Old School RuneScape is a sandbox fantasy MMORPG from Jagex, free to start with a paid membership for the full game. There is no final ending to beat. You win by reaching goals you choose: finishing quests, training skills to 99, defeating bosses and raids, and earning prestige items like the Fire Cape.
What is Old School RuneScape?
Old School RuneScape, usually shortened to OSRS, is a long-running fantasy MMORPG made and published by Jagex. It is built on a 2007 version of RuneScape and has grown on its own ever since, with many updates put to a player poll before they go live.
You create one character, step out of Tutorial Island and are free to do almost anything: train skills like Woodcutting and Fishing, follow quests, fight monsters and bosses, or trade on the Grand Exchange. There are no classes. Your character is defined by its skill levels and the gear you can use.
| Fact | Details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Jagex |
| First released | February 22, 2013 (mobile from October 31, 2018) |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, plus an official Steam client |
| Price model | Free-to-play worlds, with a paid membership for the full game |
| Membership | $14.99 a month or $131.88 a year in the US since March 2026 |
| Skills | 24 skills, each up to level 99; Sailing is the newest (November 19, 2025) |
| Genre | Sandbox MMORPG with skilling, questing and bossing |
The free worlds give you a slice of the map and 15 skills. Membership opens the full world, all 24 skills, most quests and nearly all bossing. Big updates this fall include the Fractured Archive raid, set for October 20, 2026, and permanent Hardcore worlds, set for November 4, 2026.
What is the objective of Old School RuneScape?
There is no single ending. OSRS is a sandbox, so the objective is whatever long-term goal you set. Most players work towards a mix of three things: higher skill levels, finished quests and harder bosses, with better gear unlocking along the way.
A typical session is short: train a skill, finish a quest step or do a few boss kills. Each small task builds towards a bigger milestone, such as a skill cape, a quest cape or your first raid.
Your account is your scoreboard. Your total level, quest points and collection log show what you have done, and other players can see much of it.
How do you win in Old School RuneScape?
Honestly, you do not "win" OSRS the way you win a match. You win individual goals. The table below shows the main goals players chase and what finishing each one looks like.
| Goal or mode | Group size | What counts as winning |
|---|---|---|
| Quests | Solo | Finishing the quest and collecting its rewards; all 343 quest points earn the Quest point cape |
| Skills | Solo | Reaching level 99 in a skill earns its skill cape; maxing every skill is the classic long-term goal |
| Bosses and raids | Solo or group | Defeating the boss or clearing the raid; drops are random, so kill count and collection logs track progress |
| Fight Caves and Inferno | Solo | Surviving every wave and the final boss to earn the Fire Cape or Infernal Cape |
| Ironman modes | Solo or group | Progressing with no trading, so everything you own is something you earned |
| Leagues and Deadman | Solo | Temporary competitive modes with their own scoring and rewards |
For most new players a good first win is the Fire Cape from the TzHaar Fight Caves. It teaches prayer switching and wave management, and our OSRS Fire Cape guide covers setup, stats and the final boss, Jad.
How does progression work?
OSRS has no ranked ladder for the main game. Progression is your account: skill levels, quest unlocks, gear and boss kill counts. Hiscores show how your levels compare with other players, and some temporary modes such as Leagues add their own scoring.
Gear needs levels, and many of the best areas need quests. That is why planning matters: a short quest can unlock a much faster training method or a key item. When you are ready for end-game content, our Fractured Archive and Hardcore worlds guide explains the new raid and the one-life worlds coming this fall.
Beginner tips to win more
- Pick one goal at a time. A clear target, like a level or a quest, keeps you from drifting.
- Do quests early. Many give large chunks of experience and unlock faster training areas.
- Use the official wiki. It has quest walkthroughs, gear tables and money-making guides.
- Learn the protection prayers. Most bosses come down to praying against the right attack style.
- Bank before risky fights. Only take what you can afford to lose, especially in the Wilderness.
- Turn on two-factor authentication. A Jagex account with an authenticator is much harder to steal.
How can Boosting Games help with Old School RuneScape?
