Updated at: 23-02-2023 - By: Leo Hall
The best massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) for PC and console, compiled for MMO fans.

Have you ever pondered, “What exactly constitutes a fantastic MMO?” Do you mean extremely large areas? Exciting cooperative games with other participants? Or, perhaps, you’re just grinding for the best loot.

The best massively multiplayer online games cater to players of all backgrounds and interests.

In this article, we’ll cut to the chase by highlighting the top MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) for PC and console in 2022.

If your favorite massively multiplayer online game (MMO) isn’t on this list, don’t worry; we plan to add more in the near future.

New World

Windows Is The Platform

It’s unusual for a brand new massively multiplayer online game (MMO) to gain popularity so quickly, but when Amazon released their online RPG New World in late 2021, it did.

The game takes place in the 1600s and tasks players with establishing themselves in a dangerous and mythical world inspired by colonial America.

Free roaming on the mystical island of Aeternum allows players to engage in combat, collect resources, and scavenge the landscape for hints about their next quest.

The New World has a real-time PVE and PVP combat system without the need for a monthly fee or class-based weapon system.

New World on Steam

Dual Universe

Windows Is The Platform

The new space-based MMORPG Dual Universe is available for subscription and looks promising.

It allows players to build permanent structures in an ever-changing universe, such as vehicles, ships, buildings, and even entire cities.

Furthermore, the game’s economy, politics, trade, and warfare systems are all player-driven, making for a rich and dynamic gaming experience.

While large-scale games often suffer from technical issues like server downtime, Dual Universe has thus far provided a glitch-free experience that seamlessly links players in real time.

Final Fantasy XIV

PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5

Due to its well-rounded approach to storytelling, gameplay, and visuals, Final Fantasy XIV has been credited with revitalizing the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre.

Fishing raids, city restoration projects, and new variants of existing raids and trials are just a few examples of the new systems and events introduced in subsequent updates, which have also served to further expand the game’s world.

The story is also elevated in the latest Shadowbringers expansion, with greater stakes and characters you’ll want to root for.

The amount of detail and variety in FF14’s world will keep you entertained, even if the end-game crafting can feel a bit tedious.

Black Desert Online

System Requirements: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Black Desert Online’s grind is a little heavier than we’d like, but the game’s satisfying combo-based combat and adaptable career paths more than make up for it.

Depending on one’s location and the available resources, one can pursue a number of different professions, such as merchanting, fishing, mass production, and more.

BDO’s automated workers, who farm materials and improve over time to unlock unique skills, are a feature we’d love to see in more massively multiplayer online games.

Guild wars occur every week in the game, pitting teams against one another for the chance to win unique rewards.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Environment: Windows

When compared to other massively multiplayer online games, Star Wars: The Old Republic stands out due to its innovative branching narrative that varies depending on the player’s chosen class.

There’s a lot of variety in the stories because there are eight of them, and each one is exciting in its own way.

As BioWare has consistently released new content for the game in the form of expansion packs, this feature has only improved over time.

New quest areas, storylines, and more have been added in the most recent Onslaught update.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Mac.

The Elder Scrolls Online is another game that does a wonderful job of using its downloadable content (DLC) expansions to tell complete stories.

Anyone interested in the series’ backstory and who would like to experience key moments through voice-acted side quests should play this game.

In case that isn’t enough to hook you, ESO also has player-versus-player combat, the ability to create your own custom home, and limitless opportunities for exploration.

The level-scaling introduced in the One Tamriel update makes exploring dangerous endgame zones possible without dying instantly, making grinding a lot less of a chore than it used to be.

The Lord of the Rings Online

Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

It is remarkable that The Lord of the Rings Online can satisfy both diehard and casual fans of Middle-earth.

The game has gone from a subscription-based model to a free-to-play model in 2010, and it continues to receive updates, expansions, and new features and structures.

Although LOTRO is a bit dated now, it still provides many of the features that players of modern massively multiplayer online games have come to expect.

This includes a novel approach to player versus player combat in which a single player takes on the role of an army of orcs, wargs, and other minions of Sauron.

World of Warcraft

Windows and Macintosh

New games keep trying to steal the spotlight from Blizzard’s long-running MMO World of Warcraft, but nothing seems to be able to topple the king.

