We are very happy to announce the winners of the TibiCam.com Nostalgic Memory Contest! We’ve received so many fun and interesting stories, and deciding on the winners was hard. But we’ve made our decision, and here are the winners, in no particular order:
Outlaw Mike, Antica
I remember it like it was yesterday, though it was back in 2003. Tibia was a mystery to me then, a world I had yet to discover. I stumbled upon it purely by chance. One lazy Saturday afternoon, I was at an internet cafe with my best friend, Mark. He was the type to get completely absorbed in whatever he did, and that day, it was Tibia.I sat beside him, watching the screen light up with colorful sprites and tiny characters moving about a pixelated landscape. Rats, wolves, and trolls seemed to be the common enemies, and my first thought was, “That’s so cool” But what really caught my eye was the interaction between players. Mark was part of a group, chatting and planning as they hunted in the depths of the game’s world. It looked like a lot of fun, and I felt a bit jealous.
“Is that you controlling the little guy?” I asked, fascinated by the simplicity of the game.
“Yep,” he said without looking away from the screen. “Wanna give it a try?”
I nodded, and that was the beginning of my Tibia journey. Creating my character was a bit of a struggle—I wasn’t very familiar with English and figuring out the right name took longer than I expected. But soon enough, I found myself in Rookgaard, the island where all beginners start.
Rookgaard was both enchanting and terrifying. The thrill of discovery drove me, and every corner seemed to hide some new mystery or danger. I remember spending hours battling wolves and bears, digging with my shovel to uncover hidden passages. Each victory, each piece of loot, was a small triumph. It took me nearly a month to finally gather the courage—and the experience—to leave Rookgaard and head to the mainland.
With Mark’s advice, I chose Thais as my first city. I had saved up a sum of 500 gold pieces, feeling rich as I stepped into the streets of Thais. The city was amazing, much bigger than anything I had seen in Rookgaard. Stone buildings, busy markets, and plenty of other players around.
One day, while exploring the northern parts of Thais (close to the troll caves) I met a player named Julio or something like that. He was higher level, a sorcerer, and seemed friendly enough. We exchanged a few words— He offered to show me around, and I thought I had found a new friend.
But as we ventured further away from the safety of the depot, Julio’s demeanor changed. Suddenly, he attacked. I was too inexperienced to understand what was happening, and panic set in. I tried to run, to plead for mercy, but it was useless. He cast a mort hurt spell, and before I knew it, I was dead, my body lying motionless on the ground, my precious 500 gold pieces gone.
I was devastated. The loss felt real, more intense than anything I had experienced in a game before. I logged out, swearing never to return. For weeks, I avoided Tibia, still stinging from the betrayal and the harsh lesson learned about the game.
Years passed, and in 2008, I finally had my own computer and internet connection. The first thing I thought of was Tibia. I reinstalled the game, created a new character, and this time, I chose a non-PvP server, opting for a fresh start in the city of Venore. The fear of being randomly killed was gone, and I could finally enjoy the game at my own pace.
I became a druid, fascinated by the idea of healing and supporting other players. I joined a guild and made friends from all over the world. We would gather on TS, talking and joking as we hunted, traded, and explored together. The bonds I formed were genuine, and even when we were just mana sitting, the conversations and hanging out made it special.
Those years in Tibia were some of the best gaming experiences of my life. It wasn’t just about the game; it was about the people I met, the adventures we had, and the lessons learned. From the bitter taste of betrayal to the sweet success of hours long hunts, Tibia taught me a lot about resilience and trust.
Karo Lyn, Kendria
Like everyone, I have many beautiful memories from Tibia and it's hard to choose the best one, so I will tell you about my favorite, which is exploring this world and my first PvP death. I grew up in a large family home in Poland with three cousins, I didn't have siblings of my own, so they were my whole world. In 2006, at the age of 11, I left them, moving permanently with my mom to Italy. Even though Italy was a beautiful country and I lived by the beach, I was still unhappy - I was lonely. I had contact with my cousins but talking on Skype wasn't the same as going on adventures together... and then something happened that I didn't expect at the time! My cousins heard from older friends at school about Tibia. We had never heard of such a thing... an MMORPG game? Playing together with friends? How cool! I downloaded Tibia immediately and fell in love right away. A world full of adventures that I could experience with my cousins. For 12-year-old kids it was something magical and while playing I felt like I was with them. My happiness didn't last long though because just as we liked to go on adventures together, we also liked to compete with each other. Being the only girl in the group I couldn't fall behind and always tried hard to be the best. They knew that so in order for me not to have it too easy, they decided to kill me. They hatched a plan and that day they came after me on Rotworms under Thais... I was so surprised when I saw the white skulls! I tried to run away, I begged them to stop but they were relentless... They did it! They killed me and robbed me... my own family! Can you imagine? I couldn't believe it... Angry and in tears I ran to my mom. She on the other hand, called my aunts to complain, and they banned my cousins from the computer for two weeks... During that time I passed them in levels, sending them my progress every day. That's why it may be brutal but for me it's the most beautiful memory. To this day, my cousins and I remember this story with a big smile on our faces. :D
Arcai, Pulsera
The flickering light of the monitor cast an uneven glow on my face, highlighting the determined furrow in my brow. Sweat beaded on my forehead, not from the summer heat outside, but from the pixelated tension within the world of Tibia. I was ten years old, perched precariously on the edge of my chair, my sorcerer, Ilona, locked in a desperate battle with a pack of goblins.One wrong move and my meticulously leveled character, would be another fallen soul haunting the dirt paths of Ab’dendriel. My heart hammered in my chest, mimicking the frantic tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. Each click was a prayer to the RNG gods, a desperate plea for a critical hit, a lucky heal.
