Rift is a fantasy MMORPG set in Telara, where players join one of two factions to battle elemental invasions spilling from dynamic, unpredictable Rifts opening across the world. Released in 2011, the core loop involves character progression, faction conflict, and cooperative defense against these world-altering intrusions. Its distinctive feature is the constant threat posed by these Rifts, which emerge from the intersection of six elemental Planes, requiring players to adapt their class roles to cleanse the land of the Blood Storm's influence.
Telara exists at the intersection of six elemental Planes: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Life, and Death. Each Plane is overseen by a powerful dragon-deity. The central conflict stems from the return of Regulos, the Dragon of Extinction, who has united the other elemental dragons into an alliance called the Blood Storm. This alliance seeks to invade and conquer Telara. While the Blood Storm was previously repelled, Regulos has managed to break the ancient wards protecting the world, causing the Rifts to open. These Rifts feed the strength of the trapped dragons, allowing their influence to spill into the world.
As an MMORPG, the gameplay centers on character progression, exploration, and combat within a persistent online world. A defining feature of this title is the dynamic nature of the threats players face.
The most distinguishing mechanic involves the dynamic Rifts that constantly open across the world. These are not static events; they are unpredictable intrusions from the elemental Planes. Players must respond to these Rifts, which can range in scale and severity, often requiring cooperative efforts to close them before they overwhelm local areas and empower enemy forces.
Players choose to align with one of two major factions. Within these factions, players select from a variety of available races and classes. The class system is designed to offer significant flexibility, allowing players to specialize or adapt their roles based on the needs of their group or the challenges presented by the Rifts.
The base game provides the complete core experience set in Telara. Beyond the initial release, the game has received three major expansions, adding new zones, storylines, features, and content updates to the persistent world.
Progression involves traditional leveling, acquiring powerful gear, and mastering specialized skill trees associated with the chosen class configuration. The constant threat of the Rifts ensures that even established characters have ongoing, world-altering events to engage with.

The Starfall Prophecies have come to pass. The harbinger of doom is here. The Comet of Ahnket hurtles through the skies towards Telara, tearing pieces from the planes it passes through and assimilating them into its ever-growing mass. Marshes, forests, deserts, and volcanic wastes have all merged together beneath the shadow of the colossal Tower of Ahnket, creating a new world of unnatural beauty... and unfathomable danger. Now the Guardians and Defiant must unite against the sinister intelligence that guides the Comet of Ahnket and stop it from swallowing their world.

Nightmare Tide is the second expansion for Rift.

Rift: Storm Legion is an expansion for RIFT. Storm Legion is the first true expansion of the game. The expansion would increase the level cap from 50 to 60, add in 'dimensions' that allow for play customizing in private areas of the game world, add four new souls and two new continents.