The best MMOs and MMORPGs 2025

Gaming is often used as an escape from reality, or as a means to connect with others and forge new friendships. The finest MMOs and MMORPGs facilitate these things better than any other genre, transporting you to vast, distant worlds fraught with danger and overflowing with potential adventures to be had. It's easy to get lost, but fortunately, you're never too far from a friendly face who'll help you out, or, less fortunately, in close proximity to someone willing to take advantage of the fact you're a giant noob. Such is life, whether experienced in the real world or virtually on PC.

However, unlike reality, MMOs offer up all sorts of incredible powers, so be sure to give that player killer or scammer a good blasting next time you see them. Our list of otherworldly bangers hits every power fantasy you could dream of, whether you fancy yourself the hero of a high fantasy world, a mystical sci-fi planet's chosen one, or a guardian of the light. Now, let's embark on our odyssey of masterful MMOs from across time and space; for the Horde, of course.

The best MMOs and MMORPGs on PC are:

1. Old School Runescape

One of the oldest and best-designed MMORPGs out there, Old School Runescape is the perfect pick if you're prone to taking long breaks from gaming. All of its skills have a maximum level of 99, and all new content is created within this structure. This means that, even if you disappear for a year or two, your gear will remain just as useful as it ever was. But this isn't the only reason to play Jagex's classic. Whimsical writing, an ever-expanding world, and one of the best communities going make for an absolutely joyful time.

As Aaron notes in their recent musings, "Despite its dated graphics and tick-based gameplay, OSRS oozes charm from every pore." In fact, they go so far as to say that "it's the perfect modern MMO." Old School Runescape has only gone from strength to strength over the past year, as its massive Varlamore expansion, alongside the aforementioned plus points, has helped it usher in record-breaking playercounts.

Old School Runescape, like any MMO, can be a daunting one to delve into at first, but its ever-helpful playerbase is always willing to offer up advice. If you play using the Runelite client, there are also plenty of plugins, especially its Optimal Quest Guide and Quest Helper, that can offer up a little extra direction. Before entering the world of Gielinor, make sure you read our Old School Runescape beginner's guide for a quick-and-easy primer.

Play for free on Steam

2. World of Warcraft

Anyone of a certain age will surely remember Mr. T's iconic "Night Elf Mohawk" World of Warcraft ad, and if that wasn't enough to persuade you to up sticks and move to Azeroth, you're missing out. Regardless of which gaming generation you belong to, though, there's plenty of WoW factor (sorry) that makes Blizzard's monolithic MMORPG worth investing time into. Year after year, WoW has only grown bigger and bolder in scale, with new classes and races, fancier graphics, and even entire continents being added.

While this may all sound quite overwhelming, don't worry. As Alex McHugh said in his WoW The War Within review, the latest expansion "deploys new systems to make the MMO more approachable to an aging audience and those who don't have a raiding guild, free weekends to spend in-game, or the ability to do a full dungeon without having to run off and change a diaper." Even if you do have unlimited time on your hands, we maintain that a more respectful MMO is a much better MMO. Alex also remarks that "The War Within is the most confident and slick Blizzard's MMO has been in years," making now the perfect time to jump in ahead of its upcoming expansion, Midnight.

As with Runescape's plugins, you should also look to make liberal use of the vast library of WoW addons to smooth out your journey and enhance your experience; at least, until Midnight arrives and makes huge changes to how they work. Auctioneer, Bagnon, and Details! are our recommended trio that you should look to install first.

Play the free trial on Battle.net

3. Final Fantasy 14

Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn is a story of heartwarming redemption. When it was originally released, it was not very good. In fact, it was terrible, prompting a full remake. The outcome is A Realm Reborn. And it is very good. It hits everything the series is known for: epic stories of good and evil duking it out, varied, painfully gorgeous environments, over-the-top characters, flashy cutscenes, and Chocobos galore. It is also clever: players have great flexibility within their classes. As soon as you hit level ten, you can switch to any of the game's combat classes with just the switch of the weapon. The upside is that players do not need to create alts to try out other roles.