It’s safe to assume that World of Warcraft will continue to thrive thanks to its widespread popularity and the wealth of its developer.

Blizzard always finds a new way to reel players back in, whether it’s through constant updates that add new features or massive expansions that add new areas, class-specific challenges, and daily quests.

Plus, you can put in as much or as little time as you like into it compared to other massively multiplayer online games on this list.

Tải World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth - Game nhập vai đỉnh cao

RuneScape

Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android are all supported.

Whether you prefer the modern or classic versions of RuneScape, there’s no denying the game’s continued popularity after its initial release in 2001.

The longevity of RuneScape’s design and the regularity of its updates, which add both new content and quality of life enhancements, are to thank for this.

The game’s quest structure and overall progression are very open, allowing you to focus on the parts of the experience that you enjoy the most.

As a result, you can create characters with a wide range of abilities, from generalist to specialist to generalist.

Phantasy Star Online 2

Windows, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch are all supported.

Phantasy Star Online 2 has been out in Asia since 2012, but it won’t be released in the West on PC and consoles until 2020, thanks to a partnership between Microsoft and Sega.

The game boasts an incredible number of players, colorful science fiction worlds, and exciting battles.

The deep lore and complicated ongoing story can be difficult for new players to grasp, but that’s to be expected of any MMO.

Even though PlayStation and Nintendo have officially backed the game, PSO2 is currently only available for play outside of Asia on PC and Xbox.

Guild Wars 2

Windows, Macintosh

Because of its unique take on the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre, Guild Wars 2 stands out from industry heavyweights like World of Warcraft.

The game is free to play and includes a surprising amount of content without additional costs in favor of a subscription model.

The world is meant to feel dynamic and responsive to your actions. This may involve anything from cosmetic tweaks to the world to the unlocking of new quests linked to a selected action.

To a large extent, this makes Guild Wars 2 feel less like an MMO and more like a single-player role-playing game.

Trove

Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One are all supported.

Trove is an innovative mashup of sandbox games and massively multiplayer online games, featuring colorful voxel-based graphics reminiscent of Roblox and Minecraft.

There aren’t as many options for customizing your experience as there are in Minecraft or The Sims 4, but you can still construct your own house (called a “cornerstone”) and outfit it with furnishings, crafting nodes, and portals.

The game offers a large variety of playable character classes, each with their own set of challenges and rewards, including cool late-game perks like mounts that can be ridden and expanded character customization options.

When compared to other massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), Trove’s free-to-play model comes with a staggering amount of included content.

EVE Online

Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh

When it comes to space MMOs, EVE Online is among the best experiences available.

That’s because CCP, the game’s developer, decided to zero in on a few key features rather than create a massive, all-encompassing MMO.

EVE Online is meticulous in its approach to features like its player-driven in-game economy while never losing sight of the importance of the community to the game’s success at every turn.

From interstellar wars to the diplomatic entanglements of multinational corporations and alliances, every facet of the game is rich with detail.

Star Trek Online

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Mac

Cryptic Studios’ massively multiplayer online game (MMO) take on the Star Trek franchise is fun for fans and non-fans alike.

Star Trek Online combines elements of first-person shooters with those of space flight simulators to create a game with a wide range of fun and challenging activities for players to engage in.

You can expect to see spacecraft, alien species, and space hazards that are straight out of the movies, and there will be plenty of nods to the fans as well.

What really stands out, though, is how well it plays out in the game itself, demonstrating that any property can be successfully adapted into a massively multiplayer online game.

PlanetSide 2

Both Windows and the PlayStation 4 are supported.

Even though PlanetSide 2 isn’t as popular as it once was, it was once hailed as a top free-to-play massively multiplayer online shooter.

You play as a soldier on the planet Auraxis, which is a part of a single, interconnected world that is constantly at war.

It’s largely a rehash of the original PlanetSide, albeit with a few niftier tweaks to the population caps and overall feel of the game.

While player counts aren’t what they once were, PlanetSide 2 has been steadily growing in popularity ever since the Escalation update came out.

