Highlights

  • MMORPGs like New World, Guild Wars, and Ultima Online offer unique gameplay experiences, from exploring fantastical islands to party-based adventures.
  • These games have withstood the test of time, with some being played for over a decade and still attracting millions of players.
  • Despite some notorious behavioral issues, with a little discipline, MMORPGs can provide an enjoyable escape into immersive worlds.

Although the name would suggest that massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are similar to role-playing games, they are different on so many levels. Working with other players to achieve goals by combat and trading and being able to work on talents such as fishing and blacksmithing is what makes MMORPGs so special.

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MMORPGs have taken pop culture by storm, inventing their own vocabulary, not to mention a host of problematic psychological afflictions! Indeed, these titles are notorious for driving some people over the edge of acceptable behavior, but with a little temperament and discipline, they're a lot of fun. If you're ready to lose yourself in another world, you may want to start with one of these.

Updated on February 2, 2023 by Jerel Levy: we've updated this list with more information on each of the entries included. From its launch date to developer and publisher information, you can see just how long some of these classic MMORPG titles have been running and how far they've come. We've also added a bit of information to some of the entries.

18 New World

Soldiers In New World, Characters With Armor And Weapons In Brimstone Sands
New World

Released
September 8, 2021
Developer(s)
Amazon Games
Publisher(s)
Amazon Games

MMMORPGs love to explore the fantasy genre, and New World is no exception. It takes place on a fantastical island called Aeternum, where you - an explorer during the seventeenth century - discover new resources, mystical powers, and other players to befriend or behead.

New World was one of those games that suffered from having too many players at launch, causing its servers to buckle under the weight. However, it has recovered since then and has become a well-enjoyed title. It was nominated for the Best Multiplayer Game by the Game Awards and the Best Original Soundtrack (Video Game) at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards. The year it came out, 2021, it was also one of the most played games on Steam.

17 Guild Wars

Character with armor standing in front of a bridge.

Guild Wars

Released

2005-04-28

Developer

ArenaNet

Publisher

NCSoft

The original Guild Wars nabbed itself quite a huge fan base at a time when World Of Warcraft had half a year's head start. It was far more realistic than its competitor in terms of graphics and visual style, which drew in many gamers who weren't turned on by WoW's cartoon look.

Guild Wars was meant to be played with a party, which made going solo a near-impossible experience. It's one of the things that made it so endearing. Though the original would never match its sequel in terms of scale or substance, it did lay the groundwork for what would later follow, making it an instant classic.

16 Ultima Online

Ultima online gameplay

Ultima Online

Released

1997-09-24

Developer

Electronic Arts, Origin Systems, Mythic Entertainment

Publisher

Electronic Arts

Many fond memories are probably springing into your head right now. Launched in 1997, Ultima Online was one of the earliest, most popular MMORPGs. It was an interesting time in video game history where anything could go, and game developers had the time of their lives. This game was set in the world of Ultima, which is a beloved series of open-world fantasy RPGs that began in 1981.

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Ultima Online had a long life and received eight expansions (as well as lots of free updates). One fun fact about the game is that it was important to the developers that players were totally free, which meant that they needed to be free to be evil. They spent a long time balancing the ways that a player could be a criminal while protecting other players from undue harm.

15 TERA

MMO Games - Two Dragons with riders atop them from Tera
TERA

Released
May 1, 2012
Developer(s)
Bluehole Studio
Publisher(s)
En Masse Entertainment , Gameforge , Nexon

This South Korean MMO has been running for over a decade and shows no signs of slowing down. TERA is a fantasy MMO with a focus on immersive combat mechanics, as opposed to more popular titles like World of Warcraft.

The game is popular among its 28 million+ players for having a robust character creation system, a more accessible style of play, and plenty of fancy armor and weapons to get your hands on.

14 Trove

Trove an example of combat found in the game

Trove

Released

2015-07-09

Developer

Trion Worlds, Gamigo Us Inc,

Publisher

Gamigo, Trion Worlds

Trove is a Minecraft-style sandbox MMORPG that was first launched on PC in July 2015. It was ported to PlayStation and Xbox in March 2017 and then finally arrived on the Nintendo Switch in June 2021. Not many MMORPGs are suitable for console platforms, but Trove fits like a glove.

It's simple but surprisingly engaging. This is a great 'baby's first MMO' choice for younger audiences. It's also beloved by its fans; out of almost 90,000 reviews on Steam, it has a 9/10 score.

