Video games take up an insane amount of time, but some genres are far more time consuming than others, especiallyMMORPGs, which require a lot of questing and grinding. There is often no way around this, as players usually have no other way to acquire better gear and weapons for end-game content. The most popular MMO is without a doubtWorld of Warcraft,and many developers have tried to replicate its level of popularity with their own games, but no one has come close.
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They may be time-consuming, but MMOs are incredibly popular, which is why there are so many out there. When there are so many options, some games are bound to fall by the wayside for a variety of reasons, and this list will shine a light on some underrated MMORPGs that deserve a chance.
10Guild Wars 2
There was a lot of hype leading up to the release ofGuild Wars 2in 2012, to the point that some people believed that the game would become a threat toWorld of Warcraft,but the game eventually fell into the ether,which is why it is now free-to-play.
The game still looks good and it is still being updated, which is why there are now thousands of stories for players to experience, and there are plenty of open-world events and battles that players can join at any time. The PvP experience is arguably the best part of the game, especially the World vs. World grand battles that can have hundreds of players involved.
9Albion Online
Albion Onlinelaunched in 2017, and, for an MMORPG that can be played on mobile, it has pretty decent graphics, but its depth and sandbox are also pretty impressive. Yet, what makes this game unique is its modernized gameplay features.
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The game possesses a classless progression system, which means that players can wear whatever armor sets they want, but you can still unlock skills and perks through the Destiny Board. The game’s economy is also completely player-driven, which means that virtually every weapon and house in the game was crafted or built by players.
8Neverwinter Online
Fans ofDungeons & Dragonswill loveNeverwinter Onlinebecause the game takes place in theForgotten Realmsuniverse, which means that it possesses rich and detailed locations, stories, and characters. As far as classes are concerned, they follow the traditional MMO format, but with a fewD&Dcharacteristics.
Last year, the game removed its “Foundry,” which was a content creation system that allowed players to make their own quests and stories, but the game is so rich in story that its removal does not hurt the game too much. The game may feel a bit outdated because of its graphics and mechanics, but it still offers a combat system that requires a great deal of planning.
7Black Desert Online
Black Desert Onlinemay have been released in 2014, but it’s graphics still hold up pretty well, and it boastsan insanely detailed character customization menu which allows you to build the character you want, and this customization is important, as there are 19 unique classes to choose from.
For players who like fast-paced combo-oriented combat,BDOis a must-play experience, and it also sports weekly Guild battles that keep PVP interesting and engaging, as the winning Guild receives a castle which collects currency for an entire week. Players can also enjoy naval combat and adventures.
6Rift Online
InRift Onlineplayers assume the role of an Ascended-a hero who defends the realm of Telara. Players must decide whether they are a Guardian who was chosen by the Gods or a Defiant who forged their own path, and, once that’s done, they can pick one of six races, who each have two skill trees to customize.
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Unlike other MMOs that attempt to put an equal focus on PvP and PvE,Riftfocuses heavily on PvE, and it requires players to actually work together to defeat bosses and seal up rifts that open up at random times throughout the world.
5Wurm Online
In 2012, Swedish developer Code Club AB releasedWurm Online, an MMO that tries to revolutionize the sandbox landscape by granting players an incredible amount of freedom. This freedom involves allowing players to alter the terrain of the map to create their own structures.
Players are also able to construct their own roads and ships or tame and breed animals. Aside from building, this MMO allows players to learn a variety of spells and enchantments which come in very handy when hunting creatures like dragons and forest giants.
4Dungeons & Dragons Online
IfBDOdoes not sound like the optimalD&Dexperience, then players may want to go straight to the source and playDungeons & Dragons Online.The game may have released almost 15 years ago, but it has aged quite well, so much so that some areas look like they could be found inWoWtoday.
The game literally functions like a realD&Dcampaign in which players choose their own race and class, all of whom have their own skills and abilities. HardcoreD&Dfans would love this game because it utilizes lore and locations that they would be familiar with, and seasonedD&Dplayers will also love the idea of being in complete control of their characters.
3Runescape Classic
When Jagex announced that they were closingRunescape, players were left heartbroken, but, a few months later, it was revealed that a slightly newer version of the game was releasing on Android and iOS. In terms of graphics,Runescapeis not that impressive to look at, but what makes the game great is the character customization, questing, and loot grinding.
Players can choose to save people from monsters or simply go fishing and mining, which is a surprising amount of variety for a free mobile game. The game has also received engine improvements and quality of life changes to make the playing experience even more enjoyable.
2Lord Of The Rings Online
There have been quite a fewLord of the Ringsgamesover the years,some of which were really bad, but there are a few that exceeded players' expectations.The Lord of the Rings Onlinewas released in 2007, and it utilizes traditional MMO gameplay mechanics.
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The game allows players to choose between hobbits, humans, dwarves, and high elves, and the story actually connects to events that take place in the realLOTRstory, which makes it the perfect way to expand upon J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy series.
1Star Wars: The Old Republic
The events ofStar Wars: The Old Republicmay no longer be canon, but it still provides players with great stories that take place in a galaxy thatStar Warsfans are very well familiar with. WhenSWTORfirst launched in 2011, it was met with a great deal of criticism, but the developers listened to that feedback and turned the game into something special.
Players can choose to play as aForce-user, trooper, or agent, all of whom have advanced class variantsand their own exclusive storylines. Once players are done with the main story, there is a ton of end-game content available, and BioWare is still releasing content for it-like theOnslaughtexpansion, which was released last October.
