When I put RuneScape at number one in my “Top 10 Games” blog post, I realized a paragraph could never capture what this game truly means to me. So, here it is—my dedicated love letter to the most influential game of my life.
The Origins: A Rainy Day in 2006
Ah, RuneScape. The black hole that has swallowed over 5,000 hours of my life (yes, really). The game I’ve always found my way back to, no matter how many times I try to quit—Its probably more addictive than crack (I assume anyway).
I genuinely can’t remember how young I was when I started playing. All I know is that my main account is now over 14 years old, which still blows my mind.
My first RuneScape memory is vivid as ever: it was around 2006, pouring with rain, visiting a friend who lived far away. Our parents and siblings were watching TV downstairs. We snuck upstairs to their family computer so he could show me this new game he had discovered. From the second he logged in, I was hooked. We wandered around Lumbridge, picking up cabbages and potatoes until I found a dagger and took down my first goblin, who dropped a goblin mail. I was convinced I managed to wear it (spoiler: definitely not possible), but the excitement was real—a core memory forever unlocked.
Rediscovering RuneScape—and the True Adventure Begins
Back then, I didn’t even have access to a computer, so that first experience faded. Until, that is, late 2008, when RuneScape hit a wave of popularity thanks to the new HD client. Suddenly, all my school friends were playing. I distinctly remember huddling round another friend’s screen as a group of us fought our first green dragon together, armed with Dragon Daggers. It was thrilling—we cheered as if we’d conquered the world when that dragon finally fell.
But it wasn’t until Christmas a year later, when I finally got a laptop of my own, that I dove in properly. While most of my friends drifted away, I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into Gielinor. I tried (and abandoned) a lot of different accounts at first, but finally, in October 2011, I created the one account that would become my digital home for over a decade. Fast forward to today, and—wait for it—I’ve logged an insane 5,666 hours on RuneScape.
More Than Just a Game
What turned RuneScape from a pastime to a lifelong passion? The community, for one. Playing with friends and building clans, sharing goals, and even rivalries. I loved leveling my skills (maxing them all for the first time was a personal triumph!), chasing wealth, and diving into boss fights.
I was always setting myself challenges: killing 10,000 of each dragon type (I only managed two before admitting defeat—there are A LOT of dragons), or collecting every possible boss drop. I nerded out over the in-game economy: flipping items on the marketplace, timing my buys and sells during Double XP weekends. Oddly enough, I picked up real-life lessons about trading, money management, and persistence while playing this “silly” online game.
My RuneScape journey wasn’t limited to the game itself. I even joined the RuneScape Instagram community for a while, posting edited screenshots of my in-game milestones. It was a great way to meet other fans—and find inspiration for new goals.
Of course, not all experiences were positive. I had my first brush with gambling at the Duel Arena: I made 100m one night, only to be scammed and then lose it all—plus another 60m—just as quickly. That sting stuck with me, and honestly, put me off gambling in real life too.
A Real-World Community
Some of my best RuneScape memories happened outside the game. In 2017, I flew to London for RuneFest with friends. We hit the pre-party, geeked out with famous streamers like Mr Mammal, Woox, and Boaty, and got to play the RuneScape Mobile Beta before anyone else. The whole event felt electric—plus, we made new friends and wandered the city together after. Those are memories you can’t buy.
Through the game, I also met one of my best friends, who lives in another country—our friendship now spans over seven years (and multiple games together). I’ve even flown across borders to hang out IRL.
RuneScape 3 vs. Old School—Finding My Niche
I’ve always been a RuneScape 3 player at heart. I’ve tried Old School RuneScape, especially since most of my friends made the switch, but it just never clicked for me. OSRS is more click-intensive, the XP rates are lower, and—let’s be real—I wasn’t keen on starting from scratch after years of progress. RuneScape 3 has become more of a “second screen” game for me, something casual to grind while watching TV or playing something else. Still, I have huge respect for the OSRS community and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a challenge (and a vibrant, nostalgia-soaked community).
Giving Back: The Golden Party Hat Drop
About six months ago, I felt the urge to “retire” in a memorable way. I wanted to give back to the community that had given me so much. So, I started stockpiling Golden Party Hats—managed to save up 15! I took them to the Grand Exchange in a free-to-play world and hosted an impromptu drop party, scattering hundreds of millions of GP worth of items for anyone to find. People absolutely lost their minds. For an hour, I handed out wealth, in the hopes of sparking that same feeling someone once gave me when they gifted me a Robin Hood hat as a newbie. It was my way of paying it forward—a small legacy.
Of course, even giving everything away didn’t keep me away for good (as I write this, I’m literally AFK farming Green Dragons… old habits die hard).
Why RuneScape Still Matters
Even though I stopped playing “seriously” about three years ago, I’ll always come back for a nostalgia hit. Over 11 years, I maxed my account, hit 120 in five skills, and forged friendships that have lasted far beyond the game. I have zero regrets for a single hour spent in Gielinor.
If you’re considering giving RuneScape a go—do it. RuneScape 3 is fantastic for a more relaxed experience and epic boss battles. If you want a hardcore grind with an active, tight-knit community, Old School might be your new home. Either way, there’s a blast waiting for you.
Have you played RuneScape before? What’s your favourite memory from the game? I’d love to hear your stories!
The Life of J 