Trickster Online is a free 2D isometric MMORPG from the Korean developer Ntreev Soft, first released in South Korea in April 2003 and later in Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan and North America, where it arrived in February 2007. Its anime-inspired look and mouse-driven combat wrap around a playful premise: a treasure hunt on an island, organized by the late Don Cavalier, with a heavy dose of Greek mythology.

Every official version has closed. North America went in February 2013, Thailand, Korea and Japan in January 2014, and China and Taiwan later that year. Since then fan-run private servers have been the only way to play Trickster, and they decide the rates, job tiers and shop rules you get.

Animal Heroes and a Drill

Characters are animal-themed and grouped into four types. Power has the Bunny, Polar Bear and Buffalo; Magic has the Sheep and Dragon; Sense has the Fox and Lion; and Charm has the Cat and Raccoon. Each grows into a second job - Boxer, Warrior, Veterinarian, Bard, Magician, Explorer, Inventor, Entertainer or Card Master - and later a third, with names such as Champion, Gladiator, Soul Master and Hunter Lord.

Progression runs on two tracks. Base levels give you stat points, while TM levels give you skill points, and skills are bought from skill masters and then mastered. That split means a character can be strong in fights and still have a long way to go on skills, or the other way round.

Then there is the drill. The Drill System lets you dig into the ground for items and experience, which suits a game about a treasure island and gives Trickster a pace unlike most MMORPGs, because digging can be as much a part of your session as fighting. A Card Battling System built on card items adds another way to play, and the official game sold items for real money through a cash shop called MyShop.

What to Look For in a Trickster Online Private Server

Characters and Job Tiers

Check that the animal character you want is playable and how far its job line goes on that server. Some servers may stop at second jobs, while others include third jobs. If you have a favorite job such as Card Master or Inventor, make sure its skills work as intended.

Drill Rates and Rewards

Drilling is the soul of Trickster, so its rates shape the economy. Very generous drill rewards flood the market with rare items; very stingy ones make digging feel pointless. Ask how drilling is balanced against hunting on the server.

Base and TM Leveling

With two level tracks, a server can be fast on one and slow on the other. Read both rates. A high base rate with a slow TM rate leaves you strong but short of skills, which is frustrating for skill-heavy jobs.

Real-Money Items

Look at what the server sells for real money. Costumes and convenience are one thing; drill tools, gear or rare items for cash undercut the treasure hunt that defines the game.

Community and Stability

Check the server's main language, its busy hours and how long it has been running. Ask about backups and how often it patches, since a character with a third job and a full collection of dig finds is worth protecting.

Picking Your Animal

Pick an animal by type - Power, Magic, Sense or Charm - and look ahead to the second job you want. Split your time between hunting and drilling from the start, and keep an eye on both level tracks. Vote for the server you play on; rankings here start again every month, so the list below follows where players are now.