MapleStory M: Fantasy MMORPG

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MapleStory M is a fantasy massively multiplayer role-playing game with stunning visuals and music. Embark on an epic journey with explorers, engage in raids, and experience a phenomenal story, but be prepared for grinding, bugs, and potentially too many ads. The game promises the return of MapleStory with new features and content, offering a highly emotional and immersive MMORPG experience.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Reviews

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,993 reviews

story311 positive mentions

grinding189 negative mentions

Nostalgic experience for long-time fans of the original MapleStory.
Auto-play feature allows for casual gameplay, making it easier for busy players.
Variety of character classes and frequent updates keep the game engaging.

Severe pay-to-win mechanics make it difficult for free-to-play players to progress.
Frequent connection issues and server instability hinder gameplay experience.
Poor controls and user interface make manual gameplay frustrating.

story
1,655 mentions
19 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Maplestory M" has received mixed reviews from players. Many appreciate the nostalgic elements and the attempt to replicate the original game's charm, but the heavy reliance on auto-questing has led to a perception that the story lacks depth and engagement, making it feel more like an idle game. Players express a desire for more interactive storytelling and side quests, as well as a more challenging experience that reflects the original "Maplestory" gameplay.
- “The towns, the levels, the characters, the monsters, the dialogue, the collectibles, and the whimsical yet well-structured quest system all provide an astonishing experience.”
- “The story is great, the wealth of characters you can play is incredible.”
- “The storyline is good.”
- “The game tries to ride on your childhood memories of Maplestory, but provides very little.”
- “The auto quest feature makes this an idle game and defeats the entire purpose of engaging with the story.”
- “The story is not interesting and the game became way too easy.”
gameplay
262 mentions
23 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive mechanics, buggy controls, and a heavy reliance on auto-play features that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and the potential for engaging RPG mechanics, others find the gameplay dull and overly reliant on microtransactions, leading to a pay-to-win environment. Overall, the game shows promise but suffers from significant issues that hinder enjoyment and player engagement.
- “The gameplay is fun and addicting, but some things could be improved.”
- “Gameplay is solid though.”
- “The gameplay is amazing.”
- “The whole gameplay just revolves around a series of accept quest, move to location — which by the way is made harder by the fact that the controls are really buggy, grind, grind, grind or just turning on autoplay, and finish the quest.”
- “Game has a lot of potential but unfortunately the gameplay gets dull fast.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, the developer provides little information or none at all, the economy is broken, etc. not worth it.”
graphics
207 mentions
42 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic pixel art style and cute visuals reminiscent of the original MapleStory. However, some users criticize the graphics for being outdated or inconsistent, and express a desire for improved controls and options to adjust graphic settings for better performance. Overall, while the art style is generally well-received, there are calls for enhancements to meet modern gaming standards.
- “The graphics are nice, the maps are nice, but the game is just not good.”
- “I love the graphics so much, it's so adorable.”
- “Graphics are awesome along with how smooth everything runs!”
- “The graphics are bad and the controls work 5 seconds after you press them so I keep dying.”
- “Very disappointed, graphics are bad and this game basically is all about the auto battle/quest.”
- “I thought this was going to be a cute chibi RPG game but I was mistaken; the graphics are really bad compared to the artwork in the background and in the pictures, and the controls are weird.”
grinding
189 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that grinding is a central aspect of the game, often described as tedious and time-consuming, especially at higher levels. While some players appreciate the nostalgic grind reminiscent of the original MapleStory, many express frustration over the excessive grinding required for minimal rewards, the prevalence of bots, and the pay-to-win elements that exacerbate the grind. The introduction of auto-questing and auto-battling features is seen as a double-edged sword, providing convenience but also diminishing the sense of accomplishment associated with traditional grinding.
- “The huge issue is the massive amount of grinding the game has for minimal upgrades.”
- “Grinding all the time is boring and hard level and you have to wait certain level to do quest.”
- “It's a huge grindy game so be aware before you start playing.”
monetization
157 mentions
3 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the overwhelming presence of ads and exorbitant microtransaction prices. Players report being bombarded with in-game advertisements and pop-ups promoting costly purchases, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. While some appreciate the free content available, the general consensus is that the monetization tactics are excessive and detrimental to player enjoyment.
- “Perfect portable Maple experience despite there being tons of microtransactions; the game itself is rather free to play and provides extensive amounts of content.”
- “The game itself is fantastic; the only complaint I have is that the in-app purchases are so expensive!”
- “Even though you do not need any in-game purchase to enjoy this game.”
- “It's too heavy with microtransactions and you have to rely on all the free stuff they give you or you'll never make progress.”
- “Still, at the end of the day this is little more than a cash grab.”
- “You're bombarded with in-game ads for buying gems and packs at ridiculous prices and I don't believe there's a way to get gems without paying.”
stability
89 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and lag, particularly on both outdated and updated devices. Many players express frustration over buggy controls and character creation issues, leading to a disappointing gameplay experience. Despite some positive remarks about the game's content, the overwhelming consensus highlights significant stability problems that detract from overall enjoyment.
