Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow
September 30, 2025
Learn how Simone, AKA Niymiae, rebuilt the Italian game Lumen et Umbra from its Diku roots into a one-of-a-kind hack-n-slash MUD with ARPG influences.
ReadTag: Game Design
Practical advice for game creators, developers, and admins. Includes everything from considerations of game mechanics to player retention.
Too many MUDs, not enough players?
August 20, 2025
We've all heard it, but is it true? And does that mean it's a lost cause to make a new MUD in 2025? Andruid shares her two cents.
GoMud: a lightweight engine for building text-based worlds
July 21, 2025
Volte6, creator of GoMud, talks about the new engine, what it's like to make a project open-source, and lessons learned along the way.
Federation 2 Community Edition: from hauling cargo to shaping the galaxy
June 29, 2025
Federation 2: Community Edition is a player-run revival of a space trading MUD. Jonathan (“Cosmo”) shares how it came back from the brink - and why it's still special 30+ years later.
LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost
June 8, 2025
Discover how RahjIII built LociTerm - an accessible, browser-based MUD client - to keep The Last Outpost and other games playable on any device.
A picture worth a thousand rooms: the Worldmap project by Hades_Kane and Grieffels
May 22, 2025
Discover how Hades_Kane and Grieffels built a worldmap system that lets you quickly make areas from PNG files. Includes screen reader support, in-game editing, and more.
3 Years of Writing Games: a look back
March 16, 2025
To celebrate Writing Games' third anniversary, I present compelling insights and key takeaways from all the year 1 interviews in a single post!
Text-based adventure games: from Zork to AI Dungeon
February 15, 2025
Learn about the history and evolution of text-based adventure games, from the classic Zork to the modern AI Dungeon platform.
How long should room descriptions be when building a MU*?
September 18, 2024
New MU* creators and builders often want to know how long their room descriptions should be. Find out in this post.
Making a MUD vs. creating a game: is there a difference?
August 26, 2024
So you're making a MUD: does that also make you a Game Creator? Is there a difference? Find out in this installment of Ask Andruid.
Shattered MU: beyond monsters and magic
July 2, 2024
Tat, creator of Shattered MU (a post-apoc game), talks about the importance of community and shares her guidelines for game design.
AresMUSH: the next-gen server platform
May 19, 2024
Faraday talks about why she created AresMUSH, as well as some of the core tenets that went into its development.
MU* Accessibility Week: 6 ways to take part
May 16, 2024
It's MU* Accessibility Week! Whether you're a staffer or player, there are ways to get involved and make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Evennia: a modern way to create MU*s
April 13, 2024
Learn about Evennia, the Python MU* creation system, from Griatch, the developer who's been working on the project for more than a decade.
The Network: only the finest quality programming
March 25, 2024
Clockwork, mastermind behind The Network MU, shares lessons learned from years of creating and running online roleplaying games.