Free-to-Play MUDs directory
A curated directory of platforms, tools, and resources for MUD administrators to implement sustainable, ethical monetization and community funding models without compromising gameplay balance.
Showing 10 of 10 entries
Patreon
freemiumSubscription-based platform for recurring monthly donations with built-in tier management for player rewards.
Pros
- + Automates monthly billing for supporter tiers
- + Strong integration with Discord for automated role assignment
- + High trust factor among veteran MUD players
Cons
- − Takes a significant percentage cut of donations
- − Payout delays for new accounts
Ko-fi
freemiumDonation tool allowing for one-time 'coffees' or recurring subscriptions with lower fees than Patreon.
Pros
- + Zero platform fees on one-time donations
- + Simple storefront for digital items or cosmetic codes
- + Instant payouts via PayPal or Stripe
Cons
- − Fewer automated integration options compared to Patreon
- − Tier management is less robust
Open Collective
freemiumTransparent financial hosting platform that shows every dollar coming in and going out to the community.
Pros
- + Builds high trust by showing server costs vs. donation totals
- + Allows multiple admins to manage funds
- + Public ledger reduces skepticism about 'profit' in hobby games
Cons
- − Requires more administrative overhead to log expenses
- − Public nature may not suit all project leads
Stripe
freemiumInfrastructure for processing credit card payments directly within custom MUD websites or portals.
Pros
- + Robust API for custom automated perk delivery
- + Lower fees than most third-party donation platforms
- + Supports international payment methods
Cons
- − Requires technical knowledge to implement API
- − Strict compliance and identity verification
Discord Developer Portal
freeTools for creating bots that sync MUD donation status with community chat roles and permissions.
Pros
- + Primary way to provide visible 'Supporter' status
- + Enables private channels for donor feedback
- + Integrates with most donation platforms
Cons
- − Centralizes community on a proprietary platform
- − API changes can break custom integrations
Grapevine.haus
open-sourceA MUD-specific portal and chat network that tracks player counts and helps with game visibility.
Pros
- + Targeted specifically at the MUD community
- + Provides cross-game chat to keep players engaged
- + Publicly accessible uptime and player count stats
Cons
- − Smaller reach than mainstream gaming portals
- − Requires Telnet/WebSocket implementation
MudStats
freeHistorical data tracking for MUD player populations to analyze the impact of monetization changes.
Pros
- + Long-term historical data for the niche
- + Useful for benchmarking against similar games
- + Completely hands-off tracking
Cons
- − Site interface is dated
- − Occasional crawling issues with specific ports
Ghost
open-sourceNewsletter and membership platform for sending development updates and managing premium player mailing lists.
Pros
- + Clean, professional way to communicate with donors
- + Native support for paid subscriptions
- + Better retention than social media posts
Cons
- − Self-hosting requires technical setup
- − Managed hosting is expensive for small games
The MUD Connector (TMS)
freeThe legacy directory for MUDs, essential for visibility and attracting players to free-to-play models.
Pros
- + Highest legacy traffic in the niche
- + Detailed search filters for business models
- + Review system for community feedback
Cons
- − Manual listing updates required
- − Search algorithm is basic
Evennia Perk System Guide
open-sourceDocumentation for the Evennia engine on implementing non-game-breaking entitlements and perks.
Pros
- + Specific code examples for Python-based MUDs
- + Focuses on modern software architecture
- + Community-driven best practices
Cons
- − Only applicable to Evennia-based games
- − Steep learning curve for non-coders
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