8BitMMO

VS

Anvil Empires

8BitMMO is a sandbox-style indie MMORPG that launched in 2015. While it is a persistent world with MMO elements, its indie status and age make it unlikely to have a large active playerbase today—most similar indie MMOs decline to a small but loyal community after 5+ years. The lack of major publisher support or recent updates further limits its reach. Estimated daily players likely in the low hundreds.

Anvil Empires is a relatively new open-world, sandbox RTS developed by Siege Camp (known for Foxhole). Released in 2023, it maintains a niche but active player base due to its persistent world and social warfare elements. Though not a mainstream hit, its MMO-like gameplay and community events draw several thousand daily active users. Player numbers are consistent with similar indie MMOs a year after launch.