Final Fantasy 14

There have been countless massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) that have contributed significantly to the development of the genre, but many of these games are now quite old and have much lower player counts than they once did. Therefore, this list prioritizes MMOs that are just getting started as opposed to those that are winding down or have already reached their end. Check out our short MMO history if you’re interested in learning more about the origins of the genre.

Despite our enthusiasm for every game on this list, if we had to pick just one MMO to recommend in 2022, it would be Final Fantasy 14. With its stunning visuals, captivating story, robust features, excellent dungeons, and consistently great updates, Final Fantasy 14 comes close to being the perfect massively multiplayer online game. There has also never been a more ideal time to begin. Final Fantasy 14’s latest expansion, Endwalker, was released at the end of 2021, and it served as the game’s rousing climax to its comeback saga.

Mollie explains that Endwalker is the result of the many failures, lessons, and successes that were encountered while making Final Fantasy 14. Players are more appreciative than ever, and the game truly feels like the final chapter in the 11-year Hydaelyn-Zodiark saga and in Square Enix’s history. Everything about Final Fantasy 14 in Endwalker demonstrates how far the series has come. ”

This is not to say that Final Fantasy 14 is a flawless MMORPG. The endgame of Final Fantasy 14 can get boring if you’re not into crafting or building houses, so choose your MMORPG experience wisely. In 2022, however, it stands head and shoulders above other massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) thanks to its beautiful world, touching stories, and extensive content.

Dual Universe

Like Minecraft and No Man’s Sky combined, Dual Universe is a sandbox MMO with a grand vision, but in this case the worlds are all connected. It’s been in the works for quite some time, and is now available in beta to paying customers. This MMO takes place in space, and it uses some pretty impressive technology, especially for its ability to accommodate hundreds of thousands of players in a relatively small area.

Dual Universe’s mechanics are similar to those of sandbox survival games like Empyrean or Space Engineers. Everything can be destroyed, and the design of vehicles and spaceships is left entirely up to the player (given sufficient resources, knowledge, and skill, of course). But the cool thing about Dual Universe is that it places that tried-and-true survival sandbox in a vast galaxy where entire player alliances can work together or against one another. Ship designs can be sold to other players, and a LUA-based scripting language allows players to automate machines in-game (such as autopilot protocols or advanced security systems) for profit. Dual Universe aims extremely high, and if it’s successful, it could be the genre’s next great leap forward.

Palia

Palia adds a unique spin to the massively multiplayer online game genre. It is neither an action game nor a role-playing game, nor does it take place in outer space. This massively multiplayer online game (MMO) is a social simulation, similar to Stardew Valley. The trailer for Palia suggests that the game will feature resource gathering, gardening, and decorating. The website boasts that it combines “elements of open world adventure games” with “cooking, fishing, and romance.” This is one to keep an eye on if you’ve ever wished for Animal Crossing to launch as a massively multiplayer online game. As of early 2022, Palia is still in closed beta testing with a release date not yet announced.

World of Warcraft

The official date of release is now set for November 23, 2004.
Maker: Blizzard
Subscription pricing with optional add-ons

World of Warcraft has had more of an impact on the MMORPG genre and the video game industry as a whole than any other game. World of Warcraft has been out for a while, but it still manages to surprise players. The expansion’s new Shadowlands features a blend of ambitious new systems and one of the MMO’s best endgames to date, transporting players back to the halcyon days of World of Warcraft’s inception.

World of Warcraft has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for challenging dungeons and raids, intense PvP combat, or a charming world to explore. Shadowlands features a wide variety of one-of-a-kind content, such as the randomly generated roguelike dungeon Torghast. Timewalking is a fun event that allows you to return to dungeons from previous expansions in search of sweet loot, and World Quests are a great way to get some real work done in even a short amount of game time.

The current state of World of Warcraft is a little confusing. It’s a common problem in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) like World of Warcraft that the game wants to do two things at once: welcome new players and bring back old ones by helping them get caught up, while also keeping regulars occupied with an endgame grind. Regardless, World of Warcraft is still a top-tier MMORPG.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Time of Publication: April 4, 2014
Zenimax Online Studios, Inc.
The game is a buy-to-play title with downloadable content.

