The basics
What kind of game is Wanderer?
An idle fantasy RPG in a persistent multiplayer world. The whole world is one long east–west road; you send a pixel-art wanderer down it, fighting, gathering, crafting and discovering as the road gets harder. It's built to be played in short active bursts and to keep progressing while you're away.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The game is free in the browser and on Android, with no purchases of any kind. Optional rewarded ads exist (watch one for a temporary 2× XP/coin boost or extra offline time) — that is the entire business model.
How "idle" is it — do I have to be online?
You choose your involvement. Actively you can tap-to-move, pick fights and run crafting errands; passively you can set a travel mode and watch; offline your wanderer continues the activity you chose for up to your offline cap. All three styles earn real progress.
Is there a story?
The world tells one — a fallen empire, a Sundering, a road that leads to where it began — through region design, landmark stories and town NPCs, rather than cutscenes. Read any region page in the World Atlas for a taste.
How long does the road take to finish?
The corridor spans 32 regions with recommended levels past 300 at the far end. Walking it all is a long-haul project — months of casual play. Most players treat the furthest-east record as a prestige goal rather than a finish line.
Combat & defeat
How does combat work?
Fights resolve automatically from your Attack, Strength and Defence, your gear's accuracy/power/evasion/health, and some luck. You position and prepare; the exchange plays out itself. Details in the combat guide.
What do I lose when I'm defeated?
Position and a little time — never items, never gear, never XP. You're revived at the nearest town you've unlocked and can walk straight back out.
Can I choose which stats my fighting trains?
Yes — a combat focus setting splits fight XP evenly across Attack/Strength/Defence, or pours all of it into one.
What are bosses like?
Named, bespoke, and parked at landmarks and lairs along the road — from the Drowned King in Blackfen's chapel to the boss gauntlets of the far east. Mini-bosses roam between them with richer drop tables.
Progress, offline & boosts
How does offline progress actually work?
Before you log off, you pick an offline activity — explore, hunt, rest, mine a chosen ore, cut wood, or run a chosen forge recipe. When you return, the server replays your time away with the same rules as live play (same combat engine, same drop logic at a reduced rate, same XP tables) and shows you a summary. It's simulation, not a multiplier.
How long does offline progress run?
1 hour by default. You can extend the cap to 17 hours by buying hours with in-game coins at the store, and rewarded ads can bank extra time on top.
Do offline and online play earn the same?
Offline earns solidly but deliberately a little less than attentive live play — drops come at a reduced rate and combat XP is tuned down slightly, so playing actively always has an edge without making away-time feel wasted.
What's the level cap?
Skills run to level 500. Monsters currently reach level 400 in the far east, and the gear ladder tops out at requirement 250 (Legendary tier).
Gear & crafting
How does equipment work?
Six combat slots (weapon, shield, head, body, legs, boots) plus a cosmetic hat slot and two tool slots (pickaxe, axe). Gear comes in 26 tiers and six quality grades. Wearing gear above your level works at reduced effectiveness — a lucky drop is never wasted. See the equipment guide.
Is crafting worth it, or is loot better?
They feed each other. Drops keep you current while you travel; the forge lets you target exactly the piece you're missing and levels Smithing while you do it. Crafted gear is identical to dropped gear.
What's tempering?
Combining three identical pieces (same item, same quality) at a tempering bench for a chance to produce one piece of the next quality grade. The odds depend on your Smithing level versus the piece. Full odds in the tempering guide.
What does locking an item do?
A locked item or stack can never be sold — it's protection against a mis-tap or an over-eager Sell All. Locked materials still stack and can still be spent at the forge.
My pack is full — what happens to new loot?
Nothing is destroyed: overflow drops are automatically sold for coins. Expand your pack at the store (up to 125 slots), and equip your tools so they stop using pack space.
Multiplayer & community
What's multiplayer about it?
Everyone plays in the same world: you'll pass other wanderers on the road, share towns, compare leaderboards and talk in chat. There is no forced grouping, no PvP, and nothing another player can take from you.
Is there chat, and is it moderated?
Yes and yes — an in-game chat with automatic moderation plus human oversight, under the community guidelines.
Can I play completely solo?
Entirely. Other players are scenery unless you choose otherwise.
Accounts, devices & data
Where is my progress stored?
On the server. Clearing your browser, switching devices or reinstalling the app never touches your character.
Does one account work on browser and Android?
Yes — same servers, same character. Sign in with the same credentials (Google sign-in makes this seamless).
What data do you collect?
The minimum a persistent game needs: account credentials, game state, and basic technical logs. No ad tracking on the website, no analytics scripts, no data sales. The privacy policy is short and readable on purpose.
How do I delete my account?
Any time, permanently, via the steps on the account deletion page.
I found a bug — where do I report it?
The support page explains what to include; reports go through the contact form.