Soul's Remnant, a 10-Year Solo-Built MMO, Surges on Steam
The success of Soul's Remnant, built almost entirely by one developer over a decade, shows that a small-scale MMORPG can still find an audience on Steam when it prioritizes build freedom and avoids pay-to-win mechanics.
Reporting from 1 source: Automaton.
Chaomoon launched the 2D platformer MMORPG Soul's Remnant in early access on Steam on August 13. The free-to-play game, built over 10 years by two developers, has reached a 'Very Positive' rating with 80% positive reviews from 490 reviews and a peak of 4,367 concurrent players. Developer Chaomoon discussed the project on Reddit.
Chaomoon, the developer behind Soul's Remnant, revealed on Reddit that the game was built over 10 years, with a partner joining only in 2025. For eight of those years, Chaomoon worked alone. His main job is as a musician, which he said made it easier to find time for the project.
The game's early access launch on August 13 has drawn attention for its scale: over 200 maps, 150 quests, 1,000 items, and 19 boss types. Players build characters without classes, choosing from over 72 skills across melee, ranged, magic, and faith. The economy is entirely player-driven, with an auction house and player shops.
Chaomoon cited MapleStory and Mabinogi as childhood inspirations for his dream of creating his own MMO. The game has no pay-to-win elements, a point players have praised.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.