Years after its initial release, The Elder Scrolls Online has established itself as a top-tier massively multiplayer online game (MMO). That’s in no small part due to the regular releases of high-quality paid expansions that have made previously inaccessible parts of Tamriel accessible. ESO has boldly opened up never-before-seen countries like the high elf kingdom of Summerset and the Khajiit homeland of Elsweyr, but Morrowind fans can return to Vvardenfell, home of the dark elves, in Morrowind.

Separate narratives and frequently rewarding optional objectives are highlights of each of these DLC additions. So much of Elder Scrolls Online’s story is told through excellent voice acting and entertaining quests that it’s hard not to recommend it to anyone who considers themselves a lore nut.

If that isn’t your cup of tea, you can always build your own custom mansion, engage in chaotic three-on-three PVP, or simply go wherever your wanderlust takes you. You can now approach even endgame zones at any level thanks to level-scaling, introduced in the One Tamriel update.

Secret World Legends

The date of the release is set for June 19th, 2012.
Funcom is the creator.
Method of Sale: Freemium with Downloadable Content

Everyone in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre can learn from The Secret World’s approach to storytelling. Not only does it forego a traditional fantasy style in favor of a more realistic one, but it also manages to coherently weave together a wide variety of topics, from the Illuminati to vampires. Borrowing from Lovecraft and The Matrix is not something you see in every MMORPG, and even fewer of them pull off successfully. A strange page-turner that will have you digging deep to figure out all of its mysteries, The Secret World is up there with Lovecraft’s finest work.

The investigation missions in The Secret World are the best example of the game’s dedication to storytelling, as they require players to put on their detective hats and scour the web for hints in order to solve puzzles. For that missing link, you’ll scour Wikipedia articles and obscure web forums. Due to player feedback, many of the game’s flaws, including its combat system, were addressed in the relaunch of The Secret World as Secret World Legends. While not perfect, the update significantly improves the experience for newcomers to The Secret World.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

December 20th, 2011 – Date of Publication
Originator: BioWare
Format of Purchase: Free to Play with Downloadable Content

Some people were initially put off playing The Old Republic because of the game’s awkward beginnings, when it seemed to be struggling to find its own identity. It attempted to fill two distinct niches—as a sequel to the beloved Knights of the Old Republic and a competitor to World of Warcraft—but ultimately succeeded at neither. But like its setting, those times are long gone, and the modern Old Republic is much more enjoyable thanks to a honed focus on what it’s always done best: telling a great story.

Unlike most massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), The Old Republic’s main game features eight unique class stories, all of which are exciting and enjoyable in their own right. The Old Republic has some of the best storytelling ever seen in an MMO, whether you want to sex your way across the galaxy as a seductive imperial agent or just kill everyone as a Sith warrior. BioWare invested heavily in producing high-quality voice acting, and it showed. The graphics in The Old Republic are unparalleled.

Recent years have seen a number of expansion packs released for The Old Republic, each of which adds to the game’s core experience while telling its own unique and fascinating story. In addition, unlike other MMOs where you have to grind for levels, in SWTOR you can simply rush through the story missions in rapid succession, much like a single-player RPG. I think it’s fantastic.

BEST SANDBOX MMOS

Theme parks have their benefits, but not everyone enjoys being herded around. While some of us prefer to slow down and appreciate the scenery, others seek only to crush the flowers on their way to becoming a space dictator over thousands of real players. Sandbox massively multiplayer online games are great if you’re the type who enjoys building a sand castle only to destroy it later. Those seeking a more laid-back experience should look elsewhere, but for those eager to seize the opportunities presented by the Internet, there has never been a better option.

The Best Sandbox Games in 2022 | Updated - G2A News

EVE Online

Date of Publication: May 6, 2003
Originator: CCP Games
Freemium, or “free with premium,” refers to the game’s pricing structure.

EVE Online is the only name you need to know when discussing cutting-edge sandbox massively multiplayer online games. EVE has been around for 18 years, which is long enough to fill a textbook (and sort of has) on how to lose faith in humanity. Over a decade of war, betrayal, and scandal, it earned a reputation as a heartless and uncaring universe. This culture of austerity has, however, also given rise to a unique kind of brotherhood that can’t be found anywhere else.

