Rune was released on October 27, 2000, and supports online multiplayer for up to 16 players, depending on server configuration. It is a third-person action game set in a dark Norse mythological world, emphasizing melee combat with swords, axes, and hammers, alongside throwable weapons and environmental hazards. The multiplayer features modes such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Headball (a sport-like mode where players score by carrying a severed head into a goal), and Arena-style elimination variants, focusing on close-quarters combat, timing, and weapon mastery rather than ranged firefights.