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Play The best MMORPG and top MMOs you should 2023

January 14, 2023
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What is the best MMORPG on PC? In case you’re wondering, those letters are often used to represent the terms Massively Multiplayer Online and refer to games where thousands of players gather together in the same world. Is it the spell to sling and kill monsters? Do they work their way through as a miner or a corporate bigwig? Solving ancient conspiracies and battling Lovecraftian horrors? Maybe it’s all of them.

Ultimately, the best MMORPG on PC largely comes down to personal preference; With that in mind, here’s a list of the top MMOs currently alive and kicking. You’re sure to find something that will consume days at a time, be it the world’s most popular MMORPG, a hidden gem with a dedicated community, or even an MMO based on a popular book series.

The Lost Ark

The hit Korean MMO has finally arrived on the West Coast and we can see what all the fuss is about. What if Diablo was an MMO described in Lost Ark? More than a million players flock to Amazon’s latest project to find the answer. You can read our Lost Ark review to catch our full thoughts.

It’s never winter

Neverwinter is a wonder. It thematically takes locations, classes, spells, and abilities from Dungeons & Dragons, the tabletop game, and then crams them into the best MMORPG. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. It helps that there’s a sincere love for the source material, and every quest feels like something you could imagine yourself sitting around a table with.

A number of free expansions – including new races and classes – have been launched since Neverwinter’s launch, taking players far from the safety of Neverwinter, into lands like Icewind Dale, where barbaric and unwelcoming temperatures are the least of your worries.

A word of warning, though: unless you’re casually approaching the game, you’ll likely have to spend money. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to play for free, though certainly not impossible.

tibia

This game is one of the OG MMORPGs. It predates World of Warcraft and Runescape, both of which owe something to Tibia for laying the foundations upon which they were built. It originally launched in 1997, and while the majority of early MMOs from that era have since shut down their servers and faded into obscurity, Tibia still has a solid fanbase today.

Undoubtedly, part of what makes it last is its charming 2D pixel art visuals. While its contemporaries would probably look pretty shabby by today’s standards, Tibia is a historical example of an art style that modern indie developers are always striving to create. As for the gameplay, you choose your character’s job and then you make your way through its vast, beautiful world – there are quests to complete, monsters to defeat, and a world of mystery and adventure at your feet.

Star Trek Online

Miss Star Trek on TV? Star Trek Online can tide you over until Discovery reappears on Paramount Plus. Each quest in this MMO is like an episode of the show, and each mission series is an arc, complete with the occasional filler episode.

Travel to Risa, watch Star Trek Online DS9, land on planets and practice your diplomacy, or go into exciting space battles with the Cardassians, Romulans, Borg and others who are up to mischief. Space fights are strategic, real-time gameplay, as positioning your ship is key to getting the most out of your firing arcs. With any distant missions that turn into combat, the game becomes a squad-based third-person shooter, complete with ability cooldowns.

Despite a rocky start, STO has grown into a massive, compelling, and free MMO and one of the best space games out there; It’s often expanded by massive updates that add entirely new storylines, and some time ago the neutral Romulan team introduced unique missions and ships.

Speaking of ships, this is what sets this game apart from other MMOs. You’re not just grooming and leveling up a hero, you get an entire crew and a starship to manage and customize.

Roman: Age of Caesar

Do you like a bit of city-building in your MMO? If so, you’re going to love Romans: Age of Caesar because it’s a game that helps you rebuild the Roman Empire. You will work cooperatively with 16 other players and together you must build and maintain a city.

As you play, multiple factions of players will operate in their own cities, and you’ll all be part of a large, interconnected digital empire. Sometimes you have to fight to protect yourself from incoming barbarians, and sometimes you have to build trade routes so you can connect with other cities. This game has a lot to offer and its world is easy to get into.

Wizard101

Looking to lose yourself in an MMO with a short story and deep combat system? Well, look no further than Wizard 101. The game sees you play as a student at the Ravenwood School for Magical Arts and you have to decide whether you want to enroll in the school of fire, ice, storm, myth, life, death or balance – each will allow your character to learn and develop different magical abilities. to do, all of which will drastically affect how you approach combat.

