In the mid-to-late 2000s, MMO games were the hot topic in the world of entertainment, with some of them becoming true cultural phenomenons around the world. In the years that followed, countless MMO titles flooded the market, some great and some not so great. But the promise of being able to play the same game with hundreds if not thousands of other players at the same time kept players coming back. Often featuring deep worlds and stories with addicting gameplay, the best MMO games can really take over your life if you get sucked in. Finding the one that is right for you isn’t an easy task, but the ones you see below are great starting points to jump in.
What Are MMOs And MMORPGs?
MMO stands for massively multiplayer online game, which is a game that features a large amount of real players on the same server. MMORPG stands for massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which is a type of MMO that is what most people will think of when it comes to MMOs.
While an MMORPG will always be an MMO, it doesn’t have to be the same in reverse, with some MMOs not featuring the RPG element and instead combining other genres such as first person shooter or real-time strategy. The defining factor of an MMO is an online environment with a lot of players on the same server, with MMORPGs adding in the option to play as a character through a detailed story that evolves as you play.
MMOs are most common on PC, but can also be found on consoles and occasionally mobile platforms, but given the need for a stable internet connection, handheld options are fairly rare. The first MMOs were exclusive to PCs and they didn’t start to pop up until the 90s thanks to the need to be online. The first graphical MMO was Neverwinter Nights, released in 1991, but the genre didn’t become popular until the likes of Ultima Online and EverQuest arrived in the late 90s.
Top MMO And MMORPG Games
Finding the best MMO and MMORPG for you isn’t an easy task as games can take hours to get into properly and some even carry monthly subscription fees that you’ll have to pay to keep playing. However, this list of top MMO and MMORPGs will set you off in the right direction.
With games being found on a variety of platforms from PC to mobile, this list includes top options across platforms and at a variety of price points, from free-to-play options right up to those that charge monthly subscription fees to play. To be on this list most importantly the games need to be fun and have an active player base, but the best of the best will have received critical acclaim as well as favourable user reviews.
10. New World
New World is an MMORPG that took the world by storm when it launched in late 2021, but has failed to sustain its player base in recent years. Developed by Amazon Games, it was designed to be the next big MMO, but that hasn’t quite worked out.
Set in the mid-seventeenth century, you land in a world where you need to gather resources, complete quests and join one of the three factions that are fighting for control of the region. The war between the factions is the main point of the game, trying to steal control away from each other to claim more of the map. If you just play through the main story and complete all the quests then New World is great fun, however, once you reach the late-game content where your only real focus is the war, things start to fall down and the longevity isn’t there. It’s available on PC and a good option for RPG fans looking to try an MMO.
9. Palia
Palia from Singularity 6 is the newest MMO on this list, having properly launched after a long beta in March 2024, which makes it a little hard to know its potential for longevity. However, early signs are good and this is unlike any other MMO, as it’s more about living your life than fighting enemies.
You play in an idyllic land and your only real goal is to be a good neighbour, with no sign of the traditional RPG elements or even combat. You can do some gardening, decorating and meet the rest of the villagers in what is being called a cozy community sim. Think of it as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley but in MMO form. If you want an MMO that is just about having a nice life with pals and not about going on an epic quest to kill everything in sight this is the one for you. It’s available on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store and Nintendo Switch making it perfect for an on-the-go MMO.
8. Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online, often referred to as just Black Desert, is a Korean MMORPG developed by Pearl Abyss that was initially released in 2014 on PC, before iOS, Android, Xbox One and PS4 versions launched in 2019.
Set in a fantasy world, Black Desert has a deep story, a rich world and a lot of different activities to keep you entertained from fishing to farming and of course, fighting. In fact, the combat is more similar to one you would see in an action game rather than an MMO, with its fast-paced movement that isn’t overly reliant on having good stats. With 10 years of development behind it, there is a lot to do in Black Desert, including a choice between 27 different classes, but that means it’s not the easiest to get into. If you are a fan of other Asian games and are looking for a deep MMO, this is one of the best.
7. Final Fantasy 14
Another MMO option from the East, Final Fantasy 14 is an MMO in the iconic JRPG series from Square Enix that has found a big audience with fans after a massive false start. FF 14 initially launched in 2010, but was closed two years later because of how bad it was before being revived.
The current version of FF 14 launched in 2013 on PS3 and on Windows, with PS4, Mac, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in the years since. It’s an MMORPG that firmly sits in the JRPG genre, featuring the iconic art style and gameplay that the Final Fantasy series is known for. Over the years it has only grown in its quality and is now considered one of the best MMOs ever, especially with all the massive expansions added in and another set to launch in summer 2024. This is one for JRPG fans or anyone who has ever enjoyed a Final Fantasy game and is a must-play for anyone who wants to experience another epic story in that universe.
