Fans ofMMORPGs, or massively multiplayer online role-playing games, have likely explored their fair share of Azeroth as adventurers inWorld of Warcraftor at least heard of it at some point or another. Unfortunately, not everyone has the means to keep up a subscription to enjoy a massively-immersive online gaming experience. However, does this necessarily mean that there’s no good free-to-play MMO out there?
As it turns out, players might be able to find a multitude of free-to-play MMOs with a lot of compelling features to actively compete against the likes ofWorld of Warcraft. However, players need to do a bit of digging and trial and error to find the perfect free-to-play MMO that meets their needs.
Genre
Fantasy
For a game released in 2008,Age of Conan Unchainedremains both nostalgic and refreshing to play due to its unique premise and combat mechanics. Taking place specifically after the events of Robert Howard’sThe Hour of the Dragon, theConan-set game brings players to the Hyborian kingdoms where swords rule and sorcery is feared. The real world-inspired locales filled with harsh deserts and brutal marshes were visually distinct from the likes ofWorld of Warcraft, and the hardcore brutality cemented the more mature take onUnchainedcompared to most MMOs.
A key aspect ofwhat makesAge of Conan Unchainedquite alluringis its Real Combat system, a melee combat mechanic that facilitates not only damage to body parts but also directional combat. This demand for precision and skill-based gameplay was unprecedented at the time, and the option to stay away from tap-target MMOs that were popular back then allowedUnchainedto set itself apart from other titles.
Despite its transition into an F2P title,Eve Onlineremains one of the most massive community-built MMOs to date. Since its release in 2003, its expansive fanbase has expanded into player circles that dabble into mining, crafting, exploration, and outright combat. Set in the distant future,Eve Onlinelets players become the remnants of human civilization lost in a galaxy known only as New Eden, with no way of coming back to the Milky Way after a mysterious wormhole shut down. With settlements scattered and no viable way home, humans have “evolved” into distinct civilizations. After players create their characters, it’s no holds barred - they can explore and enjoy the galaxy to their heart’s content.
The transition ofEve Onlineinto a free to play experience will finally allow players to see firsthand how the immersive space-faring experience managed to capture the hearts of its long-time fans. The MMO having a completely player-driven economy can encourage players to go wild with their preferences in the space exploration sim, be it as a regular miner who competes with both real players and bots for resources, pirates and mercenaries who want to relish in the game’s ship combat PVP, or regular explorers who want to explore the galaxy. Despite its aging interface, the complexity ofEve’s offerings encourages fans to really take their time learning the space sim’s mechanics and maximize its opportunities to make unforgettable experiences.
Set in a high fantasy world where the nations of Valencia and Calpheon are fighting for the mysterious stones in the vast Black Desert, the story ofBlack Desert Onlineis surprisingly quite engaging on top of its focus as an action-heavy title. Unlike other games,Black Desert Online’s combo focusrequires manual aiming, allowing their characters to activate their skills in conjunction with combos as well as dashes, dodges, and jumps. Action game fans will easily revel inBlack Desert Online’s speedy gameplay, although its sandbox aspect also features dynamic weather effects, mounted combat, and even immersive player housing.
Known for its fast-paced combat and heralding one of the most comprehensive character designers in the MMO scene,Black Desert Onlineremains appealing from both an aesthetic and an action standpoint. Players who want a breath of fresh air from tap-target combat and mindless rotations can enjoy the flexibility ofBDO’s combo-based action sequences, especially since each of its classes offer different pacings, attack sequences, and playstyles for players to sink their teeth into. Visuals-wise, players can also enjoy creating their adventurers in their likeness or even as their dream characters, tailor-fitting how they look based on a player’s preferences.
Metascore: 87%
Old School RuneScape
Greetings, adventurer! Rooted in the origin of MMOs, Old School RuneScape is the only ever-lasting, ever-evolving adventure that is shaped by you.Released way back in 2013, Old School RuneScape is RuneScape as you used to know it! Based on the 2007 build of the globally popular open world fantasy MMORPG, Old School is constantly updated with improvements and new content voted on by you, the fans! The close relationship between developers and players is central to what makes Old School so magical.So, you want to be a master cook? Or a powerful mage? Whether you’re here for the rich story and lore, the challenging combat, to fight alongside others or against them, to journey alone or simply to experience the magical world of Gielinor, Old School can be any adventure you want.Some people just want to hang out with friends. And you’ll find plenty of folk to do that with in Gielinor. But those who want seek a different kind of adventure have plenty of choices, too.No matter what you’re specializing in, the quest for the best loot will have skillers and perfectionists obsessing over their character builds. The strongest wand, the mightiest bow, the most fabulous hat – there’s always something to aim for
Despite its aging graphics and lack of immense MMO features, the sheer nostalgia factor ofOld School RuneScapecan be enough to drag players back into the game’s simplistic yet profound environments. Players ofOSRScan see for themselves the game that heralded the sandbox MMO, especially asOld School RuneScaperetains the series’ penchantfor comedic quests, vast locales, and activities for players to accomplish in order to immerse themselves in the world of Gielinor.
