Group mate kept asking me for loot drops that were clearly worse than what they were wearing. So I finally gave in, and gave him a ring that dropped. He actually unequipped a better ring to equip the one he looted. So it really is simulating real MMO players :P.

Ironically, this game needs 1-4 player multiplayer, but not full MMO functionality. It has some of the great parts of MMOs without having to deal with an actual guild full of toxic people. It fills a niche that has been left open for 30+ years.

Review written after reaching level 20 Duelist, 13 Paladin, 9 Druid, 9 Mage

Look, this game isn't for everybody. It's niche. It's also the best game I've played in 2025.

Erenshor is just EverQuest. It's exactly what it's billed as. Single-player EQ 99, with all of the out-dated and quirky mechanics you remember. There are subtle changes, but you'll barely notice them. The vibe is simple: This is a new MMO, you log in on day 1, and you're surrounded by hundreds of other players all logging in for the first time - but they're all NPCs. It works really well. I've restarted EQ live and WoW live over the last month, and the newbie areas are completely barren. In Erenshor, finding a group takes no time at all, there are never squabbles over loot, and you don't have to feel like you're abandoning your group if you have to go AFK for a few. All of the NPCs are leveling up with you. NPCs are persistent across your playthroughs, so it's fun to see your NPCs level up as you play. My level 20 duelist groups with a Paladin named Eron, and it was dope seeing him still at level 20 when I started a new character. The NPCs are the best thing about the game.

The game world isn't as compelling as EQ's Norrath. It's fine, it could use a designer's touch, but the dev has done a lot with the asset packs he's using. You'll recognize the art from some Unity shovelware... don't be fooled! Erenshor isn't shovelware, it's just an ambitious game made by a solo developer that needed enough art assets to make an MMO, and these were the assets the dev had. It's fine. The art is actually kind of charming. It'll grow on you.

Negatives? This is a strange thing to say, but this game needs multiplayer. Nothing else needs to change, but I want to be able to invite real life friends into my group. I want the NPCs, I want NPC groups, I want all of it - but I also want to show my buddies this game because it's incredible, and it's a tough sell without multiplayer. This probably isn't possible at this point, but it's a noticeable missing feature that would make the game better.

Buy the game. Support the dev. If you're an MMO vet you're going to love it. If you like charming NPCs you're going to love it. If you love a game that doesn't hold your hand, this is that game. You likely won't play a better indie game in 2025 than Erenshor.