Ryzom

Ryzom is an open-source science-fantasy MMORPG set in a persistent world that changes with the seasons, weather and time. You can develop one character across combat, magic, harvesting and crafting, while your actions can affect the world and its inhabitants.

A changing world

Ryzom’s 3D world contains five ecosystems: the Forest, Jungle, Desert and Lakes, among others. Landscapes, wildlife behavior and the availability of materials on the ground change with the season, weather and time. Animals behave according to their species: carnivores attack herbivore herds, species migrate as seasons change, and predators can threaten you while you harvest.

Develop your character

Characters are not restricted to a class. You can improve skills in combat, magic, harvesting and crafting with one character, choosing whether to train with a pike, heal or cast offensive spells with magic amplifiers, gather materials with a pickaxe, or make armor and weapons.

You can customize your character’s appearance when creating it. Harvesting materials depends on the season, weather and your skill. Crafting involves combining materials according to their characteristics and colors, with thousands of possible recipes for weapons and armor.

Shape the world

Your actions can influence the evolving world and its inhabitants. You might spark a war, establish a commercial guild, pursue political power or use your hunting skills in the struggle against the Kitins.

The game also hosts regular interactive events with live NPCs that develop in response to players’ actions. Players can create their own events with support from the Animation Team, and some guilds welcome players who want help developing their characters. Players and the Animation Team have also created imaginary languages.

Kitin invasions

Kitin invasions bring large-scale battles to the world. Hundreds of Kitins can advance together toward a city, calling for cooperation across much of the community to repel them. The description also raises the possibility that the Kitin could win again and threaten hominity for a third time.

Player combat

Player-versus-player combat is consensual: you can fight in duels, outpost battles and faction or regional fights, or choose not to take part.

Open-source game

Ryzom’s client, server, tools and media are open source. The community contributes fixes and functionality beyond what the team can provide, and players can get involved in the game’s development.