Bring Back MUDs: Why It's Time for Text-Based Games to Make a Comeback
Look, I know what you're thinking—"Why would anyone want to bring back those ancient text-based multiplayer games from the '80s and '90s?" MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons) were essentially the grandfathers of modern MMORPGs, but instead of a sprawling, graphics-heavy world, you got words. Just you, your imagination, and maybe a bunch of anonymous players in a dimly-lit room, all furiously typing away like it was 1996.
And that’s exactly why MUDs need a comeback.
The Case for Minimalism in Gaming
In an era where games are pushing hyper-realistic visuals, intricate lore, and time-sucking grinds that feel more like a second job, the simplicity of a MUD is refreshing. No complicated graphics, no infinite side quests that drain your soul—just you, your imagination, and a tight-knit community of players. That minimalist vibe fits perfectly into our overstimulated, post-pandemic lives where, let’s be real, a bit of digital detox wouldn’t hurt.
Playing a MUD is the gaming equivalent of going analog. It’s like putting down your iPhone and picking up a typewriter to hammer out a short story. It’s about stripping away the distractions and getting back to what gaming should be at its core: the experience, not the spectacle.
Community Over Competition
Modern online games—think Fortnite, Call of Duty, and League of Legends—are designed around competition. You win or you lose. Sure, there’s teamwork in these games, but they’re mostly focused on individual performance and ego-boosting (or crushing) moments. MUDs? Nah. They were built on collaboration and role-playing. People weren’t just trying to be the best fighter or mage, they were trying to tell the best stories and create immersive worlds together.
MUDs are like digital Dungeons & Dragons sessions where you’re in constant communication with fellow adventurers, scheming, strategizing, and telling stories as you go. There’s a creative magic in that collaborative, low-stakes environment that’s absent from modern gaming. Sure, MUDs had their drama—any multiplayer game does—but it was way more personal, and a lot less toxic than the meme-spouting teenagers of today.
The Slow Burn: Re-learning Patience
The instant gratification of modern gaming has pretty much obliterated the concept of patience. Whether it’s fast travel in Elden Ring or auto-leveling characters in Diablo IV, everything’s designed to be convenient. MUDs? Those things made you wait. You might spend days, even weeks grinding out one quest, with no auto-save and no option to buy your way to the next level.
It sounds like torture, but here’s the thing: it made every victory feel like an actual achievement. It’s the type of game design that teaches patience, perseverance, and the satisfaction of delayed gratification—all things that could use a little resurgence in an age where attention spans are shrinking faster than crypto prices.
Open Worlds Without the Noise
Most MMORPGs today throw you into these massive, sprawling maps, filled with markers, objectives, and endless loot. It's all quantity over quality. MUDs, on the other hand, had open worlds too—but those worlds were quiet. No side quest icons littering your screen, no mini-map holding your hand through every step. You had to read the environment, picture it in your mind, and actually figure out where to go by talking to people or just straight-up exploring. It was all about immersion, without a barrage of sensory overload.
Imagine a 2024 version of a MUD, where AI-generated quests or procedurally generated narratives could evolve in real-time, but the interface remains text-based, encouraging deep focus. It would be like modern tech meets old-school design—an immersive, evolving world you’re fully invested in because it’s not just handed to you on a silver, ray-traced platter.
Nostalgia, But Make It New
MUDs may have been left behind by the rise of more advanced graphics and gameplay mechanics, but with the indie game scene blowing up in recent years, there's a real opportunity to reimagine them for today’s audience. Think of how Dwarf Fortress and RimWorld have thrived with their minimalist designs, or how text-based games like AI Dungeon have carved out their niche in recent years.
We’re seeing a resurgence of low-fi aesthetics in everything from music to fashion, so why not in gaming too? A modern MUD could be the antidote to sensory overload, offering players a chance to slow down, breathe, and create stories in a world that’s only limited by their imagination. Plus, it would probably run on anything, including your phone, your smartwatch, or even your smart fridge (hey, the future is weird).
Make Gaming Weird Again
So yeah, bring back MUDs. Let’s reintroduce some mystery into online gaming. A MUD resurgence wouldn’t just be a nostalgic cash grab; it would offer something totally unique in the current gaming landscape: a return to simplicity, creativity, and community.
In a world where AAA games are too loud, too expensive, and too focused on microtransactions, MUDs could offer an escape to something more pure and intimate. Plus, who wouldn’t want to type “/look” and read a beautifully written description of a magical forest again? I know I would.
