Why I Can’t Get Into Old School RuneScape — Even Though I Want To

Old School RuneScape is more popular now than it has ever been. The free-to-play MMORPG that first launched back in 2013 as a preservation of RuneScape’s 2007-era build is not just thriving but sitting comfortably at the top of the scene. Just a few days ago, Old School RuneScape hit a concurrent peak of over 240,000 players. Even some of my own friends are actively playing right now. It is wild to see a game many of us played as kids two decades ago still alive and well.

And yet, as someone who grew up on RuneScape, I find myself surprised and disappointed: I just cannot get back into it.

It is not that I have not tried. A few months ago, with a wave of nostalgia hitting me hard, I downloaded Old School RuneScape again. And I hooked myself up with RuneLite, including all the best plugins. RuneScape was a huge part of my childhood, so I was excited to jump in and feel like a kid again.

But the magic was not there.

The world of Gielinor is still as charming as I remember. It is goofy yet immersive, and I am a big fan of the medieval fantasy aesthetic. Old School RuneScape’s music still hits too. The world is so cozy (and I hate using that word, but it totally applies here). Old School RuneScape’s simplicity is still genuinely inviting to this day. It is easy to see why people fall in love with this game, even in 2025.

But for me, the movement system is a straight-up dealbreaker.

I guess click-to-move was fine when I was a wee lad playing on my family’s shared computer in the cold basement. But now that I am a seasoned gamer, it is a wall I just cannot climb over. I need the option of WASD movement. My fingers instinctively reach for those keys every time I log into a game like Old School RuneScape. It is muscle memory at this point. But in Old School RuneScape, your only choice is to click. In fact, you click for everything.

I realize that for a lot of players, this system is part of the charm. It is what makes Old School RuneScape feel different. The game is built to be more passive, as it is the perfect “second-monitor game.” You can grind skills while watching YouTube, or even working via your primary screen. That hands-off quality is appealing, especially for people who want a game that fits into their daily routine rather than demanding full attention.

But for me, that disconnect makes it hard to stay engaged. When I play MMOs, I want to feel the world. The tactile feedback of WASD movement helps me immerse myself. It turns the world into something I inhabit, not just click through. Without that connection, playing Old School RuneScape is a chore to me.

And that makes me kind of sad.

Because I want to love this game again. I want to hang out with my friends while we do quests or just go fishing together. Reconnecting with that younger version of me who used to spend hours running around Lumbridge sounds lovely. I want to dive back into the world of Old School RuneScape so badly.

But alas, every time I log in I end up logging out just as quickly. It is not Old School RuneScape, it is me.

I will always respect and appreciate Old School RuneScape for what it is though — a unique and enduring MMO that built a passionate community, inspired countless memories, and continues to stand the test of time. Unfortunately, I will be cheering on from the sidelines. Probably forever too, considering implementing WASD movement goes against the game’s tile-based system.