Just as I was about to succumb to the Zig Zag! Gobo attack!, a shimmer enveloped me. A guildmate, Laimis- a wise druid had cast a healing spell in the nick of time. Relief washed over me, momentarily breaking the tension. We exchanged a quick dance of our characters, a silent cheer across the digital divide.
Together, Laimis and I dispatched the remaining Goblins, the victory fanfare a melody sweeter than a banana chocolate shake. We looted the pixelated corpses, dividing the spoils with a sense of camaraderie that transcended the physical distance between our houses. In that moment, surrounded by danger and supported by a virtual stranger, I felt a surge of pure joy.
It wasn’t just about the thrill of combat. Tibia offered a world of exploration, of hidden corners and secret dungeons. Laimis and I would spend hours poring over fan-made maps, deciphering cryptic clues to uncover forgotten crypts. We’d face down fearsome bosses, our laughter echoing through our headsets as we celebrated each victory.
Looking back, Tibia wasn’t just a game. It was a portal to a world of adventure, a place where friendships bloomed amidst pixelated danger. And that night, defeating Goblins with Laimis by my side, remains a cherished memory, a testament to the power of connection forged in the fires of a shared digital experience.
Karde, Gladera
I met Tibia in 2004 when I was around 11 or 12 years old. Over all these years, I've accumulated many stories, memories, friendships, but one in particular left its mark on me.The memory I’m going to share with you isn’t a happy one; it’s one that hurt and angered me a lot up until today. I’ve told it to my friends, and they feel the same pain when they hear it. It begins like this:
When I made my first Tibia account, my first character was a knight on the now-defunct PvP server of Rubera. I chose that vocation because I’ve always liked swords, so that was my main weapon. I remember a friend showing me his Fire Sword, and I was fascinated at that moment. The design of the sword, the fire animation, it looked powerful, strong, and imposing. I wanted one, but it cost a lot of money for me at the time, it was 6k. It was an exorbitant amount, and I didn’t know how to get so much money.
One day I decided to get it. For days, I was looting bags in Elvenbane (to the left of Ab’dendriel). I would grab a normal bag, put it under the stairs, and on top, a Wooden Shield so no one would see it. I kept gathering many items until I had a considerable amount to take to Ab’dendriel and sell. I was very afraid that someone would see me and steal the loot bag. I did this for days, gathering and gathering until I could get enough money to buy it. So I wrote the message “Buy Fire Sword [Ab’dendriel]” in the Trade Channel until someone contacted me and sold it to me.
When I finally had it in my hands, I was the happiest person in the world. I couldn’t believe it, I had a FIRE SWOOOORD! I was so excited that the first thing I wanted to do was to try it out. I decided to go to Elvenbane.
Here’s where the tragedy begins. I was on my way, I could already see the hole to use the shovel, and just before arriving, I see two people starting to approach me. Suddenly, they have the skull and start attacking me. I got extremely nervous, I didn’t know what to do. I started to run, but I didn’t get far, and a few squares away, I died.
I was very angry because I hadn’t done anything to them; I didn’t know why they had attacked me. I was very angry until I saw my set, and I no longer had my Fire Sword. The most expensive item I had bought was lost forever. It made me so angry and sad that all I did was disconnect and not play for a few days, maybe a few weeks. In the end, I gathered again for a Fire Sword, but I have never forgotten the memory of the first one.
Furthermore, I have the date of when I died because that day the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup was played between Mexico vs. Brazil. It’s worth noting that I’m Mexican; I only heard my family shouting “GOOOOL”, but I didn’t care about the match, I just wanted to play Tibia. However, that excitement was lost when I lost my first Fire Sword.
King Activist, Pulsera
Sweat beaded on my brow, mirroring the condensation clinging to my chilled glass of mana potion. Years of training had hardened me into an Elite Knight, Tibia's iron wall. Orcs, once a terror in the elvenbane castle, now crumbled before my Exori spells, their lifeless bodies testament to countless hunts. Yet, tonight, a pang of loneliness gnawed at me.My guild, the “Red Rose,” had fractured. Real life, that ever-present foe, had scattered us across the globe. Venturing into the Forbidden Lands, a once-familiar stomping ground, felt hollow. The rhythmic thump of my war hammer against a hapless Orc felt like a death knell for a bygone era.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement in the distance. A familiar green plume of smoke – a distress signal used by lower-level knights. My heart lurched. It was Dealthy Hallow, a former guildmate, now a Knight struggling solo. Memories flooded back – her infectious laugh during raids, her unwavering faith keeping us all alive.
Without hesitation, I charged. Orcs swarmed, a ravenous tide. But muscle memory kicked in. Years of training flowed through me as I weaved a deadly dance, shielding Dealthy with my own steel. We fought back-to-back, a silent symphony of clangs and holy light. By the time the last Orc fell, we were both gasping for breath, a shared grin splitting our faces.
It wasn’t the epic battles of old, but in that moment, the loneliness vanished. Tibia, for all its sprawling pixelated landscape, had brought us together once more. We might not be the “Red Rose” anymore, but the bond forged in those early hunts remained. As we parted ways, a silent promise hung in the air – a promise to find each other again, amidst the ever-evolving world of Tibia.
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