MMORPGs, otherwise known as Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, are huge online games that allow players to create their own path, level up, complete unique quests and more. It is the closest a gamer can get to creating their own virtual life, with a sort of fantasy twist.
Many MMORPGs have been released over the years, but only a few have been able to take the title of the greatest MMORPGs of all time.
The Greatest MMORPGs of All Time
The appeal that MMORPGs bring to gamers is the ability to spend endless hours on a game and still be able to find new adventures. Many of these games have been constantly adding in new quests, maps and more for players to explore over the years.
Quite a few MMORPGs follow the fantasy-medieval trope, which puts players in vast and expansive worlds, allowing them to choose whether they fight with a sword, magic or some other type of combat style.
What makes MMORPGs so unique though, is the ability for a player to create their own story. Yes, these games all have quests that every player can complete, but with so many added into the game, it would be almost impossible to complete everything. This allows players to pick and choose when developing the storyline for their character.
So which MMORPGs would be considered the greatest of all time?
5. Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls series is easily one of the most popular video game series of all time. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been a defining game over the last decade. Luckily, Bethesda has turned that love for the popular RPG into their very own MMORPG, Elder Scrolls Online.
During the beginning of its release, Elder Scrolls Online was not received as well as some of the other games that made this list. Still, though, despite being poorly reviewed, the game continued to release new content, which made it much more successful over time.
Elder Scrolls Online allows players to explore the depths of the different lands in the Elder Scrolls series, with many new quests and DLCs being released quite often.
4. Lost Ark
Released in 2019, Lost Ark made the perfect blend of fantasy and adventure. While some of the characters may be a bit more over the top compared to a game like Elder Scrolls Online, Lost Ark was still very well received by MMORPG players.
Lost Ark has a lot of depth, which is what makes the game so great. It also took upwards of $85 million to develop, making it one of the more expensive MMORPGs to create. While money isn’t everything, this still goes to show how much work and time was put into this massive game.
Wield a sword or fight with magic in Lost Ark, one of the best and most popular MMORPGs of all time.
Related: Elder Scrolls Almost Had Its Own ‘New Vegas’
3. New World
New World was a breath of fresh air for MMORPG players. The game goes back to the roots of the popular gaming genre, giving players more realistic graphics and a semi-more-realistic take on the medieval genre.
New World quickly rose to popularity upon its release. Some of the biggest streamers, including Shroud, SypherPK and more were regularly playing the game for a few months, making their viewership on Twitch and YouTube insanely high. While the game might not be as popular as it was when it was first released, it still has a decent player base going into 2024.
Beware though, the game still has monsters, curses, magic and more that players will have to deal with. New World is by far one of the greatest and most immersive MMORPGs of all time.
2. World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft has been around since 2004, making it the grandfather to many other MMORPG titles. What is even more absurd is the run this game has had. Yes, like all the other MMORPGs on this list, it mixes fantasy with a medieval-styled world, but the game has also still been releasing updates.
With so many memorable moments, such as the infamous “Leroy Jenkins” meme, World of Warcraft has found itself quite popular within pop culture. A live-action movie was even made based on the game and shows like South Park have dedicated entire episodes to the popular MMORPG.
Yes, a game that was released in 2004 is still adding new content to the game and acquiring new players every day, making it one of the greatest MMORPGs of all time.
1. RuneScape
Released even earlier than World of Warcraft, RuneScape became known quickly as one of the greatest and most popular games of all time. In fact, despite the game receiving updates to graphics and more, many still prefer to play Old-School RuneScape, which features the classic graphics seen in the 2001 release of the game.
What makes RuneScape so popular still is its accessibility. The game needs very little hardware to run, making it a great game to play on the go on your laptop or mobile device. Also, unlike World of Warcraft and others, there is no subscription needed to play RuneScape. It is entirely free to play.
RuneScape remains one of the most popular MMORPGs and simply one of the most popular video games in 2024, making it the best MMORPG of all time.
