Top 10 MMORPG of All Time

Top 10 MMORPGs

You’ll never feel alone again. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 MMORPGs.

For this list, we limited ourselves to one game per series. We ranked the titles based on quality of play and replay value.

#10: “RuneScape” (2001)

The Guinness Book of World Records recognized this browser game as the world’s largest free MMORPG, and it’s easy to see why. Easy to access from any web browser, and requiring very little processing power, Players travel through the fantasy world of Gielinor on foot, in ships, or via magic spells. There’s no goal in the game, so its up to the players to decide their own fate.

#9: “Lineage II” (2004)

This title’s predecessor was one of the largest MMORPGs ever when it was released, but the sequel managed to dwarf it. You’ll love exploring the three massive kingdoms as one of six races. The intense siege warfare and in-depth leveling system ensure that you won’t run out of things to do. Best of all, the game recently went Free to play if you’re curious to check it out.

#8: “Guild Wars 2” (2012)

This title distinguished itself from other games in the genre at the time, including the original, by featuring a storyline, which responded to players’ actions. Your goal is reunite the adventuring guild Destiny’s Edge to fight undead Elder Dragons. The giant weapons and deadly spell effects make that feat all the more doable. Unlike the class-based play of normal MMORPGS, you’ll act as multiple classes combined into one.

#7: “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn” (2014)

Square Enix brought the classic RPG series onto the current generation of consoles with this title, and … well … it wasn’t always a smooth run. The original version of FFXIV was so bad that Square-Enix literally scrapped the game and started again. Rather glad that they did though, because you’ll love discovering the beautiful wonders of Eorzea, the land that you fight to save from the Garlean Empire.

#6: “Lord of the Rings Online” (2007)

Middle Earth has been explored in of different forms, but with the success of WoW, the one format everyone was surely waiting for was an MMO. Even if you weren’t a fan of the series before this title, you’ll love banding together with other citizens of Middle Earth to fight the evil Nazgul, orcs, and other enemies. Of course If you need a break from fighting, enjoy professions like weapon building and woodworking.

#5: “Dark Age of Camelot” (2001)

You can’t let a little thing like a king dying get you bent out of shape. In this game, the death of King Arthur sets off a war between Albion, Hibernia, and Midgard. You’ll choose which realm you want to fight for, and your realm determines which of the game’s many races you can as. Amazing PvP and siege mechanics garnered the game enormous amounts of devoted fans.

#4: “EverQuest” (1999)

Don’t like the blocky graphics fool you. Ultima: Online may have been one of genre’s biggest pioneer’s but Everquest was the first MMO to put in you in a 3D world to explore. Huge, complex, deep and punishing, Everquest was not for the casual player. But that didn’t stop a legion of devoted subcribers from ever-questing the heck out of all 20 expansions.

#3: “Star Wars: The Old Republic” (2011)

Whether you associate with the Jedi or feel that you’re more of the Sith type, this game’s got what you need.. Taking a page out of Bioware’s Mass Effect series, the morality spectrum allows you to pursue your own goals in fully voiced conversations, a big deal in an MMO. And aside from the usual open adventure, you can also take part in PvP dogfights in spaceships.

#2: “EVE Online” (2003)

Here’s a game that emphasizes “Massive” in MMORPG. The 7,500 star systems make for a seemingly limitless galaxy filled with wormholes, asteroid belts, moons, and more. Unlike other titles in the genre, “EVE” functions as a single universe instead of multiple realms, so you’ll never run out of players to interact with. Also Fun Fact, in the city of Reykjavik(Rey-kev-ick) Iceland. There’s now a monument dedicated to this game, with all the active players name etched in the base.

Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:

#1: “World of Warcraft” (2004)

Was there ever any doubt? The most successful MMO of all time resulted from Blizzard applying their signature perfection-over-innovation style to the Ever quest moddle. By slowly introducing elements to new players and removing a lot of the more frustrating genre tropes, Warcraft hooked millions of subscribers and hasn’t let go. And thanks in part to South Park, it also allowed for Machinima style short films to receive mainstream recognition.

Do you agree with our list? What was your favorite world to get lost in? For more massive top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.