Nowadays, video game studios are very clear: if an online game doesn’t work, regardless of the community behind it, it shuts down servers at full speed. The famous The Day Before didn’t even have the chance to improve its terrible gameplay and four days after launching, it had to close its doors, and the same happened with other games like Concord, probably the biggest failure of our times. However, some games have weathered the storm and still keep their servers open… although, with the current variety, almost no one is knocking on their door.
Active Worlds
It’s curious that a game called Active Worlds… could be on the verge of being deactivated. And that’s okay, because it’s been 31 years since it started its journey, and to this day it is more of a museum piece than a video game in itself. Here you shouldn’t expect dungeons, monsters, or crazy level-ups: it’s a construction game where you can explore virtual worlds that others have created, allowing voice chat and even sending private messages. Currently, there are about 100 players a day, but for now, it still stands. Will it reach its 40th birthday?
Cabal Online
In Korea, Cabal Online appeared in 2005, and at the time it was a small great online phenomenon, which allowed players not only to face each other but also even the death of those players and to form groups to go on expeditions and fight in distant dungeons. The surprising thing is that in 2010 a sequel appeared, but it closed in 2018… while Cabal Online is still standing! True, with successful alternatives like World of Warcraft right now there are just over 500 monthly players, but for now, it continues to endure. In an empty map, those who remain are the true kings.
Perpetuum
Since its launch in 2010, Perpetuum has continued to operate… although now the servers have passed into the hands of the fans after its creators decided in 2018 that there was no more business to be had. The die-hard followers were convinced that there was, and that the masses would return to play Perpetuum, a science-fiction game where you control a robot that can perform all kinds of actions and missions. However, the number of players at the same time rarely rises to double digits, allowing a small team to take control without much effort. Of course, if anyone felt like continuing to play at this point.
Age of Conan
I remember perfectly the launch of Age of Conan in 2008, when it was announced as the ultimate game of the Hyborian warrior. And for a time, it was: Up to 500,000 people signed up for the open beta at its start! However, the game changed titles, changed hands, no one really knew what to do with it, and the events and expansions didn’t quite work as expected. What’s the result? As of today, you can play it if you are willing to listen to the echo. There are about 46 players on average, and for such a large game, it’s basically a walk through nothing.
Guns of Icarus Online
In 2011, Muse Games launched a Kickstarter to fund their new MMORPG, and it performed better than they expected, using the $35,237 raised to finish their Guns of Icarus, a first-person shooter that was finally released in 2012, and even had a PS4 version in 2018. But the initial excitement to try it faded over time, the reviews were not exactly positive, and currently there is an average of 1.9 players per day. In other words: those who remain play against the same person endlessly. The surprising thing is… that it is still open!
