Released in 2004,World of Warcraftbrought new meaning to the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre. Even about 20 years later, the game still boasts millions of active players. There is never a shortage of things to do inWorld of Warcraft, yet players might want alternatives after grinding hundreds and possibly thousands of hours.
The most elite players have spent potentially years across multiple characters (and usually accounts). Fans looking for alternatives should try out these games for a challenge outsideWorld of Warcraft. They might not offer the same exact experience as the MMO, but they should be able to scratch a somewhat similar itch. Let’s take a look at some of thebest games likeWoW.
Updated August 09, 2025 by Mark Sammut:WoW is still going relatively strong, even if its heyday probably passed a long time ago. Still, new MMOs are fairly rare, particularly ones that even attempt to stand alongside Blizzard’s behemoth. In 2021, Amazon released a title that tried to reinvigorate the genre. The attempt was honorable but not faultless. Consequently, in 2024, Amazon tweaked that project in the form of New World: Aeternum.
MMORPGs do not come around often, and when they do, there is no guarantee they will be around for the long haul.Throne and Libertyis not perfect, nor is it a direct alternative toWorld of Warcraft, but it is an ambitious project that represents parts of the genre at its best. These types of releases are extremely rare, and it is just exciting to get in on the ground floor (or as close to it as possible). As great asWoWis, the game is probably not attracting too many new players at this point in its lifespan; for the current generation,Throne and Libertycould be theirWoW. Or, to be more exact, it could be theirLineage.
Starting as aLineagesequel,Throne and Libertyis very much inspired by that 1998 classic and its sequel, which was also published by NCSoft. Consequently, the MMO revolves heavily around social interaction and PvP, with sieges and wars between guilds taking center stage in the endgame. While this element contradictsWoW’s PvE focus, the game still has plenty of dungeons that players can take solo or as part of a group. The campaign can keep somebody busy for a long time, especially since they will need to grind quite a lot.
Beyond the pretty great PvP,Throne and Libertyhas a clever weapon system that allows players to mix and match two categories, allowing them to create makeshift classes in the process.
OK, Level 5’sWhite Knight Chroniclesgames tend to be divisive, garnering praise for their combat, visuals (for the era), and build options, while receiving plenty of criticism for their stories and repetitive natures. Still, these projects were ambitious and can provide a relaxing grind similar toWorld of Warcraft. Very few single-player RPGs are comparable to MMOs, so the pickings are generally slim if somebody wants this type of game.White Knight Chronicles 2is one of these rare options, and it is a fairly good one that can keep somebody engaged for a couple of months.
WhileWhite Knight Chroniclesand its sequel are roughly equal in quality, the latter includes a remastered version of the former, so there is no reason to opt for the original. Immediately, it needs to be said that the story is weak and hard to follow, to the point that it could be regarded as a negative part of the package rather than just something to ignore. Ultimately,White Knight Chronicles 2shines in its combat system, which shares similarities with MMOs through its use of a cool-down system. The JRPG also nails a sense of scale, putting players up against massive creatures that can take a while to overcome. Although it was originally packaged with a multiplayer mode, nowadays,White Knight Chronicles 2is solely a single-player option, which is perfectly fine. Players will be controlling a party throughout the campaign, so it can still feel like a cooperative package.
Guild Wars 2is a pretty unique MMO that many fans have grown to love. Its steady stream of content updates means that players can jump back into the experience and enjoy a wealth of new content to explore, which is especially entertaining with a group of friends.
The sheer number of things to do in this game is mind-boggling and will ensure that players can sink hundreds of hours into the game without feeling even slightly bored.Guild Wars 2is a massive achievementthat shows just how much the MMO landscape has evolved with its innovative mechanics.
New Worldhas had an interesting life so far. Attracting attention as Amazon Games' big addition to the MMORPG sphere, the project debuted in 2021 on PC, garnering a fairly mixed response in the process. While the visuals and combat were regarded as good for the genre, the muddy story, uneven pacing, and underwhelming endgame made it a hard sell for anyone but die-hard fans who want to try every MMORPG in existence. Furthermore, the game’s price tag might have discouraged a few people from giving it a try, even if they thought the more action-oriented combat might suit their preferences.
In 2024,New Worldreceived a notable retooling, all in the lead-up to its console launch. To celebrate this era, the game was renamedNew World: Aeternum, signaling that this is an evolved form of the vanilla version that debuted three years earlier. Make no mistake,Aeternumcame with quite a few significant alternations, resulting in an experience that is far more immediately enjoyable and beginner-friendly.Aeternumis one of those MMOs that also tries to sell itself to the action RPG crowd, to the point that multiplayer can be pretty much ignored in favor of asolo playthrough. Honestly, playing through the campaign might be the most enjoyable part, especially since PvP can be quite hit-and-miss.
