Recommended Free Tools
Start with RuneScape if you want a modern presentation and the choice of different combat and interface settings. Choose Old School RuneScape (OSRS) if its retro style, challenging levelling, risk-it-all PvP and community-influenced development are what appeal to you. Neither is objectively easier to learn: the better first game depends on which experience you want to spend time in.
How the two games differ
| What to compare | RuneScape | Old School RuneScape |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | The modern RuneScape game, with a broad range of skills, quests and combat. Jagex calls it a free-to-play MMO and lists 29 skills in its game guide. | A separate game with an explicitly retro-styled identity. Jagex describes it as a challenging levelling MMO with risk-it-all PvP on the official OSRS site. |
| Combat and interface | Offers Evolution of Combat and Legacy choices; combat and interface settings can be mixed and matched. Legacy does not make RuneScape the same game as OSRS. | Choose it for OSRS’s own retro-styled experience, rather than as a RuneScape setting. |
| Progression | Jagex’s guide lists 29 skills. Membership adds additional skills and areas. | Jagex foregrounds challenging levelling; the available official descriptions do not quantify how its difficulty compares with RuneScape. |
| Free entry and membership | Free-to-play entry is available. Membership opens more content. | You can also start without membership. Jagex describes subscriptions as unlocking the full world and exclusive content across both game eras. |
| Development signals | Jagex’s RuneScape Reignited page describes restoration changes and an adventure guide. | Jagex presents OSRS development as community-controlled and lists current updates on its official site. |
Which game fits the way you want to play?
Choose RuneScape for modern systems and flexibility
RuneScape is a sensible first choice if you want a modern game with a broad progression system and the ability to adjust combat and interface settings. Its Legacy options can change the feel of play, but they are options within RuneScape—not a route into OSRS’s separate game and development experience.
Choose OSRS for its retro identity and demanding progression
OSRS makes more sense if you specifically want a retro-styled MMO, challenging levelling, risk-it-all PvP, and a game whose development Jagex describes as community-controlled. Those are preference signals, not proof that OSRS is harder to start or more rewarding for every player.
Use your interest, not an assumed difficulty ranking
No comparative study establishing that one game has easier beginner onboarding is available here. If you are unsure, try each free entry option and see which presentation and progression style you actually enjoy before paying for more content.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- RUNESCAPE AT ITS CORE! - Embark on quests, level your skills and explore a beautiful hand-crafted world. This all-new adventure blends high-fantasy and iconic RuneScape lore on a brand new continent. RPG systems reward you with unique abilities and spells as you progress through each skill. Battle legendary RuneScape creatures like Zogres, challenge Black Knights and the entirely new and fearsome Garou, all set to a sweeping soundtrack of reorchestrated RuneScape classics and hours of brand new music.
- GRIND SKILLS, SLAY DRAGONS - Locate them, throw down the gauntlet and carve your path to the Dragon Queen herself. Your progress will be under constant threat from the looming shadow of the Dragons, as you arm yourself and prepare to rise to face them. Follow the trail of destruction and uncover the mysteries of the continent to learn not just how to confront the dragons, but how to overcome them. Prepare potions, craft gear and push yourself to do battle with the most powerful force on the continent. The smart money's on the dragon. But we do love an underdog!
- SURVIVAL THROUGH SORCERY - Summon a spectral axe to fell trees in an instant! Blink away from danger in a cloud of magic. Turn bones into... peaches? The Anima-rich landscape of Ashenfall offers you a power unlike any other. Conjure a tornado of fish from a lake! Explode ore veins with a snap of your fingers! Journey through the vibrant regions of Ashenfall, discover why wild magic spills from the fractured lands and harness that power to survive!
- COMMUNITY DRIVEN, PLAYER CENTRIC - Like all RuneScape games, community is at the heart of everything we do. We've shaped our entire roadmap based on player feedback, leading us to launch dedicated servers earlier than planned, introduce new combat and new quest content. Working together we're continuing to develop RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Whether you're adventuring with friends or going it alone, every opinion matters, and it's up to you to help us shape the future of our game.
What free play and membership mean
Both games can be started without membership, but free access is not the full experience. Jagex says subscriptions unlock the full world of Gielinor, including the full map, exclusive quests, skills and future content across both eras. Its subscription-management article also directs players to separate RuneScape and OSRS membership routes.
For RuneScape, Jagex advertises a world it describes as three times larger, 12 exclusive skills and 45 members-only bosses as membership benefits on its membership page. These are Jagex’s stated benefits; the 12 exclusive skills are not the total skill count.
Rank #2
Current subscription rates and platform-specific billing terms are not established here. Before subscribing, compare the live regional plan and the checkout terms on the platform where you intend to play.
Pick the game before buying a Bond
Bonds are tied to their game. Jagex says Old School Bonds can be traded within OSRS and redeemed for membership, but cannot be transferred to RuneScape for RuneCoins or Keys. Decide which game you want before purchasing a membership or Bond.
Rank #3
- Immerse yourself in a thrilling tabletop adventure filled with strategy, storytelling, and dynamic character interactions designed to challenge every decision.
- Experience high replayability through immersive roleplay, unpredictable encounters, and evolving tactical choices that keep every session intense and fresh.
- Master your destiny with customizable heroes, intricate quests, and deep world-building that fuel creative expression and competitive gameplay.
- Perfect for RPG enthusiasts seeking complex mechanics, cooperative missions, and richly detailed scenarios that spark imagination and rivalry.
- Premium components, atmospheric artwork, and narrative depth make this board game a must-have centerpiece for any tabletop gaming collection.
Is OSRS still being updated?
Yes. OSRS is presented by Jagex as community-controlled, and its official site showed current updates in October 2026, including an apparel preorder announcement dated 25 September 2026. That is evidence that the game is active, not a guarantee about future update frequency or quality.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Grab your capes and party hats, because we’re going to Gielinor!
- Inspired by the record-breaking online universe that’s captured the imagination of millions worldwide, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is the official cooperative board game for 1-5 players.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