13 Planetside 2

Planetside 2 image of a character holding a gun and firing, with other characters in the background doing the same and ships flying through the sky.

Planetside 2

Released

2012-11-20

Developer

Rogue Planet Games

Publisher

Daybreak Game Company

While different from the traditional MMORPG formula, Planetside 2 was nevertheless an MMO in spirit, with a different game mechanic as its core focus. The objective of the game was to participate in a massive-scale war for dominance across the planet Auraxis.

The game holds the Guinness World Record for most players competing in a single battle - an astonishing 1158, to be exact. Nothing quite matches the sheer scale of Planetside 2, and although its glory days are behind it, it's still an MMO title with a lot to boast about.

12 Black Desert Online

black desert online a horse and a player using their riding skills
Black Desert Online

Released
March 3, 2016
Developer(s)
Pearl Abyss
Publisher(s)
Pearl Abyss

Another Korean MMO with a lot going for it, Black Desert Online, came seemingly out of nowhere and upended its competitors with a very distinct combat system, excellent graphics, and an engaging storyline.

Black Desert Online sports one of the most diverse character creation systems of any MMO game, a major plus for gamers who don't want to look like they rolled off the assembly line. There are a ton of classes to choose from, a boatload of esteemed titles and accomplishments to obtain, home-building options, and yes, pets—a very good pet system.

11 Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online Bridge of the ship from the game
Star Trek Online

Released
February 2, 2010
Developer(s)
Cryptic Studios
Publisher(s)
Gearbox Publishing , Perfect World Entertainment , Atari

Trekkers were definitely excited at the prospect of immersing themselves in the Star Trek universe and living out their dreams of being a Starfleet officer, which made Star Trek Online such an enduring hit.

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Though critic reviews were mixed, the game has soldiered on with several expansion packs and updates to keep things fresh. It's not perfect, but it's still a great vehicle for Star Trek fans looking for a little MMO escapism in a world they probably know, top to bottom.

10 EverQuest

Everquest

Released

1999-03-16

Developer

Daybreak Game Company, Darkpaw Games

Publisher

NA: Sony Online Entertainement EU: Ubisoft

EverQuest is one of the earliest MMORPGs that is still played by a large number of people. The game changed to a free-to-play model back in 2012, but players complained that the free-to-play option limited you to a small fraction of the game's content.

The game of EverQuest is one of the most influential MMORPGs of all time. Titles like World of Warcraft might have been different if not for the influence of Everquest. Played in the first-person, Everquest provided an immersive experience that made stealth-based and hands-on combat enjoyable.

9 Rift

Rift

Released

2011-03-01

Developer

Gamigo

Publisher

Gamigo US

As you might expect, Rift is a typical MMORPG that is similar to World of Warcraft. Like WOW, Rift used a subscription service, then later integrated a free-to-play option with reduced features.

One might wonder why people would play Rift when they could play WOW. Yes, Rift did little to distinguish itself from the genre titan, yet some players prefer Rift's intensity and wide selection of skills that give the game more depth. It's possible for people to like both World of Warcraft and Rift; both are excellent games.

8 Runescape

RuneScape
RuneScape

Released
January 4, 2001
Developer(s)
Jagex
Publisher(s)
Jagex

For a free-to-play MMORPG that launched all the way back in 2001, Runescape has somehow managed to remain popular all these years. Runescape still has at least 50,000 players playing the game at any given time. In this title, players perform typical MMORPG tasks such as fishing, mining, blacksmithing, and battling with enemies. The PVP area in the wilderness is a true test of a player's Runescape prowess.

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A new version of Runescape known as "Runescape 3" was launched in 2013. Though there are new versions, Old School Runescape remains the most popular version. Graphically, Old School Runescape is not very impressive, but the gameplay is fun, and that's what has made the difference.

7 Lord Of The Rings Online

An elf and a dwarf overlook Rivendell in Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online

Released
April 24, 2007
Developer(s)
Standing Stone Games
Publisher(s)
Daybreak Game Company

After shifting to a free-to-play model, Lord of the Rings Online surged in popularity. Set in J.R.R Tolkien's Middle-earth, Lord of the Rings Online is much as you'd expect—it's a traditional MMORPG with a Lord of the Rings theme.

