---
title: MUD
kind: note
description: Before the internet, the popular text-based computer game "Zork") let single players fight monsters in randomly populated "dungeons". With the advance of computer networking, multi-player variants…
words: 678
readingMinutes: 3
created: '2022-03-01T00:00:00.000Z'
updated: '2026-03-28T10:47:57+01:00'
---
- Before the internet, the popular text-based computer game "Zork") let single players fight monsters in randomly populated "dungeons".
- With the advance of computer networking, multi-player variants named "Multi-User Dungeons" were created, or "MUDs".
- Today the term is used for all kinds of text-based multi-player games, whether their setting might be medieval fantasy, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, horror or something else.
- Other variants of text-based communities are called MUSH, MUX, MOO etc. - but because the lines between these "MU\*" can be blurry, and `/notes/mu*` doesn't make for a good URL, my note here is about all of the mentioned variants.
## Resources
### Social
- [/r/MUD](https://www.reddit.com/r/MUD/)
### Server listings
- [GameScry](https://game-scry.online/browse/mud/?ord=popular)
- [Grapevine](https://grapevine.haus/)
- [The Mud Connector](https://www.mudconnect.com/)
- [Mudhalla](https://mudhalla.net/tintin/protocols/mssp/mudlist.html)
- [MUDStats.Com](https://www.mudstats.com/)
- [MudVerse](https://www.mudverse.com/)
- [MUNexus](https://munexus.info/)
- [Top Mud Sites](https://www.topmudsites.com/) - not updated since <span class="dead-link">2022-09-11</span>
### Clients
- [Mudlet](/notes/mudlet) - [Windows](/notes/microsoft-windows), [macOS](/notes/macos), [Linux](/notes/linux)
- <span class="dead-link">MUSHclient</span> - [Windows](/notes/microsoft-windows)
- [TinTin++](https://tintin.mudhalla.net/) - console app for [Android](/notes/android), <span class="dead-link">iOS</span>, [Linux](/notes/linux), [macOS](/notes/macos), [Windows](/notes/microsoft-windows)
- [Mudslinger](https://mudslinger.net/play/) - web-based
- MudRammer - <span class="dead-link">iOS</span>
- [Fado](https://iberia.jdai.pt/fado/fado.html) - [Android](/notes/android)
- [BeipDev/BeipMU](https://github.com/BeipDev/BeipMU) - [Windows](/notes/microsoft-windows)
- [Axmud](https://axmud.sourceforge.io/) - [Windows](/notes/microsoft-windows), [Linux](/notes/linux), [FreeBSD](/notes/freebsd)
### Games
- [3Kingdoms](https://3k.org/) - cross-genre (fantasy, sci-fi, "chaos"/satire)
	- [Community wiki](https://wemudtogether.com/)
- [3Scapes](https://www.3k.org/about3s.php)
- [4Dimensions.org](https://4dimensions.org/)
- [Aabahran](https://wiki.theforsakenlands.net/)
	- [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/J6EePADbKb)
- [Aardwolf](/notes/aardwolf)
- [Accursed Lands](https://accursed-lands.net/mobile/index.html)
- [The Afterlife MUD](https://www.theafterlifemud.com/#/)
- [After the Plague](http://atp.pedia.szote.u-szeged.hu/~atp/main.html)
- [Akanbar](http://www.akanbar.com/) - fantasy
- [8BitMUSH: The ANSI Art Game](http://ansiart.com/) - social, creative
- [ArcticMud](http://arcticmud.org/) - Dragonlance setting
	- [Review from 2024](http://furtivegoblingaming.blogspot.com/2024/05/lets-dig-into-arcticmud.html?m=1)
- [Alter Aeon](https://www.alteraeon.com/) - fantasy
- [Ansalon](http://www.ansalon.net/) - Dragonlance setting
- [Apocalypse MUD](https://apocalypsemud.org/)
- [ArmageddonMUD](https://www.armageddon.org/) - closed since 2024
- [Arx](https://play.arxgame.org/)
- [Atharia](https://atharia.net/)
	- [Discord](https://discord.gg/ggmKveG2MK)
- [Avendar](https://avendar.net/Main_Page) - RP, PK
- [AwakeMUD](https://www.awakemud.com/) - Shadowrun
- [BatMUD](https://www.bat.org/)
- [Carrion Fields](https://www.carrionfields.net/) - fantasy, PK
- [Celestial Knights](https://ckmud.com/) - Dragonball Z, established <span class="dead-link">2023-07</span>
- [Chronicles of Krynn](https://krynn.d20mud.com/) - Dragonlance
- [The Cleft of Dimensions](https://web.cleftofdimensions.net/)
- [CLOK](https://clok.contrarium.net/)
- [CoffeeMud](http://coffeemud.net:8080/wiki/index.php/Official_CoffeeMUD)
- [Cosmic Rage](https://cosmicrage.nathantech.net/) - space
- [CyberASSAULTMUD](http://www.cyberassault.org/) - post-apocalyptic
- [CyberSphere](https://cs.netsville.com/)
- [Dark Legacy](https://www.dark-legacy.com/index.php/)
- [Dark & Shattered Lands](http://www.dsl-mud.org/)
- [Dark Risings](https://darkrisings.org/)
- [Deeper Trouble](https://deepertrouble.org/) - down?
