5 Best MMORPG Games of All-time, Ranked

The popularity of MMORPGs among audiences is fascinating. They have been built in such a way that people cannot resist coming back to update the latest version. Even when you are not playing, every second feels like an unending competition with virtual enemies. Our time is our greatest investment here, as MMORPGs have an unending cycle of challenge and reward keeps us engaged and entertained.

MMORPGs are versatile because of the different roles they can offer to the audiences. The fact that they can be played on consoles, computers, and even mobile devices makes MMORPGs the popular choice of many young players.

On the same note, we explore the best MMORPGs of all time.

Top 5 MMORPG Games, Ranked

From Elder Scrolls to EVE Online, here are the best MMORPG titles ranked.

1) World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft, released about two decades ago in 2004, was a genre-defining experience for users. In no time, it had successfully captured a player base of millions.

Several aspects of the game like character death mannerisms reduced pause time in combat and rested bonus, were considered unique and were highly praised by critics and reviewers. Players particularly appreciated the characterization, world design, and background music of the World of Warcraft.

World of Warcraft follows the setting of Warcraft III and has several similar aspects and elements. Players have a vast map where they can do whatever they want. Players can customize their characters, power them up, follow the main storyline or play side quests, and even install other add-on items.

The game has won several awards, including the Editor’s Choice Award, Best MacOS X Entertainment Product, Best Computer Game of 2004, and more. Overall, World of Warcraft is a perfect open-world MMORPG for fans of the particular category.

2) Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

For ages, Final Fantasy has been a popular MMORPG franchise. However, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is probably a unique offering from the series.

Upon its release in 2013, the game became a massive hit. The title sold so well that it revived Square Enix’s fiscal position and remains the publisher’s best-selling game. Over the years, Final Fantasy XIV has received four Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker.

Final Fantasy XIV was an improvement over its original version. Critics praised the gripping story and responsive NPCs.

The character mechanics have been retained from the original game. Players can equip attributes of different classes with a single character. The visuals and gameplay were praised by most of the critics. Overall, Final Fantasy XIV feels comfortably familiar and yet, awes players with its polished quality and smooth gameplay.

3) EVE Online

CCP games published the space-based MMORPG game in the year 2003, and to this day, it remains one of the most notable MMORPGs of all time. EVE takes place 21,000 years into the future. With an intergalactic theme, players get to explore over 7,800 star systems. But exploring the vast ecosystem and indulging in PvP and PvE combat is just a small part of the game.

As a player, you can take up various professions and carry out activities like mining, piracy, manufacturing, and much more. This might give you an idea of intricate and complex EVE Online is.

A notable event in EVE's history is the Battle of B-R5RB, which happened in 2014. Also known as the Bloodbath of B-R5RB, the massive online battle is possibly the largest PvP MMORPG battle ever. It was joined by over 7,548 player characters and went on for more than 21 hours.

Interestingly, EVE Online received mixed reviews when it came out, only to gain massive recognition later on. The game received its first award for best graphics in the year 2003. Over time, it bagged 13 rewards consecutively from 2005 to 2011, from www.MMORPG.com.

4) Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars has been a popular franchise ever since it debuted. The multimedia series has been the subject of movies, TV shows, and video games. With such a fascinating outer-space universe and iconic characters, there was bound to be an MMORPG game.

Set in the Star Wars universe, the game follows the events where peace is established between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Players can join the Sith or the Republic, but they can have different morality. The game features eight classes, and each class has a three-act storyline. Depending on your play style, you can pick the class that suits your style the most.

So when Star Wars: The Old Republic came out in 2008, it became an instant hit. The game had a gripping plot, voice acting, and a captivating storyline. The critics lauded the game and fans went crazy. The game had received positive feedback, with one million subscribers within three days of its release. This made it the ‘world’s fastest-growing MMO’ ever.

5) Elder Scrolls Online

Developed by ZeniMax Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks, Elder Scrolls Online was a 2014 MMORPG, a title from the Elder Scrolls series. The game is set in the land of Tamriel and indirectly connects to the other storylines of the series.

The Elder Scrolls Online offers a vast open world, where players get to choose from different classes of characters and abilities, with various quests and random events. Most of it features nonlinear gameplay, with no single-player offline mode.

The game had received mixed reviews initially due to the mandatory subscription model, which faced plenty of criticism. However, the game was re-launched in March 2015 with a buy-to-play model and micro-transactions. The developers had removed the mandatory subscription model.

This time the game bagged two awards- the Outstanding Video Game and 30th GLAAD Media Awards. The critics were no more complaining. By the end of 2021, the game had sold 18 million copies.

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