Ken's Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail review is full of praise for the most recent expansion. He writes that "Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail introduces some of the game's best dungeons and trials yet alongside a compelling story that, while slow to ramp up, delivers resoundingly in its second act, setting a promising precedent for the future of the MMORPG on all counts."

If you're taking a trip to Eorzea for the first time, make liberal use of our FF14 classes guide to help you decide which job to specialize in first, once you're able to make the switch. Finding the right job for you is tantamount to your enjoyment; there's no point picking a tank class if you dream of dunking on bosses as a soaring Dragoon.

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4. Destiny 2

Destiny 2 has had its ups and downs over the years. Yet, nothing has ever come close to matching the innate feel of Bungie's sci-fi shooter. From the grandiosity of its score to the smoothness of its movement and gunplay, Destiny 2 has a real star factor about it. In Destiny 2, you are a Guardian of the Light, revived and charged with protecting the galaxy from the encroaching Darkness. Its overarching theme is very on the nose, but there are plenty of twists and turns to be enjoyed within.

Cheri Faulkner only had good things to say in her The Final Shape review. She says that it "ties up a decade's worth of story, conflict, and relationships in the most engaging and emotionally satisfying way possible. Bungie's best-in-class narrative team has outdone itself, the combat and gunplay sit at the pinnacle of the FPS genre, and I've ultimately never played anything like it." Although Destiny 2's most recent expansion, Edge of Fate, doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, Bungie has done much to improve the New Light onboarding experience, making it the perfect jumping-in point for new players.

Make sure you have our Destiny 2 classes guide to hand as you take your first, reanimated steps on Earth. You'll initially get to choose between playing as a defense-focused Titan, a magic-based Warlock, or an acrobatic Hunter, with each class coming with its own strengths and weaknesses. You can make alt characters to access all three classes, though to start off with, we'd recommend taking your time and getting to grips with one of the trifecta.

Play for free on Steam

5. Guild Wars 2

Where World of Warcraft is as traditional an MMO as they come, Guild Wars 2 is the weird, contrarian opposite. Its design can be seen as an attempt to fix and improve on every broken mechanic that online games persist in pursuing, and its success in these areas makes it one of the best MMORPGs you can play. Perhaps the biggest example of this is its horizontal gear progression system, which has you chase new playstyles and quality of life improvements over raw, vertical power. Similarly to Runescape, this ensures your gear remains ever-useful long term.

Guild Wars 2's content constantly evolves through the Living World episodic updates. Should you not be ready to meet that challenge, you can play lower-level adventures without spending a dollar, as the core game is entirely free.

Guild Wars 2's next expansion, Visions of Eternity, is shaping up to be a corker. Transporting us to an island paradise, it promises a vibrant new locale called Castora, an expansion of the housing system introduced in its current expansion, Janthir Wilds, and much more. GW2 already boasts some gorgeous visuals, and Visions of Eternity is looking to take them to the next level.

Play for free on Steam

6. Elder Scrolls Online

Despite a rocky beginning, The Elder Scrolls Online has fought its corner with draconic ferocity, earning itself a place on our best MMOs list. The Elder Scrolls games are among the greatest RPGs around, and now you can sink even more of your time into the series' vibrant universe by playing online with friends or total strangers.

Set 1,000 years before Skyrim and 800 years before Morrowind and Oblivion. The Elder Scrolls Online begins in Coldharbour's Wailing Prison, where, staying true to Elder Scrolls tradition, the player is a prisoner. After escaping, you're free to explore the continent of Tamriel, battling monsters, discovering dungeons, and crafting weapons with fellow adventurers or on your own. With a handful of expansions bringing old and new regions into the game, like Murkmire and Summerset, not to mention monthly content releases that continue to breathe new life into the decade-old MMO, the Elder Scrolls Online universe is forever expanding.

While it's been a tumultuous time within the industry, with Xbox laying off 9,000 employees across its studios, game director Rich Lambert reiterated the team's promise of a 30-year MMO to PCGamesN. So, rest assured that if you start playing now, you've still got decades of joy ahead.

Check prices on Fanatical

7. Albion Online

If you're looking for an MMO where you can sit back, relax, