Old School RuneScape
Released 22 February 2013 Developer Jagex
A fantasy online role-playing game that recreates RuneScape as it was in 2007, with updates now chosen by player votes. You train skills such as mining, fishing and combat, complete quests, fight monsters and trade with other players in a huge open world. It is played on computers and phones, and suits teenagers and adults who enjoy slow, long-term progress.
Money health
CautionBuilt to push spending
Addictive design
Mild2 of 5 — counts the hooks designed in
Average price
FreeSteam (AU)
Spending ceiling
No ceilingRepeat purchases, no limit
How it makes money
Caution: built to push spending
Old School RuneScape can be played free with a limited set of skills, quests and areas (15 skills and 24 quests). Full access needs a membership, which costs A$20.99 for one month or A$185.88 for twelve months (bundled with a soundtrack) on Steam; prices in the mobile apps are slightly different. Players can also buy Old School Bonds (A$13.99 each), which are redeemed for 14 days of membership or sold to other players for in-game coins. Jagex said in 2019 that it would not add other microtransactions.
How you pay
- Cash trading
Old School Bonds cost A$13.99 each from Jagex and can be sold on the in-game Grand Exchange for around ten million coins, so they are an official way to turn money into in-game currency; Jagex bans buying or selling items for real money outside the game.
minor part of the game - Subscription
Membership unlocks the full game: A$20.99 for 1 month or A$185.88 for 12 months on Steam, and A$36.99 for 3 months in the iOS app. Members get eight extra skills, over 120 quests and the whole world map.
- Try then buy
The free version has no time limit but includes only 15 skills, 24 quests and restricted areas, and new free characters cannot give items away in trades until they pass about 20 hours played.
minor part of the game
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Never-ending
An open-ended online world with no ending; new areas, bosses and a new skill (Sailing, November 2025) keep being added to the game.
- Made scarce
Levels and many items are very slow to earn, and Bonds let players buy coins with money instead of grinding for them.
minor part of the game - Always online
The game only works while connected to Jagex's servers, and accounts are being moved to Jagex Accounts from 17 November 2026.
minor part of the game
Fairer alternatives
Similar games with a healthier money model
What it costs
Free to start, then A$13.99–A$185.88 a purchase
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old School RuneScape (free to play) Free version with limits |
Steam (AU) · PC | Free | Oct 2026 |
| 1-month membership | Steam (AU) · PC | A$20.99/month | Oct 2026 |
| 12-month membership + soundtrack About A$15.49 a month |
Steam (AU) · PC | A$185.88/year | Oct 2026 |
| 3-month membership In-app purchase; the store also lists 1-month memberships at A$16.99 and A$20.99 |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$36.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Old School Bond x 1 Redeemable for 14 days of membership or tradeable for coins; 5 bonds are A$64.95 |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$13.99 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
87Metacritic
Metascore
Metascore
Very PositiveSteam
player reviews
player reviews
-
77/ 100
-
90/ 100
-
100/ 100
-
8/ 10
Pragalicious
Says the new Sailing skill makes the game bigger and better, though it is rough in places and slow to become interesting before level 30.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings & content
What's in it
Content labels
- Drugs & alcoholmoderate
References to, or use of, illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
From PEGI descriptors
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes), summed up in the content labels above. They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the money badges are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Text chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- No user-made content
- Needs an online account
- Terms of service minimum age: 13
Players talk to strangers in public chat, private messages and clan chats, and fight and trade with them. Jagex's terms say players must be at least 13, that 13 to 18 year olds need a parent or guardian's permission, and that subscriptions need the card holder's permission. Jagex says chat is monitored for certain keywords and has an in-game Report Abuse button. Jagex bans selling items or accounts for real money, but third-party gold-selling sites exist.
Who makes it
The company behind it, and its track record
No track-record badges yet.
Latest on the record
- Court case
Former developer sentenced for stealing players' in-game gold and items
Kotaku - Good practice
Removed RuneScape's Treasure Hunter paid prize system after a player vote
Jagex - Other
Carlyle agreed to sell Jagex to CVC and Haveli Investments
CVC Capital Partners
A company's history doesn't change this game's money verdict, which rates only how the game itself makes money. About company track records
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC Windows and macOS; also on Steam since 24 February 2021 |
22 February 2013 | Store page |
| Mac | 22 February 2013 | Store page |
| iPhone and iPad Cross-play with the desktop game |
30 October 2018 | Store page |
| Android phones and tablets Cross-play with the desktop game |
30 October 2018 | — |
Further reading
- Official website
- Old School Bond on the OSRS Wiki (prices, how bonds work)
- Jagex Young Person's Terms and Conditions (ages 13 to 18)
- Old School RuneScape on Wikipedia
- Wikipedia
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, apps.apple.com, oldschool.runescape.wiki, oldschool.runescape.wiki, oldschool.runescape.com, pegi.info, legal.jagex.com, www.metacritic.com, opencritic.com. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.