Graphical MMOs that predate it are Habitat (1986), Neverwinter Nights (1991), Meridian 59 (1995), The Realm (1996), and Ultima Online (1997). In 1999 when Asheron's Call and EverQuest came out, games like this became obsolete.
But there are still a few hundred players of Sierra's The Realm, which first came out in 1996.
There are also many community emulators for Ultima Online.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(video_game)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverwinter_Nights_(1991_video...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_59