing over 20 years ago. Entering certain zones with your character at night could actually cause a bit of fear... the music, the atmosphere... was fantastic.”
- “I don't feel any atmosphere, I don't feel any danger, I don't feel any immersion.”
- “The graphics are dated, and while it has a steep learning curve, I felt like I had stepped into a first-person game of D&D when I first started playing over 20 years ago. Entering certain zones with your character at night could actually cause a bit of fear; the music and atmosphere were fantastic.”
- “I do believe they could salvage it completely if they rebuilt EverQuest with a few design tweaks in a modern engine, but kept the atmosphere and content mostly identical.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character designs for their interesting and iconic qualities, noting that the game's visuals, despite its age, effectively capture the essence of its fantastical world with vibrant landscapes.
- “The character designs are interesting.”
- “Despite its age, the game's visuals hold up remarkably well, capturing the essence of its fantastical world with vibrant landscapes and iconic character designs.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is hailed as the most replayable ever, with users emphasizing its potential for success if adapted for mobile platforms. Its replayability score of 10/10 reflects a strong appeal for players seeking ongoing engagement.
- “Most replayable game ever created. If a studio ported this to mobile or created a game like this for mobile, they would surely clean up in a vast and untapped piece of the gaming market.”
- “(Overall 7.5/10, Story 8/10, Gameplay 7/10, Graphics 6/10, Sound 7/10, Replayability 10/10)”

84%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

Buy EverQuest

EverQuest
See offer on Steam

12h Median play time

2671h Average play time

2-8000h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

83%19.6kreviews

RuneScape

2020

Open World Role Playing

62%11.8kreviews

MapleStory

2012

Casual Role Playing

This game contains adult content

69%3.5kreviews

TERA

2018

Open World Role Playing

75%618reviews

Ashen Empires

2022

Role Playing

84%3.6kreviews

Project: Gorgon

2018

Role Playing

68%6.6kreviews

Vindictus

2012

Hack and Slash

82%211reviews

Anarchy Online

2017

Role Playing

84%4.5kreviews

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen

2024

Role Playing

76%7.1kreviews

RIFT

2011

Role Playing

This game contains adult content

77%82kreviews

The Elder Scrolls Online

2017

Open World Role Playing

+10

EverQuest

Platforms

About

EverQuest Review

EverQuest Review

Buy EverQuest

EverQuest

Videos

Games Like EverQuest

RuneScape

MapleStory

TERA

Ashen Empires

Project: Gorgon

Vindictus

Anarchy Online

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen

RIFT

The Elder Scrolls Online