Aardwolf MUD

VS

Last Epoch

Aardwolf MUD is a long-running text-based MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) with a persistent world, released in 1996. While niche, it remains one of the more active MUDs due to a loyal community and continuous updates. However, player numbers are modest due to the genre's age and obscurity, with typical daily active users likely in the low hundreds.

Last Epoch is an action RPG released in early 2024, developed by Eleventh Hour Games. It has received strong attention from the ARPG community, especially in the wake of Diablo IV's mixed reception. Daily player count is estimated around 70,000 based on Steam charts peaks and genre trends for new, well-received indie ARPGs. Continued post-launch content could sustain or grow this. It is not an MMO, as it does not feature a true persistent world or large-scale multiplayer environments—multiplayer is limited to smaller parties.