About MUME

What is MUME?

MUME is a free multiplayer roleplaying game based upon J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth that has been continuously enhanced since fall '91.

In MUME players can explore and live in this meticulously crafted world during its late Third Age, and possibly join the epic War between the forces of the Dark Lord and the armies of the West. The action takes place before The Hobbit and after the loss of the One Ring by Sauron. The key of Erebor was just found by Gandalf in Dol Guldur and all the epic tales narrated in The Lord of the Rings may take place.

You can play by connecting directly by telnet to mume.org (note: the hyperlink probably won't work with newer browsers).

If you are new to MUME or MUDs in general, you should consult our newbie page: it contains introductory texts for complete beginners, as well as information on MUME's unique features for those who have already played other MUDs.

MUME is written in C, C++, and mudlle (a functional language that was developed in order to allow online extensions to the game).

A text game? In the XXIst century?

Yes, indeed.

As long there will be books to read there will be a place for text-based games. MUME is based upon Tolkien's writings and offers a richness of world detail and game play to players who put an emphasis on imagination to act in a role playing game, without the need to rely on flashy graphics...

Do not misunderstand us, we do play graphical games from time to time, but never for long. MUME, on the other hand, is an everlasting and ever changing experience.

MUME in numbers

On July 4, 2009:

• 150,606 lines of C/C++ code
• 357,127 lines of mudlle code
• 23,764 open rooms in 230 zones
• 1,319 types of objects
• 1,272 types of mobiles


• 2,869 player accounts
• 20,922 characters in player accounts


• 781 accounts have played the last month
• 493 accounts have played the last week
• 231 accounts have played the last day

Below is displayed a snapshot of the Middle Earth outdoors areas that are available on MUME. For instance, Moria would spans two squares on this grid, but consists of 14 zones (1382 accessible rooms).

Last updated on 04 Jul 2009.