The early 2000s were the golden age of Persistent Browser-Based Games (PBBGs). Most were built using PHP and MySQL, relying on a tick-based system where the game state updated every hour (or day), and players interacted through static HTML tables, forms, and blue-on-black CSS themes.

Crazy to think about, but most of these games… still are active to this day.

Sci-Fi

This was a massive genre because the “text-only” nature made it feel like you were looking at a computer console on a starship.

OGame screenshot

  • OGame: This is likely the biggest game of its time. Launched in 2002, it’s a strategy game where you manage resource production on a planet and build a fleet to colonise or raid neighbours. It is still active today, which is crazy to think about.
  • Planetarion: One of the earliest (2000). It was famous for its high-stakes “ticks” and massive alliances that would coordinate attacks.
  • Pardus: A more RPG-focused space game where you pilot a single ship, trade, and build starbases.
  • Star Kingdoms: A pure strategy numbers-game where you manage a kingdom in space, focusing on land, networth, and military power.

Crime

These games were often defined by stamina and energy bars, where you click a button to “Mug a Citizen” or something else silly, and watch a progress bar. I remember these were very popular on Facebook.

  • Torn City: Launched in 2003, it is the most successful survivor of the era. It’s a massive text-based RPG set in a dark criminal underworld. It is still incredibly active and updated daily.
  • The Crims: A gritty, round-based mafia game from 2005. It was famous for its “nightlife” system where you had to go to clubs to restore energy.
  • Omerta: A very “hardcore” mafia game where your character could actually be irreversibly killed by other players, forcing you to restart from level 1.
  • Bootleggers: Similar to the others, but set in 1930s US during the Prohibition.

Medieval & Fantasy

These games moved away from single-player RPG elements and focused on empire-building on a shared map.

Travian screenshot

  • Travian: One of the biggest PHP games ever, the real #1. You choose a tribe (Gauls, Romans, Teutons) and build a village on a 2D grid. It essentially pioneered the “wait 20 minutes for this building to finish” mechanic. Still active today!
  • Tribal Wars: Very similar to Travian but focused heavily on the concept of tribes (clans) and conquering other players' villages.
  • Utopia: One of the oldest (1998). It was entirely text-based and revolved around a province within a kingdom of 25 other players.
  • Kings of Chaos: Known for the “referral link” era. You grew your army by getting people to click your link, which led to massive spamming on MySpace and early Facebook.

Weird

  • HoboWars: An incredibly popular, tongue-in-cheek RPG where you play as a hobo fighting other hobos, training your “shopping cart,” and exploring the city.
  • Kingdom of Loathing: A stick-figure RPG known for its surreal humour and “meat” as currency. It used a unique PHP-based combat system.
  • BiteFight: A classic “vampires vs. werewolves” game. You chose a side and hunted the other.
  • Urban Dead: A grid-based zombie survival game where you could be killed and turn into a zombie yourself, changing your entire gameplay style.