EverQuest

EverQuest is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Verant Interactive and published by Sony Online Entertainment. Released in 1999, it is set in the world of Norrath, where players assume the roles of adventurers exploring a vast, interconnected realm, battling monsters, completing quests, and interacting with other players. The game is noted for its expansive world, challenging group-based gameplay, and its influence on the development of early online role-playing games.

Gameplay centers on character creation with a wide selection of races and classes. Players progress by earning experience, acquiring equipment, and learning new abilities as they explore open zones and dungeon instances. Group play is emphasized, with many encounters designed for parties rather than solo effort. The game supports a social ecosystem that includes in-game economies, guilds, cooperative play, and optional player-versus-player modes on designated servers.

EverQuest was developed during a period of rapid growth in online gaming. It began as a subscription-based title, with later updates introducing a free-to-play option and hybrid monetization. Development continued under Sony Online Entertainment, and after corporate restructuring the IP passed to Daybreak Game Company, which maintains the title alongside related projects and spin-offs such as EverQuest II.

Over its lifetime, EverQuest has released numerous expansion packs that broadened the game world with new continents, dungeons, and gameplay features. Early expansions such as The Ruins of Kunark and The Scars of Velious helped establish the game’s long-running lifecycle. The title remains active with ongoing updates and a dedicated community that has influenced later MMORPGs.