There will be times when you sit there staring at the screen in EVE Online, bewildered, because the game is so convoluted and difficult to understand. CCP Games has made a lot of effort to make EVE more accessible, but the pain of defeat is the best teacher. The good news is that a free-to-play version of EVE Online was released a few years ago, allowing players to explore the game’s sandbox environment with a condensed set of available ships and abilities. Because of this, free players now have access to a wider variety of ships than ever before.

Those who stick with it will unlock a universe of opportunities, and that has always been EVE’s crowning achievement. It is a living world where those with ambition can succeed, even if it means stabbing those who trusted them in the back.

Black Desert Online

Official Date of Publication: March 3, 2016
Pearl Abyss, the creator
Method of Purchase: Pay-to-Win

Black Desert Online doesn’t do much to dispel the common perception of Korean MMORPGs as soul-crushing grindfests, but it does offer a groundbreaking level of crafting depth. Active, combo-based combat is a lot of fun, but that’s not all this dynamic sandbox MMO has to offer. You could go into business, fish commercially, or devote your life to creating a massive beer production empire.

The intricate node system in Black Desert Online is responsible for all of this. Properties in cities can be bought and renovated into businesses like blacksmith shops, fisheries, and storage facilities, while nodes in the wilderness can be explored and mined for resources. Instead of doing everything yourself, you can outsource the laborious tasks to automated workers who gain experience and develop their own unique set of skills. While the learning curve may be steep for newcomers, the freedom it affords is unparalleled and sets it apart from other works in the genre. The rewards of spending an evening improving your farms and training your workers can be on par with those of killing one of Black Desert Online’s ferocious world bosses. If that doesn’t pique your interest, the node system is also the basis for weekly guild wars, in which guilds compete to conquer various nodes for special bonuses, making BDO a fantastic option if you’re keen on PVP as well.

BEST PVP MMOS

It’s entertaining to complete quests and raids, but there’s nothing like triumphing over an opponent in a battle of wits and skill. Battle royales are a time-honored tradition in massively multiplayer online games, and they continue to be pursued by those with the steel will to learn and master a game’s complex systems. The games’ fantastic, innovative combat systems provide gamers with a satisfying challenge and reward those who share a passion for competition. You can use these massively multiplayer online games to slake your thirst for blood in a variety of ways, from plotting sieges on enemy strongholds to engaging in one-on-one duels. Sadly, Warhammer Online has been shut down.

Guild Wars 2

The official release date is August 28th, 2012.
Producer: ArenaNet
Downloadable Content (DLC) and Pay-to-Play Model

Few massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) will ever be able to match the quality of player-versus-player combat in Guild Wars 2. If you’re looking for a more classic PvP battle, structured PvP gives you the option to compete in team deathmatch and objective-based modes that put a premium on skill and teamwork. There is also a mode called “world versus world,” in which players from multiple servers join forces to fight on massive maps. You won’t need to grind for a hundred hours to participate in the kind of fantastical fulfillment you dreamed of as a child if that fulfillment was taking part in sieges and other large-scale battles.

Fun in Guild Wars 2 is rooted in the game’s action combat, which places a premium on dodging and movement over memorizing complex skill rotations. You can choose from a wide variety of flashy abilities as you dodge in and out of your opponents’ range. Each playable class offers a wide variety of play styles, providing plenty of raw material for theorycrafters to shape into their ideal composition. There’s no denying that PvP took a hit from various balancing problems with the release of the new expansion, Path of Fire, but ArenaNet is already making adjustments that will, hopefully, continue to keep Guild Wars 2 at the top of the dogpile.

FAQS:

What is the number 1 MMO game?

World of Warcraft is unique in that it has been out for more than a decade and is still the most played massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) worldwide. There have been many transformations during WoW’s long reign. Players can now go back in time, and there are also new classes, races, graphical updates, and continents to explore.

Are MMOs still popular?

There have been a number of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) released in the past few months, and many older MMOs are still receiving updates and new content. The massively multiplayer online game is still very much alive. Not at all! If the games released this month are any indication, MMOs are far from being extinct.

Why is MMORPG not popular?

But there are a few things at play here that explain why the genre lost steam: There may be a part to play for player bias. Due to the time commitment required for MMOs, there are bound to be fans of a given title who refuse to try anything else and will likely speak ill of any other MMO, regardless of its quality.