MMOs have been a huge part of the gaming community for over a decade now, mostly thanks to World of Warcraft. Unfortunately, due to poor practices, Activision Blizzard has majorly dropped in popularity, leaving WoW in a downward spiral. Many players are now looking for a new MMORPG to lose their lives to, or players, in general, want to pick up the genre. Here are some recommendations we at Vibe want to give these poor lost souls that have no idea where to start.
5. Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 has been around for almost a decade now, released in August 2012. It is one of the more organized and easier MMOs to pick up and has been a big staple for the franchise. It’s great to pick up for the players who love replayability and organization. The game features a unique chapter system for questlines that you can switch between and replay.
This game is great for players who love the unique visuals this game utilizes. It also features a great storyline and a fluid combat system. However, players who want to play competitively and speed through to get the best gear should look elsewhere. It’s a slower-paced and story-heavy game made for players who want to take their time. The game unfortunately also suffers from a poor tutorial.
4. Star Wars: The Old Republic
This gem was released in 2011, which I honestly forgot about until the recent spike in popularity. It was one of the most expensive games made, which made sense due to the amazing graphics for its time. The plot takes place 300 years after KOTOR, right after the establishment of peace between the Republic and the Sith Empire. You get to choose which side to play on, whether it be the Sith or Republic and get a choice from several character classes. You can force lightning your foes into oblivion or even play as a humble Jedi Knight.
This is a great choice for Star Wars fanatics and players who love a choice-based game. You can choose your dialogue and really role play your character in favor of the light or dark side. It feels similar to Mass Effect in a way since you can build up points between the light and dark side. It is riddled with a lot of lore and content for fans and has a very good story arc for both sides. However, the end game features a lot of grinding and gets a bit stale for some players. It also is not strong for PVP lovers and is more focused on PVE.
3. Elder Scrolls Online
ESO is a fantastic pick-up for Elder Scrolls fans and RPG lovers in general. Taking place during the Second Era on Tamriel, players get to make their own character, who loses their soul to a Daedric Prince Molag Bal. The game may have suffered during the original launch, but it has made a huge comeback due to some fantastic expansions. A lot of the balancing issues, for the most part, were addressed. Do not expect to traverse every area due to timeline restrictions for fans of the series. The story takes place well after many of those events.
There is an immersive and massive world to explore when journeying through the lands of Tamriel. A lot of the quests feel a bit more intricate, and the game features a bit more skill compared to many mmos. Unfortunately, the game does still suffer from many wanting to solo play. There are not many instances where multiplayer feels pushed or required, which kind of feels counterproductive for the genre.
2. Black Desert Online
Waifu Online has been a blast for weebs and MMO lovers alike. This wonderful experience of a game launched at the end of 2014 and has consistently grown in popularity. The story features a growing conflict between the Kingdom of Valencia and the Republic of Calpheon. The Black Death ran rampant, killing a ton of people and causing paranoia and fighting, which eventually led to a massive war. It’s a great experience for PVP and PVE players but features a massive grind and commitment like any MMO generally does.
The best part about BDO is the action-based combat. Rather than using your normal rotations, there is free movement requiring dodging, aiming, and combos like an ARPG. The game is also filled with a lot of side content to keep busy, utilizing great side quests and activities such as fishing. It is merchant/economy based, meaning mastering trades and crafting are key. However, the grind can put people off due to a slow leveling system, and the lack of end game has left some players with frustration.
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV suffered another poor launch but, with great expansions and revisions, has taken its place at the top since the fall of WoW. Playing as your own Warrior of Light, you fight many threats upon multiple award winning expansions, such as Lahabrea, your stalker Zenos, and even a fam favorite Gilgamesh. This MMO, in particular, can be more challenging when it comes to dungeons and raids due to many skill checks between being cautious of telegraphs and moves and using your skills and cool downs correctly. Timing is everything for FF14, leaving little room for carrying in end game content.
FF XIV is a paradise for those who want a challenge and want to save time. Instead of making multiple characters, players can pick up every class on one character and level up with the roulette system. Crafting currently is better than ever and not as much of an insane grind fest. It is not the experience for everyone due to the fact it’s straight up weeby and, as previously mentioned, harder than most other MMORPGs.
In Short…
Hopefully, this list can help you find a new MMO to lose your life in. Many players feel at a loss or torn about dropping WoW, while others have wanted to find an MMO in general. These are Vibe’s top recommendations for players searching for the right game.
Veteran gamer, tech nerd, comic addict, anime lover, and just your average introverted weeb.
