Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) have dominated the video game industry for a long time. It’s a fun way to boost your skills, meet new friends and pass the time. With a lot of great new games in the market, you might have a little trouble choosing one to play. So we’ve rounded up these top picks of the best MMORPG games just for you.
Best MMORPG of 2022
Best Fantasy MMORPG: Age of Conan: Unchained
This free to play MMO is intense and edgy, not for the faint of heart. The game eases you slowly into Robert E. Howard’s Conan universe. You play as a single-player before you enter the town and get to meet other players. The beautiful graphics and audio all add to the ambiance of a dark fantasy world. It’s something definitely worth checking out.
Best Sci-Fi MMORPG: Warframe
Warframe is a third-person shooter space opera. Your objective is to collect resources to build, well, warframes. We’ll admit that it can take a while to get acquainted with the game. But if you’re patient enough to handle the learning curve, it’s pretty great. It only means more time to get the best Warframe experience. Plus, it’s free to play! So you spend all those hours without wasting any money. And did we mention there are space dogs?
Best Action MMORPG: Crossout
If you’re looking for an action-packed dystopian adventure, look no further than Crossout. Game reviewers claim the game is a bit like Minecraft meets Mad Max. An interesting combination fitting its unique gameplay. The objective of the game is to build a vehicle in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The customization options are endless, so you can go crazy. You get to play with a lot of people, and your vehicle design impacts your probability of winning.
Best Combat MMORPG: Runescape
Runescape has aged like fine wine, and for good reason. With every update, the game only gets better and better. In Runescape, you get to discover the world on your own terms. Your choices will dictate what skills your character develops and what they pursue. This old school classic MMO specializes in combat, so this is a perfect choice. You get to fight monsters and complete quests. It’s a great game that has spawned many spin-offs and tie-ins over time.
Best PvE MMORPG: Black Desert Online: Remastered
Black Desert Online is one of the hottest games in the industry right now. You might have to pay a considerable sum for the game, though. But it’s well worth its price. You get to unleash your creativity with its highly customizable character creation. It also exposes you to a rich fantasy world with great graphics.
Best PvP MMORPG: Ragnarok Online
If you’re looking for a staple MMORPG, Ragnarok Online is a classic. It’s been around for ages and a lot of its elements are still great today. It has a dynamic and immersive sound that adds to your gaming experience. The classic graphics aren’t as modern as current MMOs, though. Still, the graphics give off that nostalgic vibe in a way you’ll enjoy.
Best MMORPG Graphics: Final Fantasy XIV
Every new expansion brings Final Fantasy XIV’s rich gameplay to life. It has everything from immersive lore and great characters loyal fans love. FFXIV kicked off its 6th anniversary with the Shadowbringers expansion. Here, you play as the Warrior of Darkness who saves the world from light. It also has a heart-wrenching ending you should watch out for.
Best Casual MMORPG: Neverwinter
If you want to start playing MMORPGs but don’t have too much time to invest, this is for you. Neverwinter gives you plenty of character classes to choose from. The fast-paced game is action-packed and there’s never a dull moment. But, it’s not too high-maintenance either. This game is the perfect choice for those who want to ease into MMORPGs.
Best Open-World MMORPG: Elder Scrolls Online
With its vast worldbuilding and lore, Elder Scrolls remains one of the best open-world MMORPGs of all time. In every interaction and new discovery, you learn more about the Elder Scrolls world. The developers obviously designed the game down to the last intricate detail. You get to battle dragons and monsters. And at the same time, you get to experience their comprehensive lore. The books alone have deep histories and educational material. If you want an immersive game like no other, check out Elder Scrolls Online.
Best VR MMORPG: OrbusVR: Reborn
What says immersive better than a VRMMO? If you really want to get into it, check out OrbusVR: Reborn. The MMORPG goes beyond traditional MMO gameplay. But that’s only because of its unique platform. Reborn is the latest take on the original OrbusVR. In the game, you get to explore new terrain, get classes. Though the graphics could still improve, it’s a good step towards VR gaming.
‘Which MMORPG is for me?’
With an entire world of genres and categories, choosing an MMORPG may be overwhelming. We’ve come up with some criteria to consider when picking out the game for you. We hope this will help you narrow down your choices and find the one that fits you best.
Genre
Trying to categorize an MMORPG into one single genre is ambitious at best. A typical MMORPG will have an overarching genre, and that’s a good place to start. From there, you can figure out what you like and don’t like about these games.
Another thing to look out for is the point of view or POV. Most games come in first person or third person. These are basically indicators of how the game would appear on your screen. First person plays as if you are the character. This is especially common for VR games. Third person means seeing your character on the screen. If you’re the type of person who gets dizzy playing in first person, it’s something to consider.
Graphics
Graphics are a crucial aspect of your gameplay. It’s what you’re going to be staring at for the next couple of hours, right? So if you don’t like the graphics, chances are you’ll play the game less.
One could argue that the best games are the ones you don’t expect it to be. And who knows, you might find your next favorite game if you look past the graphics. But when faced with an array of choices, we tend to gravitate towards aesthetics. (It’s a biology thing.) So, when choosing your game, look out for good character design and beautifully rendered environments. This will give you more immersive game experience. And it’s also really nice to look at.
Platform compatibility
There are so many platforms available to play your MMORPG. Browser-based games let you play on any device, provided that it can support the game. This is a good choice, especially if you’re switching from PC to a laptop. Or, from Mac to Windows.
There are also PC games you can download for your computer. These are applications that you can run through the PC without any need for browsers. It’s less cross-platform friendly but has offline capabilities. There are also games for your gaming consoles and mobile phones.
No matter what platform you use, you can never go wrong with extra protection. If you figure out how to set up a VPN, you’re golden. Especially if you’re thinking about downloading from free sites. We recommend checking out NordVPN for optimal protection.
Where to Get MMORPGs
You can download MMORPGs in a number of ways. Thanks to today’s technology, you don’t have to go out to a physical store to get them. There are online stores with the best games if you know where to look.
If you have a bit more cash, you can open up a Steam account. There is a wide selection of Steam games to choose from. It’s pretty easy to download, plus there are even free games if you look hard enough.
But if you’re on a tighter budget, there are alternatives. You can opt to download from IGG Games, for instance. You’ll find the best MMORPGs for free on their site. They have a wide and diverse library of games to choose from. Note that it is a bit tricky to download from IGG Games. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be gaming the night away.
Why play MMORPGs?
You can have a ton of fun with MMORPGs. And honestly, if you’re reading this article then you already know how fun it can be. But in case you need reminding, here are fun benefits to playing.
Social aspect
The best thing about MMOs, in general, is that you get to play with different people all over the world. A lot of MMORPGs, especially PVPs, let you form a party or clan with other players. This could be a role acting as defense or offense against the mutual enemy. In some cases, you can switch between the two. Joining a party could be a fun way to meet new people.
Escape from reality
Game developers give us a chance to live in alternate universes. You’re basically living a new life in a new world. MMORPGs especially are the best way to escape the hustle and bustle of real life. You could get lost in the vast lore and gameplay of each world you play in. If you’re looking to really distract yourself, this would be perfect.
In our opinion, it’s an experience more immersive than any book or movie can give you. Because here, you get to interact with the people and the world around you.