List of MUDs


This is a chronological list of notable MUDs with summary information.

Legend

List

TitleFoundedClosedBusiness modelDeveloperPublisherSettingStyleFamilyCodebaseMudlibContri­butionsNotes
MUD11978FreeRoy Trubshaw, Richard BartleFantasyHack and slashEssexMUDDLMUDDLThe first MUD; see also British Legends
MAD19841986FreeBruno Chabrier, Vincent LextraitBITNETFantasyHack and slash
Island of Kesmai19852000SubscriptionKesmaiCompuServeFantasyHack and slash, roguelikeSee also Legends of Kesmai
MUD21985FreeRichard Bartle, Roy Trubshaw, Simon DallyFantasyHack and slashEssexMUDDLESuccessor to/heavily updated version of MUD1
AberMUD19871987FreeAlan Cox, Richard Acott, Jim Finnis, Leon ThraneFantasyHack and slashAberMUDAberMUDAberMUDThe first AberMUD
British Legends19871999SubscriptionRoy Trubshaw, Richard BartleCompuServeFantasyHack and slashEssexMUDDLCommercial version of MUD1
GemStone1988SubscriptionSimutronicsGEnie, AOL, independentHigh fantasyHack and slash
Avalon1989FreeYehuda SimmonsFantasyPolitics, player versus player, roleplayingPioneered plotted quests.
TinyMUD19891990FreeJames AspnesCross-genreSocialMU*TinyMUDTinyMUD
Genesis LPMud1989FreeLars Pensjö, Carl Hallén, Jakob Hallén, Lennart Augustsson, Johan Andersson, Anders Chrigström, Ronny Wikh, Stas van der Schaaf, Tony Elmroth, Dave Richards, Thornsten Lockert, Felix Croes et al.Medieval fantasyRoleplayingLPMudLPMud, CDCDLPMud, CD gamedriver and mudlibThe first LPMud
TinyTIM1990FreeJason Scott Sadofsky et al.Cross-genreSocialMU*TinyMUD, MUSH
BatMUD1990Pay for perksB.A.T. ryFantasyHack and slash, player versus playerLPMudLPMud
FurryMUCK1990Donation-supportedFurrySocial, roleplayingMU*TinyMUCK
LambdaMOO1990FreePavel Curtis et al.Xerox PARC, independentCross-genreSocialMU*MOOLambdaCore
MicroMUSE1990FreeCross-genreEducational, socialMU*MUSH, TinyMUSETinyMUSEArguably first educational MUD
Lost Souls1990Pay for perksMichael Rice, Rebecca Willey, Matthew Sheahan et al.Medieval fantasyHack and slash, roleplayingLPMudLPMud 2.4.5, LPMud 3.1.2, Amylaar, LDMudAin Soph
TubMUD1990FreeMedieval fantasyHack and slash, roleplayingLPMudLPMud 2.4.5, Amylaar, LDMudTublibFirst MUD hosted in Germany
Ancient Anguish1991Donation-supportedBalz Meierhans, Olivier Maquelin et al.FantasyHack and slashLPMudAmylaarLoch Ness
Armageddon1991Donation-supported, freebie marketingDan Brumleve, Nasri Hajj, Santiago Zorzopulos, Cat Rambo et al.Post-apocalyptic low fantasyRoleplayingDikuMUDDikuMUD
DikuMUD19911991FreeSebastian Hammer, Michael Seifert, Hans Henrik Staerfeldt, Tom Madsen, Katja NyboeFantasyHack and slashDikuMUDDikuMUDDikuMUDRefers to the first DikuMUD at freja.diku.dk 4000
Discworld MUD1991FreeDavid Bennett, Craig Richmond, Sean A. Reith, Evan Scott, Derek Harding, Jake Greenland et al.DiscworldHack and slash, roleplaying, socialLPMudLPMud, MudOS, FluffOSDiscworldDiscworld mudlib, FluffOS
Dragon's Gate19912006SubscriptionDarrin HyrupGEnie, AOL, Mythic Realms, independentFantasyHack and slash, roleplaying
Elendor1991FreeLord of the RingsRoleplaying, socialMU*MUSH
PernMUSH19912014FreePernRoleplaying, socialMU*MUSH
Star Wars MUSH1991FreeStar WarsRoleplaying, socialMU*MUSH
Viking Mud1991FreeFantasyMulti-user dungeon, socialLPMudLPMud,DGD
Xyllomer1991FreeFantasyRoleplayingLPMudLPMud, DGDCDFirst public DGD MUD
