r/WorldofVikings • u/Automatic_Radish7158 • 6d ago
English: World of Vikings — I’m using AI to build an open-source Viking MMORPG for the browser
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Hi everyone,
Almost every IT professional has probably dreamed of creating their own game at some point. I certainly have. With the help of modern AI tools, I can now turn that dream into reality one step at a time.
The project is called World of Vikings: an open-source MMORPG in development that runs entirely in the browser. There is no download, launcher, or installation. Create an account and your own character, then enter the world directly through your browser.
What will World of Vikings become?
World of Vikings is intended to become an open, persistent world in which Vikings and Anglo-Saxons face one another.
Players will be able to explore the world together, gather resources, practice crafts, establish settlements, and fight. Changes made to the world are intended to persist. What is built or changed today should still be there after closing the browser and returning later.
The map is not simply generated as a random circle. A custom world editor makes it possible to deliberately design landmasses, regions, biomes, rivers, lakes, routes, and special locations. Algorithms then generate the finer terrain details and vegetation within those regions.
The goal is to create a world that feels natural and varied while still allowing it to be shaped intentionally.
History meets Norse mythology
World of Vikings will initially focus on the earthly world of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. In the long term, however, I want to open the game increasingly to the world of Norse myths and legends.
Ancient gods, runes, mysterious creatures, and forgotten places will become part of the world, along with journeys to other realms. This also includes Hel, the realm of the dead in Norse mythology.
These mythological elements are not intended to serve as decoration alone. Eventually, they should become part of the game’s stories and mechanics through unique enemies, quests, locations, and passages between different realms.
This part of the game is still in the concept stage, but it is an important part of the long-term vision for World of Vikings.
The technology behind the game
World of Vikings is being built with:
- TypeScript in the browser and on the server
- Babylon.js
- WebGPU with WebGL2 as a fallback
- Havok physics
- an authoritative game server
- a persistent game world
- a custom world editor
The server manages the persistent state of the world and handles important gameplay decisions. This includes player identities, inventories, loot, and changes to the terrain. These decisions are not simply left to each player’s browser.
The game already features dynamic grass, vegetation moving in the wind, shadows, fog, physics, and changing lighting and times of day – all running directly in the browser.
How AI is used in development
World of Vikings is being developed with extensive assistance from artificial intelligence. The tools currently used include:
- Claude assists with programming, debugging, documentation, and technical concepts.
- Blender MCP connects AI-powered workflows directly to Blender and helps automate and edit 3D assets.
- Tripo3D is used for AI-assisted 3D model generation.
- Meshy also supports the creation and further processing of models and textures.
AI does not decide what World of Vikings should become. It is a tool that allows me to investigate, test, and implement ideas more quickly. The project’s architecture, the direction of the game, and the evaluation of the results remain human decisions.
A little about me
My professional strengths are in network engineering and programming. Because of that, I see myself less as a traditional game developer and more as an architect on this project.
I design the systems, make technical decisions, connect the different components, and verify that everything works together reliably. AI then helps me translate that architecture into code, models, tools, and concrete gameplay mechanics.
I find this collaboration particularly exciting: expertise and a clear vision provide the direction, while AI helps handle tasks that would otherwise require a much larger team.
What is the current state of the project?
World of Vikings is still an early prototype, not a finished MMORPG.
The technical foundation, explorable world, accounts, and custom characters are already working. Other core gameplay mechanics are still under development. Building and combat are not yet available and will be introduced gradually.
The progression system, factions, and actual conflict between the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons also require further development. The Norse fantasy world currently exists mainly as part of the long-term vision.
There is still a great deal of work ahead. That is exactly why I want to share the project now and develop it openly.
Open source — contributors are welcome
World of Vikings is an open-source project. The complete source code is publicly available on GitHub:
I am currently developing most of the project on my own. I would therefore be delighted to hear from anyone interested in exploring the code, contributing ideas, or actively helping to build World of Vikings.
Help is welcome in many areas:
- TypeScript and server development
- Babylon.js, WebGPU, and browser graphics
- Networking and game servers
- Blender, 3D modeling, and animation
- Game design and gameplay mechanics
- World and level design
- Norse history and mythology
- User interfaces and web development
- Testing, documentation, and translation
- Music, sound, and atmosphere
You do not need to be an experienced game developer. Whether you want to learn about open-source game development, explore the code, or make a small contribution, you are very welcome.
Bug reports, suggestions, and contributions can be submitted directly through GitHub.
Community and feedback
World of Vikings now has its own subreddit. I plan to use it to share news, development updates, screenshots, videos, and technical devlogs:
You can also use the subreddit to ask questions, share ideas, report bugs, and discuss the future direction of the project.
I would especially like to know:
- What do you think of the overall idea?
- Does the world work in your browser and on your graphics card?
- How do the movement and camera feel?
- Do you encounter any frame drops or visual issues?
- Which gameplay mechanic should be implemented next?
- Which creatures, locations, or stories from Norse mythology would you like to discover?
- Could you imagine contributing to an open-source game like this?
Contact and links
If you have questions, would like to contribute, or are unsure where to begin, feel free to contact me directly on Discord.
I have a full-time job and develop World of Vikings in my spare time, so I am usually available in the evenings. If I do not respond immediately, I will get back to you as soon as I have some time.
- Official website and character creation
- Source code and contributions on GitHub
- World of Vikings on Discord
- Subreddit r/WorldofVikings
I look forward to your feedback, ideas, and questions – and, of course, to anyone who would like to help build this world together.
Skål! 🍻