- [Discworld Mud](http://discworld.starturtle.net/lpc/)
- [Disquiet](https://disquiet.aresmush.com/)
- [Dune MUD](https://dunemud.net/)
- [DurisMUD](https://www.durismud.com/) - PvP
- [Elephant](https://www.elephant.org/)
- [Ember Online](https://ember-online.com/) - custom client only
- [EmpireMUD](https://empiremud.net/)
- [Erion Mud](https://www.erionmud.com/)
	- [Discord](https://discord.gg/PTRbCpy)
- [The Eternal City](https://login.eternalcitygame.com/login.php)
- [EverWar](http://www.everwar.net/) - down?
- [Exile](https://exilemud.org/)
- [Federation 2](https://federation2.com/) - space trading
- [Forgotten Kingdoms](https://forgottenkingdoms.org/) - Forgotten Realms (D&D); RP
- [The Gathering](http://tgmud.net/)
	- [Tirradyn](https://tirradyn.com/)
- [Geas](https://www.geas.de/)
- [Genesis MUD](https://www.genesismud.org/)
- [God Wars 2](https://www.godwars2.org/) - down?
- [Haelrahv](http://www.haelrahv.com/)
- [Harshlands](http://harshlands.net/wordpress/)
- [Haven of The Embraced](https://havenmud.net/) - gothic horror
- [Heroes Assemble MUSH](https://heroesassemble.mushhaven.com/index.php?title=Main_Page) - superheroes
- [Hollow](https://www.hollowgame.com/)
- [Iberia MUD](https://iberia.jdai.pt/)
- [Infernomoo](https://infernomoo.fandom.com/wiki/Infernomoo_Wikia) - post-apocalyptic
- [The Inquisition](https://ti-legacy.com/)
- By [Iron Realms Entertainment](https://www.ironrealms.com/)
	- [Achaea](https://www.achaea.com/front)
	- [Aetolia](https://www.aetolia.com/) - dark fantasy
	- [Imperian](https://www.imperian.com/)
	- [Lusternia](https://www.lusternia.com/)
	- [Starmourn](https://www.starmourn.com/) 
- [Islands of Myth](http://www.islandsofmyth.org/)
- [The Last Outpost](https://www.last-outpost.com/)
- [Legacy of the Sith](https://legacyofthesith.com/) - Star Wars
- [Legends and Legacies](https://lnl.aresmush.com/) - superheroes MUSH
- [Legends of Kallisti](http://www.kallistimud.com/)
- [Legends of Terris](https://www.legendsofterris.com/)
- [Legends of the Jedi](https://www.legendsofthejedi.com/) - Star Wars
- [Lensmoor](https://lensmoor.org/)
- [Liberation MUSH](https://liberationmush.site/) - World of Darkness setting
- [Lost Souls](https://www.lostsouls.org/) - medieval fantasy
- [Lost Wishes](http://lost.wishes.net/)
- [Materia Magica](https://www.materiamagica.com/)
- [Medieval Times](https://www.timesmud.com/)
- [Medievia](http://www.medievia.com/)
- [Midnight, Equestria](https://midnight-equestria.neocities.org/) - ponies, horses, unicorns
- [Midnight Sun 2](https://midnightsun2.org/) - medieval
- 🇩🇪 [MorgenGrauen](http://mg.mud.de/)
- [Multi Users of Middle Earth](https://mume.org/) - Lord of the Rings
	- [Discord](https://discord.gg/XkZN55am9a)
- [Multiverse Crisis MUSH](http://multiversemush.com/mw/index.php?title=Main_Page)
- [Mystic Adventure](http://www.mystic-adventure.org/)
- [Nanvaent](https://nanvaent.org/)
- [New Moon](http://www.newmoonmud.org/intro2.html) - down? 