New World: Aeternumis not perfect and tends to lose steam after a few months of play, which is not great for an MMO. However, the game looks fantastic, plays well, has a deep crafting system, and quite a lot of customization options. While notWorld of Warcraft, it is a respectable attempt to shake up the MMO formula.
In truth,ValheimandWoWshare very few things in common. The former is a crafting and survival game that focuses on PvE. Players will spend most of their time exploring biomes in search of resources they can use to develop their bases and craft better items. It is a straightforward concept that works very well, andValheimis one of those releases that can easily consume someone’s life for months on end. Despite combat being fairly prominent, the early-access game is surprisingly relaxing, and players are generally encouraged to do their own thing. Co-op is also supported.
So,Valheimis a different beast thanWarcraft; however, it can deliver a comparable feel to Blizzard’s MMO, even if its components are different. They both present immersive worlds that players can get happily lost in, and their controls and movements are somewhat similar too.
Kingdoms of Amalurhas had an interesting life. Originally released in 2012, the action RPG garnered a mostly positive reception thanks to itsversatile hack and slash combat, which was arguably among the genre’s best at the time. However, behind-the-scenes issues caused the game to disappear for a few years, at least until a remaster was published in 2020. The latter even received an expansion.
A single-player experience,Kingdoms of Amalurtakes place in Faelands, a vibrant realm that does just enough to differentiate itself from most other fantasy kingdoms. While the story is nothing amazing, the gameplay is a great deal of fun, even if it does feel a bit dated by modern standards.
The initial release ofFinal Fantasy 14was nothing short of a disaster. However, Square Enix had the hindsight to pull the plug on this title and re-release it after all the kinks were sorted out. The result wasFinal Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, one of the greatest MMORPGs of all time. It fixed almost everything wrong in the previous iteration, with its expansions being universally beloved by fans. Players seeking outgames likeWorld of Warcraftwill certainly be well-serviced by this title.
Now, it should be said that while both games fall under the general MMORPG bracket, they are not actually all that similar in terms of gameplay and mechanics.FF14shines in its storytelling, slower-paced combat, job combo build variety, housing system, and a less intensive endgame. These elements combine to create a gameplay loop that feels very different fromWoW, with neither project being necessarily better than the other. They are also both significant time sinks.
If someone wants to try out Square Enix’s franchise but prefers a purely single-player experience,Final Fantasy 12is arguably the closest option to an MMO-style game. Now, it should be noted thatFF12’s combat is very different fromWorld of Warcraftsince it is menu-based, which is a significant change from most traditional systems found in MMOs. Just to be clear, the game has fantastic combat that grants players a lot of control over their party’s actions, along with adding a constant strategic element to battles. Still, going fromWoW,FF12can take some adjusting.
Beyond the minute-to-minute gameplay,FF12brings to life a gorgeous world, Ivalice, and tells a pretty compelling story, albeit one that is told from the perspective of a polarizing protagonist. The gameplay loop is also very MMO-style, with the party heading out into large open areas filled with enemies.FF12also gives players huge skill treesto allow them to fine-tune each playable character. While the PS2 original was and still is fantastic, players should pick upThe Zodiac Ageversion.
Larian Studios crowd-funded this now smash-hit top-down RPG in theirDivinityseries. But this game takes place long after the events of the firstOriginal Sintitle. It places players asa custom character or one of 6 pre-made peoplewith unique stories and plenty of ways to derail the main narrative.
The game harbors hundreds of choices from what order to do quests to whether or not that Magister who spoke down to the player lives to see nightfall.WoWplayers are likely to loveDivinity: Original Sin 2’s soundtrack, great visuals, and captivating world lore.
Larian’sBaldur’s Gate 3is also a great turn-based RPG, arguably even better thanOriginal Sin 2.
Inspired byDungeons & Dragons,Neverwinterhas been around since the early 2010s, and Crytic’s free-to-play MMORPG has had an up-and-down life since then. While “new” compared toWoW,Neverwinteris cut from the same cloth as Blizzard’s eternal project, especially in terms of quest design and combat. Containing 12 playable races and an array of classes, the MMO gives players a respectable range of customization options to allow them to craft the hero best suited for them.
Although grinding is undoubtedly part of the overall package,Neverwinterprovides a decent entry-level experience by streamlining the main campaign’s early hours, permitting new players to reach the level cap quite quickly. However, once that point is reached, the focus shifts to item level, which is quite a time investment.
