Looking to hop into a new MMO or MMORPG? In this post, we highlight four of the most popular MMOs and MMORPGs to play right now.
Video games have always been about kicking back with your friends and having a good time. No genre, however, can compare to MMORPGs in terms of bringing players together. From grouping up to take down massive bosses to simply goofing around in the world, there’s a whole host of ways you can enjoy your time in an online RPG. Even today, these massive online games bring hundreds of thousands of gamers together simultaneously, providing ample opportunities to team up and have some fun.
Given how popular the genre is, it stands to reason that it comprises many great titles. But how do you choose which world to dive into when there are so many? In this post, we’ve narrowed the list down to four of the best MMORPGs to dive into in 2022.
World of Warcraft
Available Platforms: PC & Mac
What is World of Warcraft?
World of Warcraft is a game that needs no introduction. At the height of its popularity in 2010, it had 12 million subscribers, the highest amount of any game. While not as popular as it once was, WoW today is still a powerhouse in the MMO space. Its rich and accessible lore, coupled with its easy-to-learn gameplay, has made it an excellent game for anyone to dive into regardless of their gaming expertise.
World of Warcraft takes place in the fantasy world of Azeroth, where two factions, the Horde and the Alliance, battle it out for control. At the same time, they tackle a variety of threats, ranging from otherworldly demonic forces to a long-forgotten king of the undead. Over the years, the game has introduced a vast array of continents and off-world locales, each with its own theme and stories.
Why is WoW worth your time?
WoW’s most significant selling point is and always will be its vast playerbase and ease of entry. Thanks to the Dungeon Finder system, finding players to do anything in this game is as simple as snapping your fingers. While its large number of expansions sounds intimidating to a newcomer, WoW is a pretty simple game to get into. Blizzard has iterated on their new player experience over the years, refining it to the point where putting together a character and diving in head-first is an absolute breeze.
World of Warcraft also has a lot of races and classes to choose from. What’s more is that each class has three further specializations, clocking in at a vast pool of character specs to take your pick. Learning how to play your chosen class is straightforward, so it’s pretty easy to be helpful to your team from the onset.
Finally, WoW has PvE and PvP content, each with its own set of activities that fit any gamer type. If you’re all about that casual life, doing some dungeons and easy mode raids will scratch the itch without taking up too much of your time. On the other hand, hardcore players can cut their teeth in Mythic level raids and competitive Arena matches to test their mettle.
Final Fantasy XIV
Available Platforms: PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, & PS5
What is Final Fantasy XIV?
Once upon a time, FFXIV launched as a subpar MMORPG. After some harsh feedback, it was taken back to the drawing board and, at the hands of a new project lead, rose from its ashes to become a dominant force in the gaming landscape. Based on the popular JRPG series, this bright-colored fantasy MMORPG has all of the makings of a classic—mystical lands, captivating storylines, intense boss battles, and a robust player housing system.
The story of FFXIV takes place in Eorzea, a land divided into four major city-states. Throughout its history, the land has seen periods of conflict and calamity called Umbral Eras followed by times of peace and reflection called Astral Eras. Five years before the game’s events, though, a powerful dark force has taken it upon themselves to kick off the Seventh Umbral Era. As a budding adventurer, you start your journey in one of these major cities and join their Grand Companies to help lead the world back to the next Astral Era.
Why is FFXIV worth your time?
Over the years, Final Fantasy XIV has developed into the most robust and complete MMORPG experience on the market. Apart from the usual dungeons, raids, quests, and PvP activities, the game has plenty of other fun ways to improve your character’s strength, including world bosses and events.
It also doesn’t require you to make multiple characters in order to play other classes. FFXIV employs the series’s legendary Job system, allowing a single character to play as any class. What’s more, crafting and gathering jobs also act as classes that you need to level individually, which means the experience of collecting items and turning them into stuff is genuinely fun.
Fashion is also at the forefront of FFXIV, thanks to the Glamor system. Apart from your stat affecting gear, you can equip items that change your appearance, enabling you to choose outfits that suit your mood and fancy.
Finally, FFXIV’s best feature is its availability on both consoles and PCs with cross-platform play. This means that regardless of your device, you’ll be tapping into the same pool of players as everyone else, making it very easy to find other people to play with.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Available Platforms: PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, & Stadia
What is The Elder Scrolls Online?
The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG set in the popular game series made by Bethesda. If you’re familiar with Skyrim and Morrowind, you likely know what The Elder Scrolls is all about. Like its single-player counterparts, it’s a massive world comprising of several different regions filled with adventures to take on and stories to uncover. Whether you’re familiar with the series or are checking out the world of TES for the first time, this massively online take is a good starting point.
ESO takes place in the land of Tamriel, about a millennium before the events of Skyrim. In the game’s history, this time is known as the Second Era. As you journey through the game’s narrative, you learn of two conflicts taking place simultaneously, one that decides who’ll reign over Tamriel and the other its ultimate fate. When you first start out, you’re looking to recover your lost soul from a being called Molag Bal, a fitting way to kickstart things and get acquainted with your character.
Why is ESO worth your time?
The Elder Scrolls Online uses an action-based combat system that you can make your own. Effectively, every character can use a combination of light attacks, heavy attacks, and abilities combined with skills like blocking, dodging, interrupting, and sneak attacks. On top of that, every character can use whichever weapon and armor type they wish as the game uses the long-praised Elder Scrolls weapon skill system that allows you to level any kind of gear you want.
ESO also doesn’t restrict you regarding where you want to go and who you want to join. Your character’s level and gear will not act as artificial barriers to locations and territories. You can go wherever you want with whoever you wish. The moment you enter a new area, everything is scaled in a way that allows you to take on whatever challenges it has set for you.
Finally, keeping in tune with the player choice theme, ESO has a very gamer-friendly business model. All you need to play is to buy the base game, and you can immediately start adventuring. When you’re ready or have run out of stories to experience, you can purchase additional expansion chapters to carry on adventuring. The game also offers an optional subscription that offers a few quality-of-life goodies, including more bag space.
New World
Available Platforms: PC only
What is New World?
New World is Amazon Gaming’s first foray into the world of MMORPGs. It started off as a mix of classic online RPG and survival elements. Through player feedback, however, the game has shifted towards being more like a proper MMORPG. It takes place on a mystical island called Aeternum, which houses a great and dark power. You are one of many explorers who wash up on its shores in search of a substance called Azoth, which can both corrupt and empower whoever comes into contact with it.
Why is New World worth your time?
One of the critical elements that make New World more unique is its action combat system. Inspired by Dark Souls, the game features combat that foregoes tab targeting in favor of free movement, dodging, block, and parrying. It’s also one of the few games that features player model collision, meaning you can’t pass through other playable characters.
New World also features a robust territory control system that encourages massive player vs. player battles. Exploration and crafting are also crucial elements that you’ll need to master in order to help your faction reign supreme on Aeternum.