6. World of Warcraft Classic
It’s probably not a spoiler to say that World of Warcraft will appear in this list again, but this entry is for the Classic version that lets you play Blizzard’s epic MMO as it was back in the early days of its life in 2006.
This Classic option was released in 2019 on PC and has proven popular with WoW fans who want to play the original game and not what it has become. It follows the classic MMORPG style that WoW pioneered and is the closest you will ever get to experiencing the start of the game that changed the industry. In the years since launch, the first two WoW expansions have also been released for the Classic version, but the gameplay remains as it was back in 2006. It’s an acquired taste and certainly a shock to anyone who didn’t play back then, but nostalgia is a powerful thing, especially when the game is one of the best of all time.
5. The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online had a tough start to life. Launching in 2014, just two years after Skyrim, expectations were high, especially with the reported seven-year development time at ZeniMax Online Studios before launch. Unsurprisingly it did not live up to those expectations, but 10 years later it has become a truly great MMO.
Its subscription model is gone, it has been ported to PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 along with the PC version, and a ton of expansions have turned ESO into the game it always should have been. It’s now a solid Elder Scrolls game in its own right, with a big story and combat that is very similar to the main games. It also contains more of the world of Tamriel than other games in the series. If you are an Elder Scroll Fan and like the idea of an MMORPG in that world then this is one to try as the familiarity makes it easy to get into.
4. Lost Ark
Lost Ark is an ARPG-MMO, which is basically an MMO version of Diablo. It was originally popular in South Korea, where it was developed by Smilegate and released in 2019 before Amazon picked up the Western publishing rights to launch it in Europe and North America in 2022.
Lost Ark is a solid ARPG that heavily leans into a lot of classic MMO systems such as crafting, resource gathering and group play. It probably can’t be considered the best game in either genre, but it is the best option of the two being mashed together, and it is great fun with the combat being strong enough to keep you entertained for the hours an MMO requires. If you want an MMO that doesn’t have a typical style of combat or are specifically looking for ARPG action then this is the one for you, however, it’s a PC-only experience which can be limiting for some people.
3. EVE Online
EVE Online is the perfect space-based PC MMORPG if you want an immersive world set in space that takes itself very seriously. While that may sound great on paper, EVE is notoriously difficult to get into and is even referred to as a game about spreadsheets by some.
Developed by the Icelandic team at CCP Games, EVE has been around since 2003 but has evolved massively to become an epic space sim that is difficult to get into but rewarding when you do. Set 21,000 years in the future you’ll be in space and most likely given some kind of job to do for the faction you join. Some become accountants dealing with the player-controlled trading systems, others miners and some politicians, treading the diplomatic waters between the multiple-player factions. If that sounds like fun, give EVE a go, but be warned it is difficult to get into and you will likely need a guide to make sure you get in with the right people.
2. Runescape
Runescape has been going since 2001 and is one of the classic MMOs that still holds up today. Developed by Jagex, Runescape is another medieval fantasy MMORPG, but pretty much every other similar game has been inspired by it in one way or another, and there is nothing quite like it still.
Runescape has the classic MMO feel where your main objective is just living a life in the world. You can go through the game choosing what you do and when you do it, with a simple quest line and other activities that will fill a lot of your time. Combat isn’t complex and the storyline isn’t amazing, but just being in the medieval-style world and interacting with others is where the game comes alive. The main version of Runescape is available on PC, iOS and Android, but if you are nostalgic for a simpler time, there’s Old School Runescape on the same platforms that is a live version of the game as it was in 2007 with a few improvements.
1. World Of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is the definitive MMO and the one that changed the games industry forever with its popularity. It became so much of a cultural phenomenon that it has its own blockbuster movie and even the likes of South Park parodied it. It is exactly what you think of when someone says MMORPG.
Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft launched on PC in 2004 and is a sequel to Warcraft III, the legendary RTS. Taking place in Azeroth, you create a character from a variety of races and classes and then decide if you will join the Horde or Alliance faction. Then you embark on an epic quest to explore the world, level up and take on the hardest foes in the world. On your journey, you will need to team up with other players to take down tough opponents and even take on some PvP combat if you want.
WoW isn’t flawless and does show its age these days, but it was the most popular game in the world for years and it’s easy to see why with its addictive gameplay. If you want to experience the best MMO ever made, this is the one for you and it is still being updated with massive new expansions to keep you playing for years to come.
Bottom Line
MMOs are massive games that can take over your gaming life, but they are also some of the most rewarding and often are great for creating friendships with like-minded people. The best games will be ones that stick with you for life and deserve to be experienced by anyone who is interested in the genre.
