Summary
- Classic MMORPGs from the late 1990s and early 2000s, like Age of Conan and Guild Wars, remain popular today.
- Long-standing MMO titles like Anarchy Online and Ultima Online have survived for over 20 years, offering unique gameplay experiences.
- RPGs such as RuneScape and MapleStory have endured due to early innovations in character customization and gameplay mechanics.
There was a time when almost every new game on the market was an MMORPG, but not all of those titles have stood the test of time. Some of the first MMOs to ever hit the market were released in the late 1990s, and ironically, more of these are still in operation compared to others that rose with the trend a few years later.
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MMORPGs are traditionally multiplayer-only experiences, but these MMOs are designed to cater specifically to solo players as well.
It was new in the 1990s, but today, the concept of the MMORPG has been around for decades, and the genre has dominated the gaming world of the early 21st century. After a period of saturation and decline, the younger generation is turning towards the classics for modern inspiration, while older gamers are still enjoying modern graphics and better customization options.
Updated on January 21, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose: Some of these titles were launched in the late 20th century, when the genre was still in its infancy, but are still available to play even if they're just in maintenance mode. Often the developers are still working on them even if it's on a volunteer basis, trying to improve the player experience and add more to the game for those remaining loyal followers. There are still others still available, but only through PC emulators, and are no longer maintained by the original developers.
23 Age of Conan: Unchained
A Successful Comic Book Adaptation That Dates From 2008
While this old MMO has declined in popularity in recent years, its servers are still alive and going. Age of Conan is inspired by the fantasy legend Conan the Barbarian. Set in Hyboria , the game follows an action-based combat system, where players design and build their characters in a traditional fantasy setting. The goal is to "tread in the footsteps" of Conan the Barbarian.
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Age of Conan offers a free-to-play version, but must be fully unlocked by a subscription fee. The game has received some negative publicity for its portrayal of women and the revealing female armor, but it was generally well-received when it launched in the mid-2000s.
22 Cabal Online
Dark Horror And Romance For 15 Years
- Developed By: ESTsoft Corp.
- Published By: ESTsoft Inc.
- Date Released: October 2005
This game originated with South Korean gaming company ESTsoft in 2005, where it was available on PC, but it wasn't free to play until its international release in 2008. Many different versions of Cabal Online exist depending on where in the world the game is running, which is one of the reasons it's been able to survive all this time and mostly fly under the radar.
The game is a typical fantasy RPG in some respects, but the website is for mature players only, as some of the dark horror and romance options might not be suitable for younger players. It's worth a look just for the fluid combat, which was fairly new at the time but was eventually adopted by virtually all MMOs and stand-alone RPGs.
21 Guild Wars
Introduced Elements 19 Years Ago That Are Now Mainstream
Guild Wars
Set in the fictional world of Tyria, players choose a main profession for their character that affects their skill set and abilities. The main professions are Warrior, Monk, Elementalist, Ranger, Necromancer, and Mesmer, but others have been added in expansion packs.
Guild Wars is also credited as being the first major MMORPG that didn't focus on subscription fees, going with the more traditional "pay for the game, and play it forever." A sequel, Guild Wars 2, was launched in 2012, but the original is still going strong.
20 Dofus
In 20 Years, This French Game Has Never Seen A Global Release
Dofus
Dofus was similar to other games of its time for its use of a high fantasy aesthetic with RPG elements. What made this one different, and maybe preserved its form and structure for so long, was that it was originally released in French and wasn't translated or localized for some time.
Gamers in France often know this title and some of the lore of the Land of Twelve, a reference to the 12 gods that rule over this portion of a much larger media universe. Other games in this franchise include Dofus Arena, a tournament version of the original, and a sequel called Wakfu that came in both game and serialized anime form.
19 EVE Online
Corporate Greed at A Galactic Level For 22 Years
EVE Online
This space exploration MMORPG is a great fit for sci-fi fans who want to get away from the traditional fantasy MMORPG setting. In EVE Online, the player pilots a starship and travels through various galaxies, leveling a character and building resources. Each account can create up to three characters with a choice between four unique races, the Amarr, Gallente, Minmatar, or Caldari.
EVE Online has enjoyed a steady increase in popularity, which improved even more in 2011 with a free-to-play version. The developers continue to work on this old online RPG game, releasing regular events for players.
18 Second Life
For 22 Years, The Objective Has Been Daily Life
Second Life
- Released
- June 23, 2003
- ESRB
- m
- Engine
- Havok
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation
This game is very much a staple in nineties fashion and style. Second Life is a much more basic game with a strong The Sims comparison. Players build and create characters, dress them up, style their hair, build their houses, and create and maintain their social life. Relationships can be forged with other players, and characters can explore a game world based on reality rather than fantasy.
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Second Life is often referred to as an MMORPG, but many, including the game's own developers, dispute this, stating that, "There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective." Whether this makes it an MMO is up to the player and gaming community.
17 World of Warcraft
Defining The Genre Since 2004
World of Warcraft
Arguably the most popular and well-known MMORPG of all time, World of Warcraft is a fantasy-themed MMORPG in which players choose a race for their character and skill specification according to their class. It made gaming more accessible to casual players who wanted something more forgiving than the other MMOs of the era, which could be difficult to learn.
Several changes have been made in the years since 2004, and their legacy lives on in the gamer debate. In 2019, the developers released World of Warcraft Classic, set in the original 2004 game world. Meanwhile, the retail version has revitalized its gameplay and storyline with more recent expansions and ongoing patches.
16 Ashen Empires
Two-Dimensional Isometric Action For 22 Years
- Developed By: Doug Gesler (Zarquon), David Reese, Jeremy Mappus, Bill Money (OneEye), and Denis Loubet
- Published By: Pixel Mine, Iron Will Games, Asylumsoft Inc., TKO Software
- Date Released: March 10th, 2003
This game was originally known as Dransik, and it still exists in its original form on the Steam store right next to Ashen Empires. The game was inspired by another popular RPG title, Ultima V, and the design, gameplay, and character-building options are similar. Players can have four characters on each server and there are three races and a wide variety of skills from which to choose.
Both games have always retained a loyal fan base and were one of the few games to offer a free-to-play option when popular games like WoW only had a monthly fee. Initially, the game had both a free and a paid option, but since 2008 players can download it and play it in its entirety without a subscription.
15 Anarchy Online
A Unique Early Title That's 24 Years Old
- Developed By: Funcom
- Designer: Gaute Godager
- Date Released: June 27, 2001
Released in 2001 and still going strong, part of the draw of Anarchy Online is the expansive, open world which is based on science fiction instead of the standard fantasy. This wasn't just one of the first MMOs, either, it's also one of the first online games to use a science fiction aesthetic and first-person shooter (FPS) instead of melee or magical combat.
There's no endgame or instances in Anarchy Online, but a steady path of character progression through leveling skills and collecting a precious ore unique to this harsh planet. It's a simple formula with complex potential that has lasted for 20 years so far.
14 Lineage 2
Impressive Graphics And An Immersive Storyline Since 2003
Lineage 2
There's been a resurgence in popularity for Lineage 2 recently, in part thanks to the publicity about its 18th anniversary. The game was released a year earlier in Korea than in North America, and it started the trend of distinctive KRPG MMOs that continues today with games like Lost Ark.
The Lineage 2 was one of the first MMOs when it was released, and it's still popular, even if it didn't get as much attention as its contemporaries. The game has been free to play since 2016 and is currently available on a variety of platforms.