I was one of the many who used to spend hours upon hours on my laptop, grinding my skills up to level 99 in Old School RuneScape. The second I hear the music playing in that game, it takes me straight back to the days when I’d do countless rune essence runs and stand in the grand exchange trying to sell stuff to other players. Years later, we have RuneScape 3, which is supposedly the new and improved version of the game. Whether that’s actually the case or not is up for debate among RuneScape fans. There are certainly different benefits to both versions.
Reasons Why Old School RuneScape Is Better
Nostalgia
As with any franchise that includes older games, Old School RuneScape’s success comes largely from the nostalgia of the players. If you ask someone “why do you like old school RuneScape,” this is always guaranteed to be one of their first answers. Likely, it has become a type of peaceful, mindless activity for many, considering the amount of grinding that goes into the game. It’s nice to do simple tasks while listening to the music from “back in the day.”
Simpler Combat
This could easily be a pro or a con for different people. Some people absolutely love the more complex combat in RuneScape 3, while others have enjoyed Old School RuneScape for reasons other than combat to begin with, in which case the simpler combat would be preferred.
Easier To Run On A PC
If Old School RuneScape is more of a nostalgia attachment, then it’s possible that you love the game without necessarily calling yourself a “PC gamer.” Luckily, Old School RuneScape can run pretty easily, even on non-gaming laptops or computers.
Larger PvP Community
Surprisingly, even though a newer version of the game came out, there are actually more people playing PvP in Old School RuneScape. If you’re looking for the PvP experience out in different levels of the wilderness like back in the old days, this is the version you’re going to want to play.
Reasons Why RuneScape 3 Is Better
More Engaging Combat
Unlike the extremely simple combat in Old School RuneScape, RuneScape 3 combat is more involved. You have more combat options, and you have to do more strategizing than you would during fighting in Old School RuneScape.
Better Graphics
There isn’t a lot to say here, but if you’ve played both versions (or really, if you just pay attention to when the games were released), you know that RuneScape 3’s graphics are significantly better. Not everyone is bothered by older graphics though, but this is certainly considered to be a positive by most.
Boss Battles/Rewards
In RuneScape 3, they’ve dramatically improved boss battles. Boss battles in Old School RuneScape were both not that exciting and also not very rewarding. RuneScape 3 includes a wide range of different bosses at the end of various quests, and rewards can range from stronger weapons to powerful armor upgrades and more.
Better For PvM
In Old School RuneScape, there wasn’t a whole lot as far as boss battle goes. The PvM combat was pretty anticlimactic—a big reason everyone ended up out in the wilderness doing PvP instead. But in Runescape 3, the PvM combat is more exciting and definitely more rewarding.
Conclusion
From where I’m sitting, it seems more like these are just two different games. There are similarities, but considering people seem to be playing them to get completely different gaming experiences out of them, I think this debate over which is superior should be put to rest. For players that want a relaxing, nostalgic trip down memory lane or want to beat down on other players that are attached to the game, Old School RuneScape is best. For those that are looking for a better quality RPG feel while playing, it’s obvious your choice should be RuneScape 3.