It's a game that encourages exploration because of its discovery-friendly map. Chances are, if you enjoyed Star Wars: The Old Republic and are a fan of Lord of the Rings, you'll like this game. Much of Lord of the Rings Online alludes to the movies and books, which is a huge draw for fans of the series.

6 Guild Wars 2

guild wars 2 end of dragons - primordus on left, zhaitan on right
Guild Wars 2

Released
August 28, 2012
Developer(s)
ArenaNet
Publisher(s)
NCSoft

Instead of being a typical questing MMORPG, Guild Wars 2 revolves around an event-based system, which allows players to fight with their guild, party, and basically any other player. The concept of guilds is not unique to MMOs, but it seems like Guild Wars 2 got the formula correct the first time.

As a result of the game's success, expansions were made to supplement the base game's content. As a game launched on August 28, 2012, that doesn't require subscription fees, there are many reasons to jump into Guild Wars 2.

5 EVE Online

EVE Online Spacecraft Flight
EVE Online

Released
May 6, 2003
Developer(s)
CCP Games
Publisher(s)
CCP Games , Atari , Simon and Schuster Interactive

The great thing about playing EVE Online right now is that the game has received numerous updates since its launch. As a result of the changes the game received, many players and critics have changed their minds about the title for the better.

Quite a few developers have attempted to create enjoyable outer-space-themed MMORPGs. Where most games have failed, EVE Online seems to work. The combat of the game may not be as good as Star Wars Galaxies, a 2003 outer space MMORPG (now sans servers), but it has much more content to keep players engaged.

4 Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars The Old Republic Jedi Knight Sith Bounty Hunter and Smuggler Standing by Ship

As a game with the third-highest budget of any video game ever made, Star Wars: The Old Republic does a great job of keeping its RPG elements deep and enjoyable and does it on a massive scale. Choosing to be a lightsaber-wielder or commando, players embark on a journey with a unique story for each character class.

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No, it wasn't the sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords that people had hoped for, but it remains relevant in today's MMORPG world. Star Wars: The Old Republic is an excellent MMORPG that does an excellent job of telling an engaging Star Wars story.

3 Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online, fighting a dragon
The Elder Scrolls Online

Released
April 4, 2014
Developer(s)
ZeniMax Online Studios
Publisher(s)
Bethesda

Unlike the Elder Scrolls RPG games that were developed by Bethesda Softworks, Elder Scrolls Online's developer is ZeniMax Online Studios. Despite being a company that doesn't usually develop Elder Scrolls games, ZeniMax Online did an excellent job at creating one of the best MMORPGs of all time.

Amazingly, they kept the game true to the Elder Scrolls series without making it a basic, typical MMORPG. Playing this game on PC is recommended, but the console versions are also excellent. Playing through dungeons was repetitive at launch, but an abundance of new content makes Elder Scrolls Online excel as an MMORPG.

2 Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn

Black Mage standing in front of rock formation in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Final Fantasy 14

Released
August 27, 2013
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Publisher(s)
Square Enix

Final Fantasy 14 isn't your typical Final Fantasy game. As a world-renowned role-playing game series, the transition to becoming an MMORPG was more difficult than Square Enix predicted. At launch, the game was a colossal failure. Later, Square Enix would re-release the game as Final Fantasy 14: Realm Reborn.

After a long start, you dive into the action of Final Fantasy 14, soon finding that completing quests in the Final Fantasy 14 realm is surprisingly fun. Tying in a ton of fun options, Final Fantasy 14 has come a long way from its inception. Having better graphics than WoW, an actually playable console version, and quality content that keeps on coming, it's rapidly rising to one of the best MMORPGs to play. Taking on new levels of fun, a wide variety of player classes, and tons of player options with an intriguing story and top-notch expansions are reasons to pick up Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn today.

1 World Of Warcraft

Split Image of Lich King Arthas on right and Illidan on left
World of Warcraft

Released
November 23, 2004
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard

The king of MMORPGs is undoubtedly World of Warcraft. It shook the video game market to its core when it launched in 2004, peaking at 12 million players in 2010. The amount of content and player variety makes it among the leading MMORPGs and best games of all time.

In World of Warcraft, players can choose to fight for the Horde or Alliance factions. Pandarens (a race from the Mists of Pandaria expansion) have the advantage of being able to choose, while other races are locked to a particular faction. Engaging quests, a dynamic leveling system, tons of loot and gear, and being able to make friends... all of this makes World of Warcraft the best and most enduring MMORPG ever made, period.

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