First round match in MMORPG Showdown 3. 

The Match-Up

RuneScape versus AdventureQuest Worlds or AQ Worlds has to be the most interesting match of this year's tournament so far. Not only was the voting back-and-forth all week long, but the match-up itself was intriguing. Both games are free-to-play MMORPGs that offer a premium version. Both are also browser-based with below-average looking graphics. Furthermore, both RuneScape and AQ Worlds appeal to more casual MMORPGers than most other free MMORPGs. These two games also have some interesting contrasts such as RuneScape being a top MMORPG for years while AQ Worlds just  launched this year. RuneScape also dwarfs AQ Worlds in size despite the fact that AQ Worlds is a part of a rather large online game franchise that includes AdventureQuest, DragonFable, and MechQuest. Those other games are not MMOs, but they have helped AQ Worlds gain players. In the end, RuneScape finally pulled out a victory in both the voting and the forum discussion. This marks the very first time that Runescape has won a Showdown match. RuneScape was narrowly beat by Maple Story in the first year and then was defeated by Sword of the New World last year. That said, the long-awaited rematch between RuneScape and Sword of the New World will now happen in the second round.

Tale of the Tape

RuneScape

• Free to play.
• 3D graphics.
• Made in Java.
• Offers a premium version.
• Browser-based.
• World's biggest free MMORPG.
• GameOgre.com's Game of the Month for September.
• GameOgre.com's 2004 Best Free Online Game and 2005 Best Free MMORPG.

Versus 

AQ Worlds

• Free to play.
• 2D graphics.
• Just launched this year.
• Browser-based.
• First MMO for maker of 2D single player RPGs.
• Real-time combat.
• Offers a premium version.
• Chat is only available to subscribers.

Select Comments For Runescape (Edited for Presentation)

Rating: 9
Author: clickmehere
Comment: Great game. You can be anything you want in this game. Its customization is so great. The graphics are quite impressive for a Java-based game. You can add people to ignore so you don't have to listen to them whine, beg, or insult you. The PvP is good but has bad rewards. I recommend this rather than AQ Worlds.

Overall:8
Gameplay 9/10
Graphics 6/10
Community 7/10
PvP 8/10

Rating: 10
Author: shizen656
Comment: I wrote a multi-page review for RuneScape so I cannot think of anything more to say other than I prefer it over AQ:W. At least in Runescape's free game you can type in your own messages (not preselected messages). In my previous review, I gave it a 9 (a score I strongly stand behind), but since this is a comparison to AQ:W i'm going to go ahead and give it a 10.

Rating: 10
Author: aaddron
Comment: Great game! It has its problems, but then again what game doesn't? This game is really unique with its quests. There aren't many MMO's that have quest other than the go-here-kill-10 -of-this-come back variety. RuneScape's quests are well thought out and very interesting to do. Normally I'd gave RuneScape a 7 or 8, but I'll give it a 10 against AQ Worlds..

Rating: 8
Author: larryjerry1
Comment: RuneScape is a very good game, if you are a subscriber. I would rank this game a 9 or 10, but I knocked off the points for two reasons:

1. The community is horrifyingly immature, although there are quite a few people who are more sensible and willing to help.

2. Unless you subscribe, the game content is terribly limited. The world itself is just plain tiny. The subscription is cheap compared to other major MMOs and it unlocks a whole new wave of content. All in all, RS is a good game if you are willing to pay and play.

Select Comments for AQ Worlds (Edited for Presentation)

Rating: 10
Author: No Hero
Comment: Actually you can chat for free in the Safiria server. The developers are already in development of the friends list and other MMOs. Although AQ:W has not had as much time as Runescape to develop, it is updated every week. I am not talking minor bugs fixes, but maybe a new zone or a few new items etc.

Rating: 1
Author: shizen656
Comment: The major theme I see when talking about AQ: Worlds is how much "potential" the game has since it is new. However we can talk about potential all we want, but in its current state I can't recommend AQ Worlds over RuneScape. Some of my biggest concerns are no background music, the lack of an ability to chat unless you are a member or have purchased any previous upgrade by any Artix game, and lack of a friends/ignore list. I agree with everyone that there is much potential, but right now AQ:W is simply no match against Runescape.

Rating: 10
Author: apersonhi
Comment: Although Runescape membership has more benefits, free players in Runescape almost never get any updates. AQworlds, however, almost always has a free player release. AQworlds probably has a lot more humor in it than RuneScape.

Rating: 10
Author: awesomedrako
Comment: I only started playing a while ago and it is already besting RuneScape in how fun it is. The only thing that RuneScape has above it is that the paid member version is more fun in RuneScape. However, I love free games so AQ Worlds is better for me than RuneScape.

The Voting

Runescape received a total score of 6

AQ Worlds received a total score of 4.9

The Result

Runescape Wins!