Staying true to the definition of a sandbox MMO, players ofOld School RuneScapesimply have the tutorial as their most “linear” experience. The rest of the world is their oyster. Those who want a change of pace from hyper-realistic graphics and intense gameplay can bask in the calmness ofOSRSand its polygonal visuals, with its undemanding requirements making for quite the ideal MMO to pass the time. Players who want to become adventurers can simply tour the world, while those who prefer simulating real-world living could become chefs, fishermen, loggers, and even miners, to name a few. The game’s namesake Runes form the majority of the game’s magic system, where spells require combinations of Runes to work. Even then, players can opt to become archers and melee specialists instead - or even just settle to become roleplayers.
Fans eager to experience a realistic MMOFPS will appreciate the accuracy of both weapons and gameplay inEnlisted, with its premise taking players straight to theaters of war in World War 2. Taking cues from hit FPS franchises such asCall of DutyandBattlefield,gameplay ofEnlistedtakes things a step further by providing a more accurate take on gameplay. This time around, players as soldiers who are realistically vulnerable to weapons fire, while their arsenal of weapons load, fire, and reload with the same controlled intensity as their real-life counterparts.
Unique toEnlistedis the game’s Squad feature, where players engage in combat as a soldier commanding fellow soldiers via squad commands. Players can freely switch between soldiers in their squad in combat while also having the means to train and equip them with the game’s 400+ weapons. Moreover, the game lets players access Specialists, or soldiers with one of the game’s 14 Specializations that can change the tide of battle.
Despite its 2013 release,War Thunderhas earned quite the accolades for its realistic take on vehicular simulation, specifically with its premise of letting players use a wide variety of vehicles for combat. In this simulation of combined arms battles, players can use not justpowerful tanksand other grond vehicles but also warships and aircraft from eras such as pre-World War 1, World War 2, Vietnam War, and Cold War.
The game’s varied game modes such as more freeform arcade and hardcore simulator and realistic modes give players many options to approach wartime mayhem. Compared to large-scale multiplayer games that often feature players,War Thunderfans may appreciate a nice change of pace with multi-faceted matches across different playing fields.
Perhaps serving as a love letter to both CRPGs and old school MMOs,Lost Arkboasts fast-paced gameplay within an isometric view that combines 90s MMO nostalgia with modern-day RPGs. Set in Arkesia, players take on the role of heroes utilizing the skills of various fantasy and technology-inspired Classes with gameplay that emphasizes rhythmic combo rotations, flashy theatrics, and deep tinkering with one’s toolkit.
Unlike other MMOs,Lost Arkemphasizes a deeper take on player customization, especially with regards to combat. On top of selecting a Class and a playstyle-defining Specialization,Lost Arkplayers can personalize their gameplay even further with a Tripod System that customizes skills with specific upgrades to transform endgame builds to play exactly how players like.
15Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Steam Score: 7/10
In what appears to bePhantasy Star Onlinetaking a leap in both graphical fidelity and gameplay prowess isPhantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, an MMO taking place a thousand years after the events of the first game. Set in Halpha, players become the next generation of ARKS tasked to protect the land designated as humanity’s next home from the threat of DOLLS. The MMO takes into account the series’s core mechanic of flexible builds, with the game’s Class System letting players mix and match available weapons, skills, and spells with Main and Sub Classes.
Key to the appeal ofPhantasy Star Online 2: New Genesisgameplay is the inclusion of faster-paced fights that border action RPG mechanics instead of the stiffer controls in the basePSO2.Movement prowess, attack rhythm, and times dodges via new Photon Dash and Photon Glide mechanics become paramount in the pursuit ofcombat excellence inNew Genesis, providing some of the most intensive combat mechanics in an MMO.
14ArcheAge Unchained
Steam Rating: 6/10
It’s not all the time that a sandbox MMO would impress gamers with its sense of style and fantasy aesthetic, andArcheAgeremains such a title. Despite its 2013 launch,ArcheAgeremains a strong contender for afree MMO that one could immerse themselves into, eventually growing intoArcheAge Unchainedreleased in 2019. Set in the conflicting continents of Nuia and Harihara, players can become one of six unique races and up to 364 class combinations to form a character and a story to call their own.
Unique toUnchainedis its ArchePass feature, allowing players to do tasks to earn in-game items. Not only that, but players have access to unique housing elements, as well as a ship system that enables them to facilitate water-based combat. Another feature is the Bloodstain feature, where hostile players that commit crimes (e.g., killing a co-faction member) can be reported and even await trial facing a jury of other players.
13Blade & Soul
Metascore: 68
WhenBlack Desert Onlinepopularized the heavily-detailed martial arts MMO genre, it’sBlade & Soulthat aimed to reach its full potential. This time enhanced with anime-eseque graphics and a more fantastical approach to its aesthetic,Blade & Soulis a free MMO that is definitely worth looking into.
Aside from its fast-paced combat and deeply-immersive story, what’s perhaps compelling aboutBlade & Soulis itssheer sense of style and aesthetic. Aside from being able to fully customize almost all aspect of a character’s appearance, players can farm for various cosmetics in the game that could giveFF14a run for its money.
