Gamers have no shortage of MMOs to choose from in 2026. Huge chunks of peoples’ lives have been spent in World of Warcraft, while Final Fantasy 14’s storytelling has engrossed thousands upon thousands of Warriors of Light. There’s Elder Scrolls Online, Destiny 2, and even pseudo-MMOs like the continuously growing Fallout 76. There’s plenty to love about these modern takes on the genre, but some players will inevitably crave an old-school MMO, which is exactly what the indie game Project: Gorgon delivers.
Developed by Elder Game LLC., Project: Gorgon is described as a “fantasy MMORPG that allows you to forge your own path through exploration and discovery.” This sounds fairly straightforward, but it doesn’t highlight what makes the game so special. First, there are the early 2000s visuals that will feel like a time machine back to one’s days grinding Runescape or classic World of Warcraft. Next, there’s the persistent world, which means Steam players aren’t loading into unique instances when they hop into a dungeon; at all times, there’s a chance for player interaction. Finally, and most importantly, is the fact that Project: Gorgon’s community is delightful. While the tech helps create that classic MMO feel many could be craving, it’s the actual player base that drives it home.
Project Gorgon left early access on January 28, 2026, and is currently available on Steam for $24.99 USD. It boasts very positive reviews.
What Exactly Is Project: Gorgon?
Project: Gorgon activities include, but aren’t limited to:
- Animal taming for combat and breeding, with bred animals able to be sold for coin.
- Necromancy, which allows players to resurrect the bodies of dead players as well as skeletons in the world.
- Cow gameplay (yes, really).
- Unarmed combat, in addition to numerous weapon options.
- Battle chemistry, which allows players to program golems or create explosions.
- Freedom to learn as many skills as one wants.
- Explore freely without any guidance or “rails” from the developer.
Project: Gorgon tosses players into a complex world called Alharth full of NPCs like praying mantises wearing cowboy hats, enemies like dinosaurs, and most importantly, lots and lots of other players. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by everything going on; killing a single enemy will see players leveling up and being introduced to a skill system where they level up dozens of abilities through continued use. There’s a lot of depth to the game, whether it’s skinning creatures, building alcohol tolerance, and so on, leading to a constant feeling of having something to do next. Players start slowly with swords and bows before building up the knowledge to wield weather like a sorcerer or transform into a beast like a Diablo 4 Druid. For many, that slow grind and building of one’s character is what makes MMOs special, and Project: Gorgon has that in spades.
Project: Gorgon’s gigantic world zones are full of humorous interactions, quests, and secrets, and because the game is still on the smaller side (even with its noticeable growth since leaving early access), even after years of development it can be tough to get instant answers on everything. While one might find a step-by-step guide for literally every single action there is to take in Blizzard’s World of Warcraft due to its huge player base, Project: Gorgon is still growing, meaning some wiki sections remain unfilled. Players may be better off asking for help on Reddit or, more likely, directly through the in-game chat, interacting with the passionate community that has helped the game succeed. There's a certain charm to not being able to easily look up every answer, as again, it calls back to the games of the early aughts.
Asking questions in chat will hardly be the only interactions new Project: Gorgon players will have with the wider community, as given the lack of instanced content in the game, other users will be encountered at literally every turn. Dungeons are just as likely to have other players as they are to be empty, while towns and hub areas like Serbule are guaranteed to be packed with others. Obviously, this approach has its downsides, like people stealing kills and making it difficult to farm, but participation rewards, speedy boss respawns, and instanced loot do help mitigate the issue. And for those seeking an MMO that truly feels massive, this trade-off will undoubtedly be worth it. The abundance of other players only becomes better when one spends enough time with the game to take in just how friendly its community is.
Proof that Project: Gorgon’s Community is a Major Highlight
Because Project: Gorgon is on the smaller side, virtually everyone players will come across is going to be passionate about the game. There’s no greater example of this than the heartwarming scene that just took place in mid-February. Players hopped on Project: Gorgon roughly a year after the passing of key developer Srand, who also created Petopia, to hold a vigil for her. Hundreds of players on Steam gathered around an in-game memorial to Srand, which can be seen below, making for an emotional and incredibly kind tribute to one of the most important people behind Project: Gorgon.
And while this act of kindness is the clearest example of the community coming together, there are many, many others appearing each and every day. There will be regular player-orchestrated in-game activities like poetry slams and gardening parties (as well as players coming together for raids), as well as consistent advice posts for the new players flocking to Project: Gorgon. Fan projects have seen creative fans like PostTrout designing world maps for Alharth, reflecting users’ love for the setting crafted by Elder Game, LLC, while the subreddit has been flooded with posts simply celebrating Project: Gorgon for being a blast from the past that still manages to feel new.
Given how negative certain communities can be, it couldn’t be more refreshing to see so much positivity. Even nitpicks about lag and minor bugs are shrugged off, as they too have added to the nostalgia for old-school MMO enjoyers. The game’s deliberately dated visuals and simple animations may put off some modern players, but for many, they go a long way to making Project: Gorgon special. It’s a shame that Srand isn’t around to see how successful her work is becoming, but she’d undoubtedly be glad to see so many gamers touched by a game she helped make. As Project: Gorgon continues to skyrocket in popularity, now is a perfect time to get in and start playing around with the many, many skills the game offers. There’s a real chance for it to become the next big thing in the MMO scene, so getting to experience the more tight-knit community that exists now is a good idea. Whether it’s through advice on the value of bacon, tips on how to boost damage, or guidance on where to go first, Project: Gorgon’s stellar community is sure to welcome any newcomers with open arms.