- “Game crashes on outdated devices and even on up-to-date ones it freezes sometimes; lag is unbearable.”
- “Couldn't even finish creating my character; I really wanted to try the game but it freezes and lags on the lie detector game.”
- “Game is broken and buggy.”
music
35 mentions
37 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic quality and catchy soundtrack, with many players expressing love for the original tunes. However, some users have reported issues with audio not functioning properly, leading to a less enjoyable experience. Overall, while the music is a highlight for many, there are mixed feelings about recent changes and technical problems affecting its enjoyment.
- “Very nostalgic with the sounds and music.”
- “Still has one of the most boppin' soundtracks.”
- “With an amazing soundtrack and the Maple world we know and love.”
- “My main thing right now is the music doesn't work; it gets boring playing the game for hours without sound.”
- “It's actually terrible lol 100% p2w, the music is horrendous; it sounded like a 5-year-old just learning to play while underwater.”
- “The game opens and plays intro music and that's it, and I tried restarting and redownloading it 5 times.”
optimization
33 mentions
30 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant performance issues, particularly on Android devices, leading to lag and stuttering. While some players experience smooth gameplay on certain devices, others face severe control and connectivity problems, indicating a lack of consistent optimization across platforms. Additionally, there are complaints about the game's focus on monetization over improving performance and fixing bugs, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game runs smoothly and the controls are easy to use.”
- “It has been optimized a lot better and can almost be played like an idle game.”
- “Server and I can say that this game is pretty well optimized for a phone.”
- “Nexon is clearly only focused on idiotic apparel cash items vs game performance or fixing bugs.”
- “Not optimized for mobile playing patterns.”
- “Control is designed still horrible, after update... using Note 8, but super laggy ...worst optimizing in performance... I can't move in expedition.... battery drained fast.”
humor
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of certain issues, such as unresponsive customer service and the prevalence of bots. While some appreciate the comedic elements in ads and gameplay quirks, others feel that repeated problems diminish the humor's effectiveness. Overall, the game's humor is often described as unintentional and tied to frustrating experiences.
- “Hilarious that they're more responsive on their mobile version but completely garbage at it in the PC version.”
- “Haven't played the game yet but the hilarious ads I get make this game an automatic five star ❤️”
- “We were laughing at this because of how ridiculous it is.”
emotional
13 mentions
77 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players expressing frustration over technical issues, a lackluster story, and challenging controls that detract from the experience. However, others find joy in the connection to BTS and moments of excitement, highlighting the game's potential for emotional engagement despite its flaws. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some feeling deeply disappointed while others find enjoyment in specific aspects.
- “And also playing like this made me feel closer to BTS knowing they play this, especially Jin. It was really fun and exciting; such a good game!”
- “I cried.”
- “This time, the game made me feel back.”
- “What's the point of playing a game that plays itself with a boring story? There seems to be only one warrior and one archer, but a lot of mage characters, which feels unbalanced.”
- “Boring story, pay-to-win mechanics, and repetitive gameplay make it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Full of bugs, a boring story, and a broken guild interface. Later in the game, actual progress will cost you, and almost all useful items are on a time limit.”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the character development in the game, highlighting its cohesiveness and competitive elements. There is a strong desire for more characters and deeper development stories, along with a preference for earning in-game resources rather than purchasing them. Overall, the community is eager for future updates that expand character options and narratives.
- “Great game! I hope more characters come and more character development stories. It would also be better if we could earn some diamonds instead of buying them, and it would be great to have new characters exclusive to mobile!”
- “Good character development.”
- “Great game, but I hope for more character development stories. It would also be better if we could earn diamonds instead of having to buy them, and it would be great to have new characters exclusive to mobile!”
- “Cohesiveness, competitive ranking, and goal-oriented character development.”
replayability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for enhanced replayability, particularly with the inclusion of all characters from the PC versions, which could significantly boost their enjoyment. While the game offers a nostalgic experience and is deemed more playable than its original 2006 release, its long-term replay value remains questionable.
- “If all the current characters from the PC versions are playable, then I would probably give a 5-star rating. Can't wait for the Cygnus Knights update!”
- “Overall, a decent game to be picked up for a one-time trip of nostalgia, but the replay value and sustainability of the game's practices are questionable.”
- “Much more playable than the original in '06.”
- “Overall, a decent game to be picked up for a one-time trip of nostalgia, but the replay value and the sustainability of the game's practices are lacking.”
- “If all the current characters from the PC versions were playable, then I would probably give a 5-star rating. Can't wait for the Cygnus Knights update.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is often praised for its nostalgic charm, reminiscent of the original MapleStory, which captivated players and drew them into its enchanting world. This immersive environment fosters a sense of connection and engagement, making it a beloved aspect of the experience.
- “An atmosphere that captivated me and many others, drawing us in.”
- “The atmosphere that made people fall in love with the original MapleStory.”
- “The game lacks the immersive atmosphere that drew players in initially.”
- “The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired compared to previous versions.”