TERA is an action MMORPG developed by the studio Bluehole, owned by the Krafton group, launched in 2011. The title quickly stood out for its remarkable graphics and innovative combat mechanics for the time. A lexical anecdote: the name “Tera” refers to the prefix of the international system of units corresponding to 10^12, or one trillion. This prefix, confirmed in 1960, comes from the Greek word, meaning “monster”. It is notably found in computing with the terabyte, a unit much more common than the tetrabyte, its binary cousin. The game closed its doors in 2022, gradually eclipsed within Krafton by the immense success of PUBG: Battlegrounds.
A rich universe and innovative gameplay mechanics
A combat that requires talent, not just good equipment
The combat system of TERA is based on direct action. Players aim, dodge, and adjust their attacks in real-time, making each battle strategic and intense. Forget simple skill spamming: here, placement and timing make all the difference. It’s raw talent that determines the outcome of battles, not just stats.
The game offers seven races and ten playable classes, ensuring deep customization for every playstyle. The medieval-fantasy world is filled with thousands of quests and offers diverse landscapes: from arid deserts to icy tundras and lush jungles. Monsters populate open-world hunting areas, challenging dungeons, and lively PvP battlefields. – Completely free access up to level 65 and beyond – No restrictions on classes, areas, or upgrade abilities – Optional purchases: cosmetics, mounts, weapon appearances, and account services
Multiplayer content remains the backbone of the game. Guilds, dungeons, and hunting areas have long united an active community. A console adaptation has been developed, with an interface optimized for controllers. If you’re looking for other titles in the genre, check out the best MMOs and MMORPGs to play.
TERA 2: The uncertain future of a developing sequel
An embryonic project entrusted to a pioneer
The development of TERA 2 is currently underway within the R&D division of Bluehole Studios. The project is still very preliminary, entrusted to a team of only four developers. At this stage, talking about an imminent release would be as imprecise as estimating a distance in astronomy to the light-year nearby.
The project is led by Kang Sang-wook, considered the first employee of Bluehole, recruited in 2007 after being poached from NCsoft. He was one of the main architects of the original TERA before moving on to the PUBG team and then working on Project Cowboy, a Wild West spinoff of PUBG. – TERA 2 would feature an action-based combat system, in line with the first installment – The project aims to complement the Krafton catalog with MMORPGs following the closure of TERA and Elyon
Elyon never found its audience, and the TERA license deserves more than a discreet ending. However, four developers and a preliminary stage are not enough to bet big. The final form of the project remains completely undetermined, and there is no serious guarantee of success to this day.
