Yes—City of Heroes is playable again on Homecoming, a community-run server licensed by NCSOFT to host and further develop the game. The license, announced January 4, 2024, applies to Homecoming only; NCSOFT retains ownership of the game’s intellectual property, and the server is not a new NCSOFT-operated retail service.
What “officially back” means
Homecoming announced on January 4, 2024: “NCSOFT® has officially granted Homecoming a license to host City of Heroes™.” In the announcement’s accompanying FAQ, the Homecoming City Council said the license allows Homecoming to operate a server and further develop the game, subject to contractual conditions and limitations. The Council also stated that NCSOFT still owns the City of Heroes intellectual property and its derivatives. Read Homecoming’s license announcement and FAQ.
So Homecoming is a licensed fan-run server—not a return of the original game as an NCSOFT-operated retail service. The license does not cover every community server: Homecoming’s announcement explicitly says other servers are outside its scope. It is not a blanket license for anyone to host City of Heroes.
Can you still play, and does it cost anything?
Homecoming says players can play for free. Its January 2024 announcement described the game as free and funded through donations. The current Homecoming FAQ says the team does not owe upfront or recurring license fees and describes donations as limited to the amount needed for upcoming bills. You do not need to buy a game license or pay a subscription to access Homecoming.
#1 Best Overall
- NEW GAMEPLAY PERSPECTIVE: six new Heroes share the same tactical niche as their predecessors, but they take a comp- letely different approach.
- OPTIONAL STAND-IN VARIANT: players start with the core game Heroes and replace them with their Stand-In counterparts when they are detained.
- LIMITED PRINTRUN! When the current stock is sold out, it is gone.
How to download and start playing
Use Homecoming’s official FAQ and Getting Started instructions for the current setup process; launcher guidance can change. Homecoming’s published steps are:
- Create a Homecoming forum account, then create a separate game account. A forum login and a game login are not the same account.
- On Windows, download the Homecoming Launcher and follow its setup instructions.
- On Mac, follow Homecoming’s instructions for using LaunchCat to obtain and launch the Homecoming Launcher.
- Choose a shard and connect using the game account you created. Check Homecoming’s live server-status page for current availability and population rather than relying on an old player count.
Homecoming says it discontinued support for Tequila and similar third-party launchers as it moved to its own installation and patching solution. Follow the official current instructions instead of downloading an older launcher from an unofficial source.
Rank #2
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Which Homecoming shard should you choose?
Homecoming’s FAQ recommends Reunion for players in Europe because that shard is hosted in Germany; it says the other listed shards are hosted in Canada. Physical location can affect latency, though your connection and route to a server also matter. The FAQ also characterizes some shards as busier and others as quieter, but populations change. Check the live status page linked from Homecoming’s site when choosing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Has Homecoming continued developing the game?
Yes. In its FAQ last updated May 9, 2025, Homecoming listed development and technical work including a new Sentinel archetype, powersets such as Storm Blast, Electrical Affinity, Radiation Assault, and Plant Manipulation, additional stories and missions, and a 64-bit client port. These are examples of work described in that FAQ, not a guarantee of what will come next.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- IMMERSIVE ADVENTURE GAME: The Avalon Hill HeroQuest board game is fantasy dungeon crawler in which players must work together to battle terrifying monsters and complete epic quests
- MYTHICAL HEROES: The Realm is in need of champions to challenge the evil forces of the Dread sorcerer Zargon. Four heroes --Barbarian, Dwarf, Elf, and Wizard--have answered the call
- STUNNING ARTWORK: The HeroQuest cards and booklets feature incredible artwork that helps takes players' imaginations into a fantastical world filled with hideous monsters, deadly traps, and more
- 65 plus DETAILED MINIATURES: This semi-cooperative board game includes highly detailed miniature figures on 25mm bases, and detailed furniture models for an immersive gaming experience
- LIMITLESS REPLAYABILITY: This HeroQuest tabletop board game is for 2-5 players, ages 14 and up. The game comes with 14 quests, and players can also create their own stories and build their own quests
Rank #4
- Unique family-oriented gaming experience with simple rules and short playing time
- Shape your city from settlement to industrialization
- A competitive Legacy Game where a player's choices made during one game carry over into the next game
- Play through 24 different episodes, or flip the game board over for a replayable experience
- Developed by world-renowned game designer Reiner Knizia, winner of a Spiel des Jahres
Rank #3
- TWO ADDITIONAL HEROES: Tipple the Half Pint and Maltilda the Stout-Hearted storm into Barcadia as their own 16oz Plastic Health Bar Character Cups. These heroes expand character variety, keep every party game feeling fresh, and increase the total Heroes of Barcadia player count to 8
- TREASURE AND POWER: Delve deeper into the dungeon with 25 loot cards and 8 power-ups that enhance abilities and swing battles against monsters and opponents, fueling dramatic turns and lively competition
- WATERPROOF REALMS: 17 waterproof tiles shape ever-changing halls of Barcadia. Durable, waterproof components welcome spilled drinks and heavy play while keeping the adventure intact
- LIQUID LIFE LEGENDS: The iconic Liquid Life System uses themed cups to track vitality, making drinking optional and inclusive. Soda, juice, or any beverage fits naturally into your party experience
- EPIC PARTY EXPANSION: Built as a tabletop expansion for the Heroes of Barcadia base game, this set boosts replay value and transforms game nights into legendary fantasy quests
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