The MMORPG genre is one of the most interesting and growing in the gaming industry. From the release of games such asWorld of WarcraftandRuneScape, the massively-multiplayer online role-playing game genre has taken the world by storm. These games allow players to get sucked into worlds where anything is possible and they can be whoever or whatever they want.
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Some of these worlds are familiar to players, such asLord of the Rings Onlinewhere players embark on a journey in Middle Earth. There are so many adventures for players to take part in, with new experiences coming out constantly. Some of them date back decades to when even the internet was in its infancy. Here are 10 MMORPGs that are still fun in 2020.
Updated by Kristy Ambrose on March 14th, 2021:Old games are new again, whether it’s for nostalgia or publicity. Last year, gamers were treated to some reworked D&D titles in anticipation of new releases like Baldur’s Gate 3. There’s plenty of vintage media for MMO fans to enjoy too, even though the concept of an MMO feels more recent than a stand-alone RPG. So we’re adding some remakes to fill out our list. Older games that were once limited by localization are now available worldwide and are still up and running. We’ve added four more enduring choices to our list.
14World of Warcraft
The recently releasedWoW Classicis a night and day difference from the current regular version of the game. The retail version still offers plenty to do, including a brand new expansion calledShadowlandsthat was released in December of last year.
13City of Heroes
Here’s an MMO that uses the DC universe as a setting, and that unique feature is one o the things that have ensured the game’s loyal fanbase keeps it running. It was originally released in 2004 and there hasn’t been a live update toCity of Heroessince 2012, but the source code was made readily available for players to start their own servers. So far, developers have made no moves to shut these independent servers down, and the game is still humming along thanks to a community of dedicated players that move MMOs and comic books.
12Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republicgives players the ability to embark on a journey as a member of the Sith Empire or Jedi Order. It was released in 2011 and has still been kicking after all these years. It has a free-to-play option, with some limitations towards the end game content and expansions, and gives players enough time to decide on whether they would like to spend the extra money.
It definitely could use a new expansion in the future but still offers a very immersive storyline for each of the different classes in the game.
11Classic: World of Warcraft
World of Warcraftis still the reigning king of MMOs, but subscriptions had been on a downslide since theCataclysmexpansion. After literally years of fans hounding them for a version of the old game, Blizzard finally caved in, andWoW Classicwas released in 2019.
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Released as close to the 2004 original version as modern tech would allow, the success of this revamp has prompted the announcement of an upcoming expansion.The Burning Crusadeis expected to appear in the next few months, and there’s even talk ofWoW Classic+servers in Barrens chat these days.
10Maplestory
Maplestoryis another extremely long-running MMORPG that plays more like a side-scroller. It’s really unique and a ton of fun for anyone looking for a cute chibi-like game that has a ton of content. It was released back in 2003 and has changed a lot since the initial release.
Maplestorylost a lot of its player base in recent years but still has a fairly big fanbase. There’s also a sequel calledMaplestory 2that plays a bit differently and has a lot of newer features and content available.
9Final Fantasy 14
Final Fantasy XIVis a very popular game that has had a rapidly growing player base since the release ofA Realm Rebornin 2013. It has amazing visuals and a very immersive storyline that has countless hours of content.
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It’s an MMORPG that every fan of the genre should try at least once to see if it’s something they are interested in. One of the most interesting features in the game compared to other MMORPGs is that one character can be any class in the game. This is a really unique change in the genre as most games require the player to have multiple characters to try out different classes.
8Destiny 2
Destinyis no stranger to the MMORPG genre. The franchise is extremely popular on both consoles and PC and has received a ton of content updates throughout both the first game and its sequel.
No plans to release a third game have been announced as of yet, and a new expansion is on the way forDestiny 2that will add plenty of brand new missions, loot, raids, and so much more. The game can be a bit uninteresting to play alone but it is a blast with friends. There are also plenty of online communities to do raids and multiplayer content.
7Anarchy Online
Released in 2001 and still going strong,Anarchy Onlinebasedin a sci-fi world rather than one based on Western mythology. It was produced by a company based in Norway and predates most of the entries on this list. Players assume the role of colonists on a hostile planet known as Rubi-Ka, populated by demonic aliens and dotted with ancient ruins and harsh geography. In addition to other quests and activities, their main goal is to find and collect a mineral called Notum while they advance their various skills.
6Elder Scrolls Online
For those looking for theirElder Scrollsfix while they wait for the next main game to be released,TheElder Scrolls Onlinecan fill that void. It’s quite similar toSkyrimvisually and takes a lot of the locations, races, and abilities from previous games.
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The Elder Scrolls Onlinehas a growing community that exists on both console and PC and offers a ton of content with more being added annually. It’s great for both casual players and for those looking for a more hardcore experience.
5Blade & Soul
Fans of anime should look no further, asBlade & Soulis the perfect MMORPGfor those looking for a martial arts-inspired game with amazing visuals and plenty of content.
The game is fairly unique compared to other entries in the genre and plays quite a bit faster than most of them. It’s a welcome change for players that aren’t a fan of slow combat systems in other MMORPGs and are looking for more fluid and engaging action.
