List of MUDs

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

Legend
Title The MUD's title; if it has had more than one title, the most recent title. Disambiguation is included only when MUDs in this list have the same title.
Founded The date the MUD was founded or first made publicly accessible.
Closed The date the MUD ceased to be publicly accessible. A blank entry indicates the MUD continues to operate.
Business model A brief description of the MUD's business model. "Free" means the MUD has no revenue stream. "Subscription" means that the MUD charges a periodic subscription fee for access or for a set level of in-game benefits, such as a "full" or "non-trial" account. "Pay for perks" means that the MUD accepts payments (which may be called "donations") and provides in-game benefits in exchange for them, on an à la carte basis. "Donation-supported" means that the MUD accepts payments, but its policies exclude providing in-game benefits in exchange for them. "Donation-drive supported" means that the MUD accepts payments, with policies excluding providing in-game benefits in exchange for them, only at specific times for specific purposes (most typically hardware upgrades), and does not accept payments at other times. "Freebie marketing" means that the MUD, by its existence, provides a purchase incentive for external goods.
Developer The company that carried out development of the MUD, or if the MUD was not developed by a company, major individual contributors, if known by real name; "Et al." indicates other contributors, often a large number of participants in a project community.
Publisher Any third parties that published the MUD. A blank entry indicates independent publication. "Independent" may also appear with a list of third parties to indicate that the MUD was independently published in addition to being published by third parties.
Setting A summary of the genre of the MUD's setting or, if applicable, the specific setting it is based on.
Style A summary of the style or styles of interaction the MUD focuses on.
Family The general family of MUD server software that the MUD is associated with, if any.
Codebase The specific server software the MUD is based on; a blank entry indicates independently developed, custom infrastructure. Multiple items indicate different codebases the MUD has used over time.
Mudlib The mudlib the MUD is based on, if any.
Contributions Publicly released software originating with the MUD or other public contributions.
Notes Other brief and significant information: MUDs in this article that are versions of one another, category origination, key clarifications. Not for general information about the MUD.

List
Title Founded Closed Business model Developer Publisher Setting Style Family Codebase Mudlib Contri­butions Notes
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 BartleFantasyHack and slashEssexMUDDLSuccessor to 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
Shattered World1990FreeGeoff Wong et al.Medieval fantasyRoleplayingLPMudLPMud 2.4.5, SWLPCSWLPC
Darker Realms1990FreeMedieval fantasyHack and slashLPMudLPMud 3.1.6-DRLPMud 2.4.5
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
DartMUD1991Donation-supportedJonathan Clemens et al.FantasyHack and slash, roleplayingLPMudLPMudFirst use of ASCII hex system
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
Xyllomer1991FreeFantasyRoleplayingLPMudLPMud, DGDCDFirst public DGD MUD
Nuclear War MUD1992FreePost-apocalyptic cyberpunkHack and slash, player versus playerLPMudMudOSLPMud 2.4.5
Empire19922010FreeFarhaj Hashmi et al.Medieval fantasyHack and slash, player versus player, roleplayingDikuMUDDikuMUD
Genocide1992FreeFantasyPlayer versus playerLPMudLPMud, MudOS, AmylaarFirst "pure PK" MUD
Holy Mission1992FreeFantasyHack and slashLPMudLPMudLPMud 2.4.5
AmberMUSH19922009FreeJennifer Smith et al.AmberRoleplayingMU*TinyMUSH
Astaria 1992 Free A community of wizards Fantasy Social, Hack and slash LPMud MudOS
Infinity (LPMud)1992FreePeter William Friedman, Bill Mackiewicz et al.Cross-genreHack and slash, social, player versus playerLPMudLPMud 3.1.2, LDMudLPMud 2.4.5
JediMUD1992FreeJeremy Elson et al.Cross-genreHack and slashDikuMUDCircleMUD
3Kingdoms1992Pay for perksCross-genreHack and slashLPMudLDMud
Nightmare LPMud19922005FreeGeorge Reese et al.FantasyHack and slash, roleplayingLPMudMudOSNightmareNightmare Mudlib
Northern Lights1992FreeAnna Eklund, Gjermund Sørseth et al.Medieval fantasyHack and slashAberMUDDirt
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 (AberMUD)1993FreeFantasyHack and slashAberMUDAberMUD
BayMOO1993FreeTim Keanini et al.ModernSocial, educationalMU*MOO
MediaMOO1993FreeAmy S. Bruckman et al.ModernEducationalMU*MOO
Muddy Waters1993FreeHistorical fantasyHack and slashLPMudCDCD
DragonSpires19941997Pay for perksDragon's Eye ProductionsFantasySocial, roleplaying, graphical
Dune II19941996FreeJohn Robertson et al.DuneRoleplaying, socialMU*TinyMUSH
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
RetroMUD1994FreeFantasyHack and slash
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
Threshold1996Pay for perksFrogdiceFantasyRoleplayingLPMudLPMud, LDMudTMI-2
TorilMUD1996FreeKris Kortright et al.Forgotten RealmsHack and slashDikuMUDSequent
Achaea, Dreams of Divine Lands1997Pay for perks, subscriptionIron Realms EntertainmentFantasyRoleplayingRaptureATCP
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
RuneScape2001Subscription, pay for perksJagexFantasyHack and slash, graphical
TriadCity2001Pay for perksSmartMonstersCross-genreHack and slash, roleplaying
Wyvern20012013FreeCabochon Inc.FantasyHack and slash, graphical, roguelike
God Wars II2002FreeRichard Woolcock et al.Dark fantasyPlayer versus playerGladiator Pits IIGladiator Pits II, MSDP
gollark: For Minecraft even my GTX 1050 works.
gollark: Define "gaming".
gollark: Snape kills Trinity with Rosebud.
gollark: With some lazy gsubbing in potatOS it should, however, be possible to support lööps backwards-compatibly (mostly) *and* with terrible messages.
gollark: It wouldn't work, I think.

References
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