2025 - AQW Year In Review! on Artix Entertainment

It’s the end of the year already?!?!

It’s been a long time since we’ve written one of these (apart from Immortal Joe’s Class and Combat Dev Logs), and now, as we stand on the precipice of an infinitely grand future, this is the perfect time to restart it.* Below is a list of highlights in AQW throughout this year (if we mentioned everything, then this would end up being 50+ pages long).

January

Released the Frostspinner Queen boss fight in /FrozenQueen, which pays homage to OverSoul.
Had a multi-part Nulgath-themed release about Oblivion, the mysterious elemental you see when you first step foot in /Tercessuinotlim. How has he been these days? The saga starts in /DeleuzeTundra (which requires completion of /VoidRefuge and /VoidChasm to start).
Had a Triple Artist Birthday event starring Hikari, Axeros, and Dominik.
Released the Shark Seeker Warhead collection chest, which was a mini-collection chest. We'll continue to review player feedback regarding collection chests and other ways of obtaining rare items as we move forward.
Updated the Class Point formula, so in most cases, players will gain Class Points faster, since the old formula was based on the player’s level compared to the monster’s level.Released the Winter Void Collection Chest! :::)
Gave 500 ACs for FREE for New Years!
All of the Frostval 2024 Gifting Rewards were distributed. Thank you all for an amazing gifting season once again!

February

/YokaiHunt (map is seasonal to Akiba New Year) had a new boss added named Zhenzhu Shé, a giant snake monster.
Released the Honorable Hero rewards.
The Nulgath Nation Bundle was released on HeroMart, with some rewards for AQW.
Ended the sham in /TunnelOfLove (seasonal to Heroes Heart Day).
The Aranx Saga Finale to save the Celestial Realm concluded in /InfernalParadise.

March

Released the Legion Tribute gear, which were from the Dage VS Nulgath Draw Your Weapon Contest.
They were all made farmable in the game. More info on where to get the items in these design notes.
You took out a book at the /LegionLibrary. Hopefully you don’t forget to return it. I heard the late fees are deadly.
The 3-part Atlas storyline was released, starting in /AtlasPromenade, then /AtlasKingdom, and finally [redacted, spoiler in the name of the last map.].
Released the Forge of War Collection Chest

April

The GOAT release in all of AQW occurred, in /GoatField (seasonal to April Fools’ Day
Released the Grenwog gauntlet in /GrenwogWarren. o_O (seasonal to Grenwog)
Had a nice makeover to the ancient map /Trainers, with much more development on the trainers there, plus a new face.
Released the Great Dragon Hunt in /AriaGreenhouse, for the Nature and Water artifacts.
Released another part to the Great Dragon Hunt in /AriaGreenhouse, for the Fire and Energy artifacts.

May

Released an update to /TwigguHunt (seasonal to May the 4th).
Released the Lynaria Saga, and learned about her… family situation? You can start the saga in /BocklinGrove.
Released the Who’s Clues hunt in the Swordhaven Pet Shop, and helped stop Furlock Bones III from getting the zoomies.
Released the Void Tablet Treasure Hunt from Valencia in /Museum. You can start it by talking to Valencia in /Museum and clicking ‘Treasure Hunt’.
Hosted the Coloring Book of Lore contest!
Released Travel Portals, where you can teleport from your house to a popular specific room in a different map. Talk to Puff in /BaseCamp if you’d like to get one!

June

Cylisse hosted a poll to see which of the 4 noble houses players would like to see have more development. House Vaughn was ultimately chosen.
Updated the Daily Quest Board in /Yulgar. We’ll likely be releasing another update to it next year! Fingers crossed…
Freshened up the classes Bard, Troll Spellsmith, Horc Evader, Thief of Hours, Ranger, Necromancer, and Guardian.
Released the /SunkenCity map (seasonal to Summer Break), where you get to meet the Cult of Kathool (who reside in a familiar-looking place).
Had a crazy Friday the 13th in /LichWar. Vordred got really tall. They grow up so fast. <3
Released the Deep Creatures Summer Collection Chest.
A gauntlet of bosses, who all want to challenge you, fought you in the Festival of Victors in /VictorMatsuri. They all ended up being losers afterwards.
The Gramiel the Graceful Ultra Boss was released in /UltraGramielHub, along with Hollowborn Vindicator class. You gave it your all to defeat Grandma the Graceful!

July

Released a huge makeover to the Battleon /Coliseum, where you can fight monthly bosses.
Helped Kylokos find out what was happening with the stars in /AriaGreenhouse.
Released the Molten Mayhem Collection Chest.Released a new LQS, which included the sets Yokai OniSlayer, Hollowborn OniSlayer, Warforged IgnisKnight, Paladin Ascendant, and Summer Slayer Gear.
Released a sneak peek of the Flame of the Beyond Saga in /ThelimaCity.Released the Stellar Treasure Hunt. You can start it by talking to Valencia in /Museum and clicking ‘Treasure Hunt’.
Reworked Queen Iona in /QueenIona, so the fight is more fun and for more players to try it out.

August

Released Lich class in /MoreSkulls (seasonal to Friday the 13th unless you’re a member).
Released part 1 of the Flame of the Beyond story, in /ThelimaCity.
Released part 2 of the Flame of the Beyond story, in /MountMaleno.
Released part 3 of the Flame of the Beyond story, in /SanctuaryAiwass.
Released lots of new items in /Rangda, /Kala, and /Wentira in celebration of Indonesian Independence Day (seasonal to the month of August and Indonesian Independence Day).

September

Released the Brasil Independence Day Boss Battle, in /PovoHeroico.
Had Tech Demo #7 on AQW:Infinity. We fought our way through Bludrut to deliver a pizza, but we never got a tip. :(
Released The Queen’s Bounty 2-part seasonal TLaPD release starting in /PirateHunt, where 3 cursed pirate crews are trying to kidnap Queen Victoria.
Released the Endless Seas Collection Chest.Released part 4 of the Flame of the Beyond story, in /join ForgeAlbedo.
Changed the method of obtaining DeathKnight Lord class (in /BoneCastle) by removing the daily requirement.
Reworked the classes Alpha Omega, Chaos Slayer (all variants), DeathKnight Lord, Dragon Knight, Hollowborn Vindicator, Naval Commander, and Phantom Chronomancer.
Updated the Ravenous and Valiance forge enhancements.
Yoshino caused an eclipse during their limited event (and their birthday). o_O

October

Celebrated AQW’s 17th birthday, with a giant spider boss in /AbaddonCave on the first week of the month, like we all do on our birthdays.
Gave all players +25 free Bank Slots, +10 free Bag Slots, +10 free House Slots, and +10 free loadout slots.
Celebrated National Taco Day, and proved that tacos are better than pizza.
Gave all players 500 ACs through a quest from Cysero (not available anymore).
Had a fun birthday party in /CastleParty!
Released the 17th Birthday Collection Chest.
Released the King’s Echo class, which can be quested for in /TerminaTemple.
Released the Mogloween Unseen Depths 3-part storyline, starting in /EldritchBattletown (seasonal map to Mogloween), where you have to fend off rival cults from taking over Battleon, and meet a new friend.
Released a special title, a character page badge, and character page background (background for members only) in /Birthday.
Released the Battleon DragonSlayer set in /DragonTown, as suggested by fellow player north_cola on Discord!
We plan to feature even more player suggestions in future updates, especially for Midweek Releases.
Released a belated birthday event for Teka in /SramolWoes.
Watched Yoshino terrorize the AQW community with another limited event. :P

November

Released the map /Shizaistrath, which will be updated over time as more of the Four Perils bosses are released.
Contained The Darkdweller in /HBChallenge.
Released the Crystallis Sovereign gear set in the Featured Gear Shop.
Had to defeat faeries because they tried eating our Moglin friends in /MoglinFeast D: (map is seasonal to Harvest Fest).
Released the Black Friday 2025 Collection Chest.
We hosted our first PTRrrr Test. It’s like a normal PTR Test, but at least 10% more pirate-y. This was done to test backend changes to AQW. To run the server, we hired a new server hamster, named Janice. She’s not used to everything yet, which is why the server ended up crashing once. But she’ll be a pro soon!
Chairman Platinum allowed us access into the map /EbilMegaMall, but only for us to buy Mogugus, the greatest and bestest toys that you should definitely buy (Chairman Platinum approves of this sentence).
Released a house-version of the map /KillerKitchen, through a quest in the respective map.

December

Brought back AQW Gifting for the 2025 Frostval season.Released the PermaFrost Dracolich boss battle in /SkadesPass.
Added a “Disable Aura Animations” and a “Show Your Aura Animation Only” option to the Advanced Options menu.
Had a 2 part crossover event with Dragonfable for Frostval, with Cylisse at the helm for both games. o_O This release starts in /FrostvalGala (map is seasonal to Frostval).
Released the new calendar class, Archivist of Time.
Released the Combat & Carols Collection Chest.
Had our annual Frostval LQS, which included the Glacial Elf Lord set, Frost SpiritWeaver set, Winter SkyTower House, and the Fabled Adventurer Pack.
Read a nice book in /TimeInn. Kezeroth, The World Ender waits for you in /WorldEnder.

Looking back is done, and now to gaze at what's to come

There was so much that we wish we could’ve included, but this would’ve ended up being incredibly long. Thank you all so much for playing. Whether you began back in beta, started adventuring today, or jump in tomorrow... we couldn't do this without you. Last year saw some incredible updates, and we plan to make this year even better!

For reading through all of this, here are some sneak peaks for this year:
Tinsel's giftboxes open & Frostval Gifting rewards given out
Winter Holiday & 2025 Honorable Hero AC GiftsTHREE Friday the 13th events in February, March, and November
The Flame of the Beyond storyline concludes
New updates to the Daily Quest Board
More Swordhaven royalty, more Doom, more LORE-based world-building
More player feedback surveys on daily gifts, midweek updates, gameplay, gear, and more
A future of Infinite potential

*Alina note: the "we" mentioned in the opening paragraph is lexicological camouflage, and refers to AQWorlds Guest Writer / Midweek Release designer, Caddeus. He championed the return of this post, and then did all of the compiling and writing. Many thanks to him for putting this all together... especially during the holidays!