MapleStory (Korean: 메이플스토리) is a free, 2D, side-scrolling Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game developed by the Korean company Wizet. Several versions of the game are available for specific countries or regions, and each is published by various companies such as Wizet and Nexon. Although playing the game is free, many player appearances and gameplay enhancements can be purchased from the "Cash Shop" using real money. MapleStory has a combined total of over 50 million players in all of its versions.MapleStory Global, for players mainly outside of East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over three million players.
In the game, players walk around in the "Maple World" and defeat monsters and develop their character's skills and abilities, as in typical role-playing games. Players can interact with others in many ways, such as through chatting, trading, and playing minigames. Groups of players can band together in parties to hunt monsters and share the rewards. Players can also band in a guild to interact more easily with each other.