MMOs have come a long way as many of the older ones have become icons of the industry. Many games that people thought would never last are still around. MMOs allow players to be able to explore fully fleshed-out worlds while creating a character that is unique to themselves.
This list aims to explore the best MMOs that have been created. Some of these are seasoned MMOs that have been able to expand far beyond what people thought was capable at their release. Others are newer but have a lot of potential in what they can bring into the MMO world.
10 Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online has one of the best character creations in gaming as it allows for every part of a character to be customized. There are also a lot of different classes to choose from that have their own move sets -- though a lot of them can feel similar in weaponry. The game is also huge and allows players to freely roam its setting.
It's a great MMO, but there is a lot that's still missing from it as the huge world can feel a little empty without the inclusion of any raids besides one in the end game.
9 New World
New World takes elements from MMOs, difficult RPGs, and survival games to create a memorable game and something new in the MMO world. The graphics are gorgeous, and the PVP can bring about a large sense of joy. It also introduces interesting aspects like three warring factions and a player-driven economy.
The game has a lot of good qualities, but the survival elements make it feel like a lot of the areas are forcing players to grind for the sake of grinding. The sad thing about that is that some of the best parts of the game -- like the massive-scale PVP battles -- are hidden behind dozens of hours of grinding.
8 Lost Ark
Lost Ark changes the MMO genre by offering an isometric top-down view of the character. The game plays a lot like Diablo III with different attacks flowing in and out of each other naturally. There are also a lot of character customization options available for players' classes.
There are 5 total classes, and each of them can subclass, allowing for the replayability of this game to be extensive. Lost Ark's combat can get a little dry after a while, but the different settings that it introduces to the players are enchanting. The scale of this game is huge, which makes its future brighter as the game has only been out since 2019.
7 Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 has done a great job at staying around when many people thought that it might have faded into obscurity after its initial release. The game has had three large expansions so far, and there are plans for many more expansions to come.
The game has had almost 10 years to grow and has done quite well. It feels a lot sillier than other MMOs, but it's also just as epic in the battles that it brings forth in the genre.
6 Star Citizen
Star Citizen began releasing the game for testing back in 2015, and despite having a devout following, it is still in development. Right now, the game has a lot of going for it, though a lot of polarizing opinions surround it. Some people believe it to be one of the best sci-fi MMOs to have ever existed. Others believe that the game is never actually going to release due to how long it's been in alpha. Both sides have some valid points.
The game is massive and has true deep space exploration as players can fly from orbit onto planets that have specific objectives. The different biomes of the planets are interesting as some are only survivable for certain periods, and space combat is done very well.
5 DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online allowed everyone to play out their superhero or supervillain dreams. It has 15 different power types, allowing players to use iconic powers found throughout DC. The game's graphics are a bit behind the times compared to many modern-day MMOs, but some powers are striking in their use and appearance.
The leveling can be a little bland at first, but as players start to become more powerful, the game opens up a lot more. Additionally, how players traverse maps using their powers makes them feel like they are truly super. It's fun to scale buildings or fly above areas.
4 Old School RuneScape
Old School RuneScape holds a very special place in the hearts of many people as it brought back the RuneScape style that many originally knew and loved. The wonderful part about this MMO is that the graphics allow it to have a great phone port that lets players run the game smoothly on the go.
The game is free to play, but when players buy a membership, they can expand the scope of the game. It is simple to play and jump into, which makes it easy to sit back and relax while playing. Players also can customize their character however they'd like to as there is no real class system.
3 The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online is a fairly non-linear MMO -- much like previous Elder Scroll games -- as there is a lot that the player can do right from the get-go. The game allows the player to freely select the quests that they take on. Those quests are always great to come upon as they have full stories that accompany them.
The different areas level scale with the players, allowing players to freely enjoy the story at a simple pace. The arenas are where things start to get more interesting as these can be set to higher difficulties. This provides challenges for players who want more than beautiful scenery and simple quests.
2 Final Fantasy XIV
Despite being an MMO, Final Fantasy XIV still manages the iconic feel of its Final Fantasy predecessors. There is a great story to unfold in a lot of the solo playing experiences. The game also offers large-scale battles to be fought in the game's PVP.
After its fourth expansion, Endwalker, the game is still thriving and bustling with life. This is an MMO experience that has listened to fans since its release and created a game worth playing.
1 World Of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is without a doubt the true GOAT of MMOs. The game has everything that every other MMO on this list has and so much more. This is because the game has been around since 2004 and still manages to push out content.
World of Warcraft has some of the best Raids and gameplay that is constantly changing to try and stay up to date with the times. The graphics are something that the developers are consistently updating, and the fans usually get what they want from expansions. Outside of combat, there are city-building aspects, a taming and creature-battling system, and so much more. The WoW world is one of endless discovery.