Genocide1992FreeFantasyPlayer versus playerLPMudLPMud, MudOS, AmylaarFirst "pure PK" MUD
AmberMUSH19922009FreeJennifer Smith et al.AmberRoleplayingMU*TinyMUSH
Infinity 1992FreePeter William Friedman, Bill Mackiewicz et al.Cross-genreHack and slash, social, player versus playerLPMudLPMud 3.1.2, LDMudLPMud 2.4.5
3Kingdoms1992Pay for perksCross-genreHack and slashLPMudLDMud
The Shadow of Yserbius19921996SubscriptionSierra On-LineThe Sierra Network, The ImagiNation Network, AOLFantasyHack and slash, graphical
MorgenGrauen1992FreeMedieval fantasyHack and slashLPMudLDMudMorgenGrauenMorgenGrauen Mudlib
Diversity University19932006FreeJeanne McWhorter et al.ModernEducationalMU*MOOFirst educational MOO, arguably first educational MUD
BioMOO19932001FreeGustavo Glusman, Jaime Prilusky et al.ModernEducationalMU*MOOFile Utilities Package, intermoo GNA Network
Infinity 1993FreeFantasyHack and slashAberMUDAberMUD
BayMOO1993FreeTim Keanini et al.ModernSocial, educationalMU*MOO
MediaMOO19932000FreeAmy S. Bruckman et al.ModernEducationalMU*MOOMirror archived at
DragonSpires19941997Pay for perksDragon's Eye ProductionsFantasySocial, roleplaying, graphical
LegendMUD1994FreeRaph Koster, Kristen Koster, Rick Delashmit, Sherry Delashmit et al.Historical fantasyHack and slashDikuMUDDikuMUD
Legends of Terris1994SubscriptionPaul Barnett, Doug Goldner, Online Games CompanyFantasyHack and slash, roleplayingHorizon Engine
Realms of Despair1994FreeDerek Snider et al.FantasyHack and slashDikuMUDMerc 2, SMAUGSMAUG
LinguaMOO1995FreeCynthia Haynes, Jan Rune Holmevik et al.ModernEducationalMU*MOO
ATHEMOO19952010FreeJuli Burk et al.ModernEducational, theatricalMU*MOO
The Ruins of Cawdor19951996SubscriptionSierra On-LineThe Sierra Network, The ImagiNation Network, AOLFantasyHack and slash, graphical
DragonRealms1996SubscriptionSimutronicsGEnie, AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy, Microsoft Gaming Zone, independentFantasyHack and slash, roleplaying, player versus player
MOOSE Crossing19962007FreeAmy S. Bruckman et al.ModernEducationalMU*MOO
Legends of Kesmai19962000SubscriptionKesmaiindependent, AOL, GameStorm, EAFantasyHack and slash, graphical, roguelikeTile-graphics version of Island of Kesmai
TorilMUD1996FreeKris Kortright et al.Forgotten RealmsHack and slashDikuMUDSequent
Achaea, Dreams of Divine Lands1997Pay for perks, subscriptionIron Realms EntertainmentFantasyRoleplaying, Player versus playerRaptureATCP
The Eternal City1996Free, subscriptionThree Seas, LLCFantasy/Roman ThemeRoleplaying, Player versus playerColdC
Alter Aeon1997Pay for perksDennis Towne et al.Medieval fantasyHack and slashDikuMUDDentinMUD
ifMUD1997FreeLiza Daly et al.Interactive fictionSocialMU*PerlMUDHosts the XYZZY Awards
Darkness Falls: The Crusade19992006SubscriptionMythic EntertainmentGameStorm, AOL, Centropolis EntertainmentFantasyPlayer versus player
2001FreeStar WarsHack and slash, Politics, player versus player, roleplaying,DikuMUDOldest SWR MUD still running
RuneScape2001Subscription, pay for perksJagexFantasyHack and slash, graphical
Wyvern20012013FreeCabochon Inc.FantasyHack and slash, graphical, roguelike
God Wars II2002FreeRichard Woolcock et al.Dark fantasyPlayer versus playerGladiator Pits IIGladiator Pits II, MSDP
HellMOO20032022FreePost-apocalypticplayer versus playerMU*MOO