Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, or MMORPG for short, is a genre of videogames that embodies both aspects: role-playing and massively multiplayer online game. To explain it further in detail, in a role-playing game the player typically takes the role of a character. In an MMORPG that is taken to an entirely different scale. They usually have a lot of players and the world continues to exist and evolve even when the player is offline. Unfortunately, that tends to make this genre of games quite addictive. In this article, we will go over the top ten MMORPGs of all time.
Also, check out our video on this topic as well:
10. The Lord of the Rings Online
Being able to make your own character and explore Middle-earth seems like a dream for any LOTR fan. Well, that’s exactly what this game brings The Lord of the Rings Online, usually referred to as LotRo, is an MMORPG. Quite surprising, right? It was previously titled The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. The game was developed by Turbine and released in 2007. Until 2010 the game used to be subscription-based. However, now it is free-to-play but features an in-game store.
The game saw a couple of new expansions, the latest being in 2021. As in any other MMORPG, you first create an avatar with whom you later complete quests in order to level up. The average number of players on a monthly basis is just below 800. Let’s face it, that’s quite sad. If you look at the page on Steam, you’ll see that the game has very positive reviews. The only notable bad thing about it is the visuals. However, the ravages of time seem to have taken a toll on the player base and the game itself.
9. Planetside 2
Planetside 2 is an MMORPG first-person shooter developed by Rogue Planet Games and released in 2012. It is a sequel to guess what? Planetside. Overall, the sequel is pretty much just a modernized version of the first game. It now features sprinting, iron sights, and more. One interesting fact about the game, it holds the Guinness world record for the biggest first-person shooter battle with over 1200 players participating in a single battle.
The game is set in a world called Auraxis in which three factions fight over territory. Upon creating your character you will have to choose which faction to join: New Conglomerate (NC), Terran Republic (TR), or Vanu Sovereignty (VS). Along with a faction, you will have to pick a class as well. The reasons for which this game is so high up on our list are vehicle physics and bad accessibility for new players. A lot of times vehicles tend to spin out of control and new players aren’t really given a proper tutorial at the beginning of the game.
8. Guild Wars 2
Another sequel and another MMORPG! Guild Wars 2 was developed by ArenaNet and released in 2012, just like Planetside 2. However, that’s where their similarities stop. While Planetside 2 falls in the SciFi genre, Guild Wars 2 is set in a fantasy world of Tyria. The main premise of the game is a fight between the guild Destiny’s Edge and the Elder Dragons. What sets Guild Wars 2 from other MMORPGs is the connection between the player’s choices and the main storyline. This is something we rarely see in multiplayer videogames.
Upon entering the game, the player chooses between five races and eight professions. Along with those, it also features crafting disciplines which makes you able to craft even siege weapons. The main problem with Guild Wars 2 is the management. An Asian MMORPG did better in the Western world, why you may ask? Even though the game was very close to an expansion, around a month away, the management didn’t even confirm a release date yet. A lot of players weren’t even aware that a new expansion was coming. Now, when you compare that with Blizzcon and World of Warcraft where expansions are announced a year prior in order to get people excited, Guild Wars 2 certainly has things to fix with their marketing.
7. Elder Scrolls Online
As a part of the Elder Scrolls franchise, Elder Scrolls Online, or ESO for short, is a video game developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and released in 2014. Even though the game was initially subscription-based, since 2015. it is free-to-play. Elder Scrolls Online is set in a fantasy world called Tamriel. It is also indirectly connected to the story of other games in this franchise, Skyrim being the most similar one. The gameplay isn’t linear and consists of open-world exploration and different quest lines.
Sadly, this game nowadays isn’t doing so well. Poor maintenance and bad servers are the reasons for which a lot of players are leaving. However, ESO was never set up for success. People expected ESO to be a multiplayer version of Skyrim which didn’t happen. It was a modern MMORPG in the Elder Scrolls universe. So, upon release, the game got a lot of mixed reviews.
6. Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic is here to continue the sequence of MMORPGs based on movies. It was developed by BioWare and released in 2011. The game takes place after peace was established between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, approximately 3600 years before the films. SWTOR had a massive budget, but even more massive profits. In 2019 it was closing in on a billion dollars in revenue.
Upon joining the game player picks between the two factions: the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. The most interesting thing about the game is the morality spectrum where an individual, no matter the faction, can be at any point of the light/dark spectrum. Even though SWTOR is subscription-based, it offers a free-to-play version. However, it comes with many restrictions such as reduced leveling speed.
5. Runescape
Originally a web browser game, Runescape was a staple in a lot of people’s childhoods. It is a fantasy MMORPG set in a world called Gielinor. This game also has a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest and most-updated free MMORPG. Runescape was developed by Jagex and released in 2001. However, the game has been on Steam since 2020.
It doesn’t follow a linear storyline, players pick their own objectives and what they want to do. In the beginning, each player goes through a tutorial that provides them with basic skills that they need to know in order to play the game. Considering the age of this game, it is no surprise that the visuals are very bad.
4. Black Desert Online
Unlike Runescape, Black Desert Online is a gorgeous game. It was developed by Pearl Abyss and marketed towards the Asian market. The first release was for Windows, but since 2019 the game has had a mobile version. Overall premise of the game is the fight between two rival nations: the Republic of Calpheon and the Kingdom of Valencia.
What sets Black Desert Online from other games is the unique combat system. Some of the main parts of combat are free movement and manual aiming, which makes it similar to third-person shooters even though this is a fantasy game. Another interesting thing about the game is mounted combat which is rarely seen in games of this genre.
3. Eve Online
Eve Online is an MMORPG centered around space. It was developed by CCP Games and released in 2003. The best thing about this game is the unscripted economy and warfare. Players engage with other players in various schemes, even including political ones, which makes this game a faithful copy of the real-life world.
EO is a single-universe game, which means there aren’t multiple servers. Upon entering the game, the player chooses between four races: Amarr, Gallente, Minmatar, or Caldari. The primary way of combat is with starships. There’s one aspect of the game that a lot of people may not like, considering the freedom the player has in the entire game some behavior that’s usually punished in other video games, isn’t punishable here.
2. World of Warcraft
As a big World of Warcraft fan, putting WoW in the second spot in a tier ranking of MMORPGs really pains my heart. But, it just has to be done. WoW was developed by none other than Blizzard and released in 2004. Since then, the game had many expansions of which the latest is Shadowlands. Unfortunately for WoW, Blizzard merged with Activision in 2008. That year many mark as the beginning of the decline.
Now, from 12 million monthly subscribers the game has fallen to just below 5 million. Nevertheless, WoW is still a great game. The depth of the overall story and the amount of gameplay and choices that the player can make is uncountable. Hopefully, with Microsoft acquiring Blizzard we will soon see a positive change in the development of World of Warcraft.
1. Final Fantasy XIV
Undoubtedly, right now Final Fantasy XIV is the best MMORPG out there. It was developed by Square Enix and published in 2013. The original version of Final Fantasy XIV was a major failure, but the studio redeemed itself and fixed all of the issues with the first version.
Final Fantasy XIV is set in the fantasy world of Eorzea, five years after the original version. An apocalyptic event destroyed much of the world and players are granted time travel of five years in the future. When they arrive there, they are met with a rebuilding world and a threat from an invasion. Even though Final Fantasy XIV has a slow start, igitems says any MMORPG fan will definitely enjoy the entire journey.