Published Mar 11, 2026, 7:01 PM EDT
Yuliya Geikhman has been writing professionally for over 17 years. She started out in the MMO scene with Pando Media Booster and now dives into everything gaming at Screen Rant. She's a lifelong gamer, a relentless industry sleuth, and a passionate follower of everything happening in the games industry.
Nexon has opened beta testing signups for MapleStory Classic, a nostalgic new mode for the long-running MMO. The game has been going strong since 2003, when it launched as the world's first side-scrolling MMO.
MapleStory has transformed throughout the years into a robust game with modern features. With MapleStory Classic World, Nexon plans to bring the title back to its nostalgic origins.
The game mode will feature the original world as it appeared over 20 years ago, but with some quality-of-life tweaks for current-gen gamers. And now, you can take part in the MMO's classic reimagining before it launches by signing up for the closed beta on the Nexon website.
Sign Up For The Closed Beta Now
Testing To Take Place In April
There's no official launch date for MapleStory Classic World, but Nexon is now entering the player testing phase of development. Signups for the MapleStory Classic World closed beta are open now through April 7. Players who are accepted into the beta will get an email about it, and will be able to enter the beta through the Nexon Launcher.
The test itself will take place from April 16 through the 23rd, and is open to all players regardless of their account's age. Progress won't carry over into the game, but all participants will get two special reward rings when the game eventually releases.
MapleStory's classic mode joins other beloved, long-running MMOs with classic modes. Games like MapleStory Classic, World of Warcraft Classic, Old School RuneScape, and others let fans relive the golden era of online games before newcomers like Fortnite changed the landscape of social gaming.
MapleStory Classic Brings Back Memories
The Game Has Changed So Much In 23 Years
MapleStory has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2003. Originally created by Wizet and now run by Nexon, the cutesy MMO has gone through many iterations and updates. What started as a fairly simple, side-scrolling MMO with four classes now boasts over 50 classes, some of which can be upgraded to their own branching paths.
Over the years, the game's progression received an overhaul. For a game that used to be all about the grind, MapleStory now lets players zoom through levels, allowing them to skip past any part they don't find interesting. The story and writing have also gotten an upgrade. There's now an engaging overarching plot that isn't afraid to get surprisingly dark.
For all its progress and gameplay upgrades, the MMO still owes its success to its much simpler beginnings. MapleStory Classic will bring the MMO back to its roots. The new game mode celebrates where the game started over two decades ago. Sign up for the beta testing to relive the nostalgic days of dial-up (minus the bad internet connection).
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