Released in 2004, World of Warcraft brought 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 in World of Warcraft, yet players might want alternatives after grinding hundreds and possibly thousands of hours.
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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 outside World 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 the best games like WoW.
Updated March 8, 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.
19 Throne And Liberty
A Modern MMORPG With Lineage
Throne and Liberty
- Released
- October 1, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- NCSoft
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
MMORPGs do not come around often, and when they do, there is no guarantee they will be around for the long haul. Throne and Liberty is not perfect, nor is it a direct alternative to World 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 as WoW is, the game is probably not attracting too many new players at this point in its lifespan; for the current generation, Throne and Liberty could be their WoW. Or, to be more exact, it could be their Lineage.
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Starting as a Lineage sequel, Throne and Liberty is 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 contradicts WoW'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 Liberty has a clever weapon system that allows players to mix and match two categories, allowing them to create makeshift classes in the process.
18 White Knight Chronicles 2
A Grind-Heavy JRPG That Might Scratch A Similar Itch As WoW
White Knight Chronicles II
- Released
- September 13, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Level-5, Japan Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
OK, Level 5's White Knight Chronicles games 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 to World 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 2 is one of these rare options, and it is a fairly good one that can keep somebody engaged for a couple of months.
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While White Knight Chronicles and 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 2 shines 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 2 is 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.
White Knight Chronicles 1 and 2 are part of PS Plus Premium.
17 Guild Wars 2
A Classic Online RPG That Keeps On Giving
Guild Wars 2
- Released
- August 28, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Guild Wars 2 is 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 2 is a massive achievement that shows just how much the MMO landscape has evolved with its innovative mechanics.
16 New World: Aeternum
Good Combat, Great Visuals, And Decent Story
New World: Aeternum
- Released
- October 15, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Amazon Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
New World has 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 World received a notable retooling, all in the lead-up to its console launch. To celebrate this era, the game was renamed New World: Aeternum, signaling that this is an evolved form of the vanilla version that debuted three years earlier. Make no mistake, Aeternum came with quite a few significant alternations, resulting in an experience that is far more immediately enjoyable and beginner-friendly. Aeternum is 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 a solo playthrough. Honestly, playing through the campaign might be the most enjoyable part, especially since PvP can be quite hit-and-miss.
New World: Aeternum is 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 not World of Warcraft, it is a respectable attempt to shake up the MMO formula.
15 Valheim
Familiar But Wildly Different
Valheim
- Released
- February 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Iron Gate AB
- Platform(s)
- Linux, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
In truth, Valheim and WoW share 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, and Valheim is 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.
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So, Valheim is a different beast than Warcraft; 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.
14 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Vibrant World, Accessible Combat
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
- Released
- September 8, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Kingdoms of Amalur has had an interesting life. Originally released in 2012, the action RPG garnered a mostly positive reception thanks to its versatile 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 Amalur takes 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.
13 Final Fantasy 14
Perhaps The Best MMORPG On The Market?
Final Fantasy 14
- Released
- August 27, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
The initial release of Final Fantasy 14 was 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 was Final 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 out games like World of Warcraft will certainly be well-serviced by this title.
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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. FF14 shines 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 from WoW, with neither project being necessarily better than the other. They are also both significant time sinks.
12 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
A Single-Player Alternative To FF14
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
- Released
- July 11, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
If someone wants to try out Square Enix's franchise but prefers a purely single-player experience, Final Fantasy 12 is arguably the closest option to an MMO-style game. Now, it should be noted that FF12's combat is very different from World of Warcraft since 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 from WoW, FF12 can take some adjusting.
Beyond the minute-to-minute gameplay, FF12 brings 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. FF12 also gives players huge skill trees to allow them to fine-tune each playable character. While the PS2 original was and still is fantastic, players should pick up The Zodiac Age version.
11 Divinity: Original Sin 2
A CRPG Masterpiece
Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Released
- September 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Larian Studios crowd-funded this now smash-hit top-down RPG in their Divinity series. But this game takes place long after the events of the first Original Sin title. It places players as a custom character or one of 6 pre-made people with unique stories and plenty of ways to derail the main narrative.
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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. WoW players are likely to love Divinity: Original Sin 2's soundtrack, great visuals, and captivating world lore.
Larian's Baldur's Gate 3 is also a great turn-based RPG, arguably even better than Original Sin 2.
10 Neverwinter
Dated But Not Without Charm
Neverwinter
- Released
- June 20, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cryptic Studios
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter has 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 to WoW, Neverwinter is 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, Neverwinter provides 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.