You’ll end up traveling through the fantastical world of Spiral which, in true video game fashion, involves locales ranging from winter wonderlands to arid deserts and countless other environments. The game’s storyline involves you coming up against the school’s former necromancy teacher Malystair. At first, he may seem like a typical evil wizard, but you’ll soon see that his motivations are much more interesting.

Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a heartwarming story of redemption. When it was originally released, it didn’t do very well. Actually, it was terrible. This prompted Square Enix to take drastic measures – ditch the old team, hire a new team, and completely remake Final Fantasy XIV.

The result is a kingdom reborn. And it’s good. It hits everything the series is known for: the epic story of good and evil fleshing it out, diverse, achingly stylish environments, over-the-top characters, flashy cutscenes and chocobos galore. It’s also clever: players have a lot of flexibility within their FFXIV classes. As soon as you hit level 10, you’ll gain the ability to switch to any of the game’s eight combat classes on a weapon switch only. The upside is that players don’t have to create alts to try out other roles.

The Endwalker expansion adds new jobs (Reaper and Sage), locations, instances, and the long-requested male version of the Viera race. However, this is the story that takes center stage, concluding the events that began in A Realm Reborn. Very few MMOs get as many quality updates and expansions, so it’s worth coming back if you’ve been away for a while. If you want to know more, check out our FFXIV Endwalker review. If you’re new to the JRPG game, it’s also worth checking out our FFXIV leveling guide.

World of Warcraft

Over a decade old and still the most popular MMORPG game in the world, World of Warcraft is a little special. During its long reign, Wo underwent many changes, introducing several new classes and races; Check out our WoW Dragonflight tier list for a glimpse of the most powerful character combinations possible right now. Over the years, players have also had overhauled graphics, a whole new continent… players can even go back in time. The world is huge, and rich, packed with story-laden quests at every turn.

At times it feels traditional, which isn’t surprising considering it’s the MMO that defined the genre’s modern style, but Blizzard is still mixing things up. The WoW Dragonflight talent system overhaul delivers welcome class complexity that’s guaranteed to shake up the meta, along with career and UI overhauls that are sure to blow the cobwebs out of Blizzard’s venerable RPG game. WoW’s longevity means there is great third-party support with numerous WoW addons to help you on your journey. If we had to crown an MMO as the king of the genre, World of Warcraft would probably be it.

Runescape

Like World of Warcraft, Runescape has been a staple of the MMORPG genre for as long as we can remember. But instead of declining, Runescape continues to grow, both in terms of players and content. New quests and events are launched on an almost weekly basis so that veterans always have something new to experience, while new players enter a world that is already rich with decades of lore and adventure.

Don’t worry about getting stuck with Runescape as its community is one of the most generous and friendly in all of gaming (or you can check out our Runescape beginner’s guide) – whether you’re looking for advice on a complex quest or just a chat afterwards, you’ll find help is always at hand. It’s not just the history that Runescape boasts, with major expansions, a mobile release and countless spin-offs, Jagex’s MMO shows no signs of stopping at all.

Black Desert Online

Black Desert Online received a graphics overhaul in 2018 to remaster the original (and already fantastic) MMO, breathing new life into the game. For what it lacks in smooth dialogue, it’s certainly one of the best character builders around and makes up for it with a gorgeous fantasy world you’ll want to wander around for hours.

Just don’t get too comfortable as there’s a lot of fighting and grinding, so if you’re looking for a relaxing MMO this might not be the game for you. Since Black Desert Online isn’t your average MMO, it can be difficult to get your head around the new system, especially how combat, trade, diplomacy, and resources work. Check out our beginners guide to Black Desert Online if you’re interested in jumping into this MMO full of sword fights and fiery mayhem.

Eve-online

There’s a good chance you’ve already heard about one of the many tales of dark bastardy that came out of Eve’s New Eden. It’s a cold-hearted game of betrayal, mining, economics, more betrayal, more mining and the occasional thousand-man spaceship battle.