- [New Worlds Ateraan](http://ateraan.com/overview.html)
- [Nightmist](http://nightmist.co.uk/nmsite/)
- [Nukefire](http://tdome.nukefire.org/) - post-apocalyptic
- [Procedural Realms](https://proceduralrealms.com/) - exploration and survival
- [Prometheus Eternal Wars](https://prometheus-enterprises.com/eternal-wars.html) - space
- [Realm of Magic](http://rom.informatik.uni-bremen.de/wiki/index.php/Main_Page)
- [Realms of Despair](https://realmsofdespair.com/) - medieval fantasy
- [RetroMUD](http://www.retromud.org/)
- [Shattered](https://shatteredmu.com/) - post-apocalyptic, RP
- [Shattered Kingdoms](https://shatteredkingdoms.org/)
- [Silent Heaven](https://silentheaven.org/)
- By <span class="dead-link">Simutronics</span>
	- [DragonRealms](/notes/dragonrealms)
	- <span class="dead-link">GemStone IV</span>
- [SlothMUD](http://www.slothmud.org/wp/)
- [Solar Eclipse](https://solareclipse.fandom.com/wiki/Solar_Eclipse_MUD)
- [Song of Avaria](https://www.songofavaria.com/) - fantasy, closed alpha
- [StickMUD](https://www.stickmud.com/)
- [The UnOfficial SquareSoft MUD](https://uossmud.sandwich.net/) - combat-oriented MUD based on Squaresoft games
- [Sundering Shadows](https://sunderingshadows.com/doku.php)
- [TempusMUD](https://tempusmud.com/) - time travel
- [Tenebrae](http://www.tenebraemush.net/) - <span class="dead-link">Pathfinder</span> MUX
- [Threshold](https://www.thresholdrpg.com/)
- [Torchship](https://torchship.org/) - post-apocalyptic; closed <span class="dead-link">2024</span>
- [Toril](https://www.torilmud.com/) - Forgotten Realms
	- [Todrael's Lair](http://www.grokh.com/todrael/) - guides and maps
- [United Heroes MUSH](https://www.unitedheroesmush.com/index.php?title=Main_Page)
- [Untold Dawn](https://blog.untold-dawn.com/) - post-cyberpunk, RP, established 2024
- [Viking MUD](https://www.vikingmud.org/)
- [Waterdeep](https://www.waterdeep.org/waterdeep)
- [Wheel of Time](https://wotmud.info/)
- [ZombieMUD](http://zombiemud.org/) - medieval fantasy
### Protocols / Standards
- [RFC 855: Telnet Option Specifications](https://tintin.mudhalla.net/rfc/rfc855/)
- Generic Mud Communication Protocol (GMCP)
	- Uses Telnet code 201
	- [Mudlet tutorial](https://www.mudlet.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/GMCPtutorial.pdf) - last updated <span class="dead-link">2013-02</span>
	- [Mudlet thread](https://forums.mudlet.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1547)
	- [TinTin++ documentation](https://tintin.mudhalla.net/protocols/gmcp/)
	- [MUSHclient documentation](https://www.gammon.com.au/gmcp)
	- [Iron Realms documentation](https://www.ironrealms.com/gmcp-doc)
- Map protocol (MMP)
	- [Mudlet documentation](https://wiki.mudlet.org/w/Standards:MMP)
- MUD Client Media Protocol (MCMP)
	- [Mudlet documentation](https://wiki.mudlet.org/w/Standards:MUD_Client_Media_Protocol)
- Achaea Telnet Client Protocol (ATCP)
	- Developed in 2008
	- Uses Telnet code 200
	- Replaced by GMCP
- Mud Server Data Protocol (MSDP)
	- Developed in 2009
- Mud Client Compression Protocol (MCCP)
- Mud Master Chat Protocol (MMCP)
- [Aardwolf](/notes/aardwolf) channel 102
### Server software
- [AresMUSH](https://www.aresmush.com/) - [Ruby](/notes/ruby), EmberJS
	- [List of games](https://arescentral.aresmush.com/games)
- [CoffeeMud](https://coffeemud.org/) - <span class="dead-link">Java</span>
- [DikuMUD](https://dikumud.com/) - <span class="dead-link">C</span>
- [Evennia](https://www.evennia.com/) - [Django](/notes/django) ([Python](/notes/python))
- [FutureMUD](https://www.labmud.com/index.php/about-futuremud/) - [C#](/notes/c-sharp)
- [Volte6/GoMud](https://github.com/Volte6/GoMud) - <span class="dead-link">Go</span>
- [PennMUSH](https://github.com/pennmush/pennmush) - <span class="dead-link">C</span>, MUSHCode
- [Ranvier](https://ranviermud.com/) - [Node.js](/notes/node-js)
- [RhostMUSH](https://github.com/RhostMUSH/trunk) - <span class="dead-link">C</span>
- [TinyMUX](https://www.tinymux.org/) - <span class="dead-link">C++</span>
- [WrittenRealms](https://writtenrealms.com/) - SaaS
### Development
- [National Mud Building Month](https://namubumo.com/)
- [The MUD Coders Guild](https://mudcoders.com/)
### Other lists
- https://writing-games.com/mud-resources/