// the find
Kaetram/Kaetram-Open
Kaetram is an open-source 2D HTML5 MMORPG. It is an extended version of BrowserQuest (BQ).
Kaetram is a full-stack browser-based MMORPG engine written in TypeScript, descended from Mozilla's BrowserQuest. It runs a Node.js game server with µWebSockets and an Astro-based client, with MongoDB for persistence. It's for developers who want a working MMORPG foundation to build on rather than starting from scratch.
The architecture is genuinely well-considered: client-side region caching with versioned invalidation means players don't re-download map data on every session. The hub system for cross-server synchronization solves the real Node.js single-process scaling problem without pretending it doesn't exist. The Yarn 4 monorepo is cleanly structured with separate packages for client, server, hub, tools, and admin. E2E tests are present and wired into CI, which is rare for game projects of this size.
Development stalled — last push was January 2024 and the README admits updates will slow to once every 2-4 weeks post-beta, with no more art or content additions. The custom Omnia Public License layered on top of MPL-2.0 is legally murky and adds friction if you want to do anything commercial. MongoDB as the persistence layer is fine but the game is firmly in early-access limbo with pathfinding still client-side and special attacks unimplemented — adopters inherit incomplete systems. The 694 stars suggest curiosity more than production use, and the low fork-to-star ratio implies most people look but don't build.