With CCP’s hands-off approach, the universe of New Eden is one of the most player-driven MMOs out there. Battles across multiple systems span weeks, if not months. Years of intrigue and sabotage to bring down the giant corporation from within. Reports of massive damage to ships and cargo, some in real world value reaching thousands of dollars. As you can imagine, it’s not the easiest game in the world to learn, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Our very own Eve Online beginner’s guide will show you how to get set up in one of the best MMOs around.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Despite its rocky start, The Elder Scrolls Online is a strong entry for one of the best MMORPGs on PC. The Elder Scrolls games are among the best RPGs around, and now you can immerse yourself even more in the series’ rich and vibrant universe by playing online with friends or complete strangers.

Set 1,000 years before Skyrim and 800 years before Morrowind and Oblivion. The Elder Scrolls Online begins in Coldharbour’s Wailing Prison where, true to Elder Scrolls tradition, the player is a prisoner. After escaping you are free to explore the continent of Tamriel, fight monsters, explore dungeons and forge weapons with fellow adventurers or on your own. With a handful of expansions bringing old and new regions to the game like Murkmir and Somerset, not to mention plenty of planned future DLC releases, the Elder Scrolls Online universe is forever expanding to make for an MMO that always feels fresh.

Destiny 2

In Destiny 2, you take on the role of a pious and steadfast guardian, defending the last city of humanity against anyone or anything that seeks to destroy it. Like most action MMOs, you start by creating your guardian, customizing their face, hair, and body to your satisfaction. There are three classes to choose from – shield-carrying titan, spell-slinging warlock and agile hunter. Each class comes with their own unique abilities, special perks and upgrades to set yourself apart from other players in your class.

Once you’ve decided on your character, you’re left to explore the solar system, uncovering its secrets through engaging missions that you can complete alone or with friends. The valuable loot you uncover on your travels is vital to improving your Guardian’s equipment, but Destiny 2’s story is where it really shines. Its ever-expanding world with seasons, events, and expansions is constantly getting updates, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Trove

Trove is an action-focused MMO, often compared to games like Minecraft, and one of the best building games on PC. First you need to build a base, a home from home, where you can craft all kinds of creatures, weapons and items. Once your homebase is established, you’ll be able to zip around the world and loot dungeons and go on online quests with your friends or guild mates. Trove’s dedicated community is always updating and bringing the best mods to Trove, so whether you’re improving your base or looting with your online friends, there’s always something to do.

ArcheAge

ArcheAge might be a very traditional MMO, with quests, factions, and a completely forgettable story. But what makes this one of the best MMORPGs is that you can just ignore them and go to sea.

The ocean is huge. The fastest ship in the game can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to get from east to west, depending on hazards like storms, eddies, sea creatures, or pirates. There is even a legendary kraken that lives in the northern ocean and can battle it even with 40+ players and ten galleon sized ships, cannons blazing. Deep in the ocean you can find shipwrecks filled with delicious bounty, the most difficult of which require diving gear to reach.

While ArcheAge is free-to-play, a premium subscription is available that offers several perks, including the ability to claim your own land – not, for example, a truly open-world space – on which you can build a home or even an underwater aquafarm full of fish. Alternatively, there’s ArcheAge Unchained, a new standalone version of the game that gives you access to all the benefits of the subscription for a one-time fee.

Regardless of which version you choose, the fantastic world of ArcheAge is the perfect setting to embark on a life of crime on the open seas, where you’re essentially playing a pirate game and everyone else is an unsuspecting sailor – but instead of a parrot, you have a dragon.

Albion Online

If you’re looking for an MMO where you can sit back, relax, do a little crafting, and tend to your farm while occasionally popping out to fight and hunt the odd monster, then Albion Online is not your game.

It’s PvP from the start and that’s why you have to be alert and alert at all times. The full-loot drop system can be a bit frustrating, but Albion Online demands players to be strategic and patient. It’s a lot of fun, and requires brain power and persistence to steer your guild in the right direction, but it’s as rewarding as it is difficult.

Lord of the Rings Online

Tolkien’s world of Middle-earth is a perfect setting for an MMO. It has great characters, a huge world to explore, and everyone is always fighting.

Humans, elves, dwarves and hobbits – aka the good guys – make up the playable races of Lord of the Rings Online, and as hunters or thieves or one of the other classes, you’ll go on your own adventure, half following in the footsteps of the famous Fellowship. Meet the Ents, get lost in Moria or take a long journey through Rohan.

