After 25 years of being exclusive to the PC ecosystem, RuneScape: Dragonwilds marks the first time in the franchise’s history that the series has made its way over to consoles. RuneScape: Dragonwilds may not be the traditional RuneScape that so many know and love, but that doesn’t make the release any less exciting. However, it’s an unorthodox approach from developer Jagex, which makes this transition a little unexpected. For over two decades, the classic RuneScape experience has been largely defined by MMO gameplay, but Dragonwilds is the new kid on the block that gives the franchise a fun twist.
To most fans, playing Old School RuneScape or RuneScape 3 is the ideal way to experience the series in its purest form, but Dragonwilds ditches the usual MMO formula that has helped the fantasy series grow such a dedicated player base through the years. Instead, Dragonwilds mixes up the franchise’s identity by turning the core gameplay into an open-world sandbox survival. Now that Dragonwilds has brought RuneScape into the world of console gaming, only time will tell if its original form will follow suit.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds Bringing the RuneScape Franchise to Consoles Is 25 Years in the Making
RuneScape‘s legacy has been an important part of the MMO community, and that’s why it’s so surprising that Jagex opted to bring the series to console gamers via Dragonwilds. I’m not saying this is a bad thing at all. It’s just an unexpected choice from the developer. Of course, bringing a 25-year-old classic fantasy MMO to current-gen PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles might not have the same draw as the franchise’s newest entry. RuneScape: Dragonwilds is incredibly fresh, and that newness really works in its favor.
Put the consoles in the correct order.
Before the recent 1.0 launch that expanded its reach to consoles, Jagex debuted RuneScape: Dragonwilds on Steam via Early Access back in 2025. Compared to Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3, Dragonwilds is new and shiny with its presentation. It’s simply more appealing to a larger audience at the moment, especially with the influx of great open-world survival games that have come out in recent years.
Open-World Survival Crafting Games Have Been Making Waves for Years Now
- Minecraft
- Valheim
- Subnautica
- Grounded
- No Man’s Sky
- Rust
- Palworld
The open-world survival genre has been a popular ongoing trend for well over a decade, so despite RuneScape: Dragonwilds being a surprising choice to take up the mantle of being the bridge-builder between PC and console, it actually makes perfect sense. Open-world survival games like Valheim and Subnautica embrace player freedom and world immersion, which is something that has continued to resonate with gamers in a way that MMO’s haven’t been able to in recent years.
The MMO genre hasn’t disappeared, of course, but it simply hasn’t been as popular as the games that can be found under the open-world survival umbrella. Some of the best MMO games, like RuneScape, World of Warcraft, and The Lord of the Rings Online, have continued to push through the highs and lows of the genre, but the sheer size of these games can make it difficult for developers to maintain long term.
For over two decades, the classic RuneScape experience has been largely defined by MMO gameplay, but Dragonwilds is the new kid on the block that gives the franchise a fun twist.
Jagex trend-chasing instead of focusing on bringing the older iterations to console gamers is a smart and strategic move into a fresh market. RuneScape: Dragonwilds on PS5 has already amassed an impressive collection of positive reviews from players. Between its Valheim-like survival and crafting mechanics and the budget-friendly $30 price tag for the Standard Edition, this spin-off has clearly won over a solid number of gamers.
Dragonwilds Introduces Gamers to RuneScape Through Familiar Gameplay, Leaving the Older Games in a Tough Position
RuneScape: Dragonwilds‘ gameplay clearly has a lot in common with the likes of Valheim, but it’s important to make it clear that Jagex’s take on open-world survival isn’t a one-for-one replica of the Viking-centric title. Sure, there is a clear focus on crafting, building, and survival, but RuneScape: Dragonwilds features several clear differences that make it feel fresh instead of simply being a Valheim clone.
Key Differences Between RuneScape: Dragonwilds and Valheim
- Valheim‘s world is procedurally generated and focuses on Norse mythology.
- RuneScape: Dragonwilds features a handcrafted world.
- Unlike Valheim, Dragonwilds has a more structured main quest line for players to follow.
- Dragonwilds opts for a more traditional RPG skill leveling system.
Introducing RuneScape to even more players through Dragonwilds‘ topical gameplay familiarity is a good way to get players on board with the spin-off, but it might put Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3 in a position that will be harder to overcome. The older games are a more dated experience compared to RuneScape: Dragonwilds. This definitely isn’t a downside, per se. Diving into some of the best classic RPGs can be a fun trip down memory lane. However, if Jagex decides to make console ports of both Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3 down the road, the two might have trouble attracting the same hype because of the older mechanics.
Right now, it’s unclear if Jagex plans on porting Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3, but both games are doing well and continuing to evolve without having console support. For example, Old School RuneScape added pets for the first time ever just recently. This might seem like a small update, but it’s still proof that the game has plenty of room to grow despite being around for so many years.
For a long time, RuneScape coming to consoles felt like a pipe dream, but Dragonwilds has finally bridged the gap between gamer communities. It may not be the RuneScape port that some longtime fans were expecting, but it’s ultimately the right move on Jagex’s part. With RuneScape: Dragonwilds‘ price being significantly lower than a lot of the new games coming out in September and blending beloved fantasy lore with Valheim-inspired survival, Dragonwilds is worth a look.
- Released
-
September 15, 2026
- ESRB
-
Teen / Violence, Blood, Mild Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