Boosting Games offers fixed-price Old School RuneScape services, all listed in the Old School RuneScape services collection and on our Old School RuneScape boosting page. The prices below are starting prices as of October 2026; the exact price for the option you choose shows before checkout.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| OSRS Fire Cape (Fight Caves) | A Fire Cape attempt through the TzHaar Fight Caves. | From $12 |
| OSRS Infernal Cape (Inferno) | An Infernal Cape attempt through the Inferno. | From $135 |
| OSRS Quest Packages (RFD, MM2, DS2, SotE) | Popular quest lines completed, from Recipe for Disaster to Song of the Elves. | From $29 |
| OSRS Skill Training (Combat or Sailing) | Combat or Sailing levels trained to the goal you pick. | From $15 |
| OSRS Raid Kill Count or Learner Run | Raid kill count or a learner run with experienced players. | From $29 |
| OSRS PvM Coaching (Raids, Inferno, Bosses) | Live coaching for raids, the Inferno and bosses. | From $15 |
Honest risk note: Jagex's rules forbid sharing your account, and they also ban real-world trading, which covers paying real money for in-game services. Piloted orders, where a booster logs in to your account, carry the most risk. Playing alongside an expert carries less, and coaching carries none because your login never leaves you. Please read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell accounts, in-game currency, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Old School RuneScape
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page.
See Old School RuneScape servicesAsk Boost Up AINew to how orders run? Our how it works page walks through every step, and Boost Up AI can suggest the right service for your goal.
Related reading: OSRS Fire Cape Guide, OSRS Fractured Archive and Hardcore Worlds guide, What Is World of Warcraft? A beginner guide, What Is Final Fantasy XIV? A beginner guide.
Browse all of our Old School RuneScape guides, or see every game explained in plain English if you are choosing your next game.
Old School RuneScape FAQ
Is Old School RuneScape free to play?
Yes, you can play OSRS for free on dedicated free worlds with 15 skills and part of the map. Membership unlocks the rest: all 24 skills, including the newest skill Sailing, the full world, most quests and nearly all bosses. In the US it costs $14.99 for one month or $131.88 for a year as of October 2026. Many players start free and subscribe once they know they enjoy the game.
Can you actually beat Old School RuneScape?
Not in the usual sense, because there is no final boss that ends the game. Players treat big milestones as their wins: finishing every quest for the Quest point cape, reaching level 99 in every skill, completing achievement diaries, earning the Infernal Cape or filling the collection log. Each goal can take months, which is part of why the game keeps people for years.
What should a new OSRS player do first?
Finish Tutorial Island, then do a handful of short quests that give early experience and teach the basics. Train a couple of combat skills on easy monsters and try a gathering skill that earns money. Set one clear goal, such as your first 50 in a skill or the Fire Cape, and work towards it. The official wiki has a walkthrough for almost every task.
What is an Ironman account?
An Ironman is an optional account mode with no trading. You cannot use the Grand Exchange or take items from other players, so everything you own you gathered, crafted or looted yourself. There are stricter versions, such as Ultimate Ironman, and group versions for friends. It is slower, but many players find the self-sufficient style more rewarding.
What is the Fractured Archive?
The Fractured Archive is a new end-game raid that Jagex set to release on October 20, 2026. It joins the existing raids and focuses on back-to-back boss fights, so it rewards strong gear, prayer skills and mechanics knowledge. It is not aimed at beginners. If you are new, practise on easier bosses and the Fight Caves first, then build up to raids.
Does Boosting Games sell OSRS gold or accounts?
No. We never sell gold, items or accounts. Our OSRS services cover quests, skill training, capes such as the Fire Cape and Infernal Cape, achievement diaries, raid learner runs and live coaching. Any drops or rewards come from the game itself and stay on your own account. Coaching is the option that keeps your login entirely with you.
New directions: OSRS Raids Guide: CoX, ToB and ToA for Learners (2026) and all raid and dungeon guides.
Sources: OSRS Wiki: Old School RuneScape, OSRS Wiki: membership price change, OSRS Wiki: Skills, OSRS Wiki: Sailing, OSRS Wiki: Quest points, Pocket Tactics: RuneFest 2026 roadmap.