Grand Launch · 21 October 2026
MapleStory is goingback to the beginning.
Four classes. Points you spend by hand. A world that takes its time. Classic World is Nexon's official pre-Big Bang server, and this is the short version of everything known so far.
MapleStory Classic World at a glance
- Grand Launch
- 21 Oct 2026
- Open to everyone, free to play.
- Founder's Access
- 6 Oct 2026
- 15 days early. Progress carries over — no wipe.
- Price
- Free
- The Founder's Package buys early access and cosmetics, not the game.
- Platforms
- PC · Android
- Tested on Windows and macOS with controller support.
- Classes
- Four
- Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Thief. Job at level 10.
- Level cap
- Unannounced
- Nexon has not published it. Nor the EXP, drop or meso rates.
In at launch
- Victoria Island
- 1st and 2nd job
- Crafting — 6 professions
- Free Market
- New content, unannounced
Not at launch
- Orbis
- El Nath
- 3rd Job Advancement
Playable in the second beta, then pulled back for rework after feedback. Nexon says they return gradually after launch.
NoticeLaunch dates
EventWhat's on
Dates are Nexon's and can move. “11.—” means the month is confirmed but the day is not.
Classic World vs MapleStory
Not a nostalgia skin — a separate world on different rules. The dev team calls it a parallel MapleStory, a timeline where Big Bang never happened. Your account is untouched.
| Classic World | Modern MapleStory | |
|---|---|---|
| Classes | 4 Explorers — Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Thief | 50+ classes across six job groups |
| Job advancement | 1st job at level 10; 3rd job not in the launch build | Up to 5th job, unlocked steadily |
| Stat & skill points | You assign every AP and SP by hand | Largely automated, freely resettable |
| Damage cap | 199,999 | In the billions |
| EXP curve | The original pre-Big Bang curve — level 70 is an achievement | Heavily accelerated; level 200 in weeks |
| Economy | Free Market — players run physical shops | Auction House and Meso Market |
| HP washing | Removed — Nexon called it unfair and essentially a bug | Not applicable |
| Progression systems | None of it — no Star Force, Cubes, Potentials, Arcane, Legion | A dozen stacked layers |
| Cash Shop | Cosmetics and convenience; no EXP or power items | Extensive, including progression items |
Built by people who were there
Nemi, one of the original Wizet designers from 2001, leads the design. Nexon says it is working with people who shaped MapleStory's earliest days.
Not a pure re-release
The Forgotten Hollow area is new, and so is crafting: six professions, 342 recipes.
The old annoyances are fixed
Widescreen works, the Archer and Assassin point-blank bug is fixed, and boss timers are shorter. Slow on purpose isn't clunky by accident.
Closed-test figures reflect a test build. The launch level cap and the EXP, drop and meso rates are still unpublished — we'll add them when they exist, and not before.
Which class should I play?
Four options, and because you spend every point by hand, the choice sticks. Pick one.
Still deciding? The full class breakdown covers all ten second-job branches.
“A world you remember from long ago, but with new stories still waiting to be discovered. That is the Classic World we want to build.”
“With Classic World, we want to bring forward that other side of MapleStory — the idea that playing a little more slowly can be just as enjoyable, and embrace the beauty of taking it slow.”
“The next time we meet, it won't be a test. It will be in Classic World.”
Watch it yourself
Nexon's own footage, embedded rather than re-uploaded.
Closed Online Test #2 Recap
Nexon's own wrap-up of the August test — the run that produced every figure in the section above.
Questions people actually ask
Every answer traces to something Nexon has said. Where they haven't said, we say that.
When does MapleStory Classic World launch?
21 October 2026. Founder's Access opens earlier, on 6 October, for Founder's Package holders.
Is it free to play?
Yes, from launch on 21 October. The Founder's Package buys early access and cosmetics, not the game.
Which classes can I play?
Warrior, Magician, Bowman and Thief — the four original Explorers, chosen at level 10. No Pirates, no Cygnus Knights.
Is 3rd job in at launch?
No. 3rd Job Advancement, Orbis and El Nath are all held back for rework and arrive gradually after launch.
Will my Founder's Access progress be wiped?
No. Your character and progression carry straight through to Grand Launch.
How is it different from modern MapleStory?
Original pre-Big Bang rules: manual AP and SP, a 199,999 damage cap, the old EXP curve, and a player-run Free Market. None of the modern progression layers. Your existing account is untouched.
Is HP washing still in?
No, it has been removed. Nexon's dev lead called it unfair and essentially a bug.
Can I still get Mark of the Beta?
Yes. Every player who joins in Classic World's early days can earn it, via a quest running until November 2026.
Will the Cash Shop sell power?
Nexon says no — cosmetics and convenience only, nothing that boosts EXP or makes you stronger.
What platforms is it on?
PC and Android, with controller support.
What is the level cap?
Not published yet. Nor are the EXP, drop or meso rates.
What is Forgotten Hollow?
A new levels 39–59 cave area, with ten monsters that have never appeared in any MapleStory and a level 60 boss, Rotten Mushmom. It is also this site's name — a play on words, not a claim to be about it.
What the closed beta looked likeClass split and server firsts from August's eight-day test
- Magician32%
- Thief30%
- Warrior24%
- Bowman14%
Most popular 3rd job was Hermit, though 3rd job is not in at launch. The Crimson Balrog went 756–93 against players;STANKSACK put it down first. Henesys registered 2.6K citizens to Kerning City's 3.3K.
Source: Nexon, Ossyria Exploration Report, August 2026 — transcribed from the published images.
Notice
A community forum is coming to Forgotten Hollow — somewhere to argue about builds, post drop rates and find a party. It opens nearer launch. Nothing to sign up to yet.