RuneScapeis one of the grandfathers of the MMORPG genre, standing today as one of the longest-running games on the market since its debut in January 2001. The once browser-based RPG has seen many alternative versions for its huge player base, betweenOld School RuneScapeproviding players with thethe classic 2006 experienceand the short-livedDarkScapeproviding players with a more PvP-based experience. Now, developer Jagex has teamed up with board game developer Steamforged Games to release not just one, but two tabletop games over the course of 2022.
Steamforged Games' collaboration with Jagex is the most recent in a long string of collaborations bringing some of gaming’s biggest franchises into a tabletop environment. The tabletop gaming juggernaut has previously created board games based on series likeMonster Hunter WorldandDark Soulsand most recently completed a massively successful Kickstarter campaign for aResident Evil 2board game raising over 1 million GBP earlier this year. Now, the developer has set its sights on the world of Gielinor andRuneScapewith plans to launch both a board game and a tabletop RPG core book this year.
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The two RPG adaptations will feature many of RuneScape’s most popular characters and locations, allowing a group of up to five players to challenge classic quests fromRuneScapeand bring the adventures in the world of Gielinor home. Players will be able to craft and upgrade equipment, engage with NPCs, and take on a variety of side quests inspired by the classic MMORPG. Theboard game will launch with a Kickstartercampaign later this year while the core tabletop RPG book is set to launch directly in stores.
The core book for tabletop RPGs will notably be fully compatible with massive tabletop RPGDungeons and Dragons' fifth edition core books, allowing dungeon masters to seamlessly integrateelements ofRuneScapeinto their campaigns. Jagex CEO Phil Mansell was optimistic about the project expressing his enthusiasm over the Kickstarter project “involving theRuneScapecommunities,” while Steamforged CCO Mat Hart believed the “richRuneScapeuniverse will translate beautifully” into a tabletop environment.
RuneScapehas been expanding significantly from its browser-based origins in recent years with Steamforged’s board game just the most recent effort from Jagex. In an interview with Game Rant last July, multiple Jagex employees spoke about transitioningRunescape’s mobile version into a cross-platform releaseand, last September, Jagex partnered with the creator of popularOld School RuneScapemod RuneLite HD to make the HD version available for all players. Steamforged’s upcoming board game will giveRuneScape’spassionate fanbase another way to experience the world of Gielinor and create their own adventures.