Expansions advance the story by following the books, and each major plot point comes with new mechanics, such as the addition of mounted combat. If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing Tolkien’s world first hand, this MMORPG has you covered. Best of all, it’s free-to-play, making it the perfect RPG MMO to play right now.

The Old Republic of Star Wars

A galaxy far, far away is the perfect setting for one of the best MMOs ever, so it’s no surprise that BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic is a winner. Play as one of eight classes split across empires and republics. Each has a detailed, dramatic story, and they’re good. Surprisingly so.

You can take on the role of an Imperial agent, working for the good of the Empire by rooting out terrorists; A Jedi Knight sworn to hunt down the Sith and protect the galaxy; Or even a slave-turned-Sith inquisitor, playing a dangerous game of politics. You can play all of these for free, but as a subscriber, you can level up faster and focus only on interesting classes and planet quests instead of trite filler garbage.

Several expansions have made it feel reasonably fresh, but it’s the magnificent Knights of the Fallen Empire expansion that’s really worth playing. With its web of intrigue, focus on relationships and player choice, it feels more like a proper Knights of the Old Republic sequel than anything that’s come before. SWTOR is easily one of the best Star Wars games.

new world

New World is as much a sandbox survival game as it is a traditional RPG. It breaks with the typical character creation of other fantasy MMOs – there are no races other than humans, and classes are replaced with trait and skill systems that give you the freedom to experiment with different character builds at your leisure. The New World is set around 1600, so while you can burn plate armor and cast spells with a basic staff, you can also wield a musket or a bunderbus.

The newly discovered, hostile land of Eternum is under threat from The Corrupted, a demonic horde whose presence must be resisted by the forces of good. You can choose to band together and help build and maintain settlements, or head out into the wilderness to face supernatural threats alone. You can craft, quest, and explore across Aeternum, and even wage war in large-scale PvP conflicts as each faction expands and takes over each other’s territory.

And so concludes our list of the best MMORPGs available to play on PC, which in some cases doubles as the best PC games available. Which world you dive into next is entirely up to you. Will you go for one of the free MMOs, or will you splash out on a subscription? Regardless of your preference, know that the best multiplayer games are a ticket to new friends and, of course, new enemies. Choose your battle, create your clan and go on a new adventure. Good luck!

World of Warcraft Classic

If you don’t expect to see World of Warcraft twice on this list, you’re seriously underestimating Blizzard’s juggernaut MMO. Thousands of World of Warcraft veterans are nostalgic for the charm and challenge of the vanilla game, and the launch of WoW Classic granted their every wish. Based on the pre-Flood version of Azeroth, WoW Classic is home to veterans and newcomers alike, enjoying the sense of community that emerges by necessity when you remove dungeon finders and quest markers.

Access to the game is included with a standard World of Warcraft subscription. Even if you’re familiar with the modern game, it takes quite a bit of adjusting to survive the notoriously difficult leveling experience of the classics. While some diehard fans may claim that spending hours in a WoW classic dungeon, running back after a wipeout against the final boss to find that he’s been debuffed and can’t be summoned again is all part of the adventure, they probably want you to. Suffer they did. Instead, learn from their mistakes and prepare yourself thoroughly with our WoW Classic tips for new players. We also have guides for WoW Classic races, and the enviable WoW Classic legendary weapons you can get.

Guild Wars 2

Where World of Warcraft is traditional as an MMO, Guild Wars 2 is the odd, stark contrast. Its design can be seen as an attempt to fix and improve every broken mechanic that has plagued online games, and its success in this regard makes it one of the best MMORPGs you can play.

It has few regular quests: instead players come together to fight in rolling events – short storylines play out depending on how gamers perform. These allow players to work together organically, and also affect the area they’re in, perhaps at least temporarily reducing the threat of roaming monsters. Endgame content continues to evolve through The Living World episodic updates, the latest of which pits the heroes against the dragon Zormag and his icebrood. If you’re not up for that challenge, you can play the low-level adventure without spending a dollar, as the core game is now completely free.