The Realm Online, originally known simply as The Realm, was among the first MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) for public release. `The Realm Online`, often referred to as `The Realm,` is still being played by a small number of players, and is known as one of the few MMORPGs that is still dial-up friendly and easy to play. The Realm was launched in March 1995 for Windows personal computers. It was designed in the tradition of graphical MUDs, before the popular usage of the terms "massively multiplayer" and "MMORPG".

The Realm has a very dedicated userbase. The game`s outdated graphics and gameplay mechanics, compared to more modern games, may keep the player community small. Approximately 180 accounts are active during peak hours, and a stated total of several thousand accounts currently exist. In its prime there were approximately 25,000 subscribers. Methods of social interaction include numerous standard and user-created chat channels (of which 990 may exist at any given time), "room" chats (limited to the players shown on a screen), private messages, and an in-game text-only mail service. A player-generated economy exists in the game, and the game has led to many players possessing many billions of gold (the game`s functional currency) due to hyperinflation. As a player, you may create up to four characters to play within the Realm, each with different attributes and skills that are customized by the player at the beginning of the game. The Realm Online switched from Sierra to Codemasters, then to Norseman Games. When The Realm Online switched to Codemasters, any account that had not been active for 30 days was wiped.

The Realm`s combat system is turn-based, with a changeable timeout to allow both real-time combat and thought-out strategy. This system allows player to engage in player-versus-player combat. All of the characters in The Realm play on a single server, though a test server exists where new features are sporadically added to the game before, in rare cases, going live on the main server. Most said changes are now tested first on a separate Beta Server that players have access to before being migrated to the Test Server. The game has several zones that the player may opt to visit, but there are no quests that many may associate with this style of game in The Realm. Players must subsequently `grind` kills for experience and material rewards.

The Realm Online has only three profession paths, each of which may be learned by any class at any level, making it feasible to be fully proficient in all three. Armorsmithing, Weaponsmithing, and Alchemy may each be learned, the former two being relegated to near obsolescence due to an inability to create items of true usefulness past level 50. As of 2006, materials may no longer be purchased from supply shops due to a failed experiment with material gathering implemented by the owners, making the professions, at current, unprofitable. The owners have said this system will return, but not when or how. As of late 2007 however, all supplies for trade skills were dropped by common monsters.

Originally, The Realm`s storyline remained in ongoing development. Multiple characters operated by in-game staff members furthered ongoing plots and story arcs, explained updates, or simply entertained the game`s players. The Realm strongly encouraged players to role-play, making it an alternative to non-graphical online RPG`s. Unlike many MMORPGS, which develop large parts of the storyline in annual expansions, The Realm`s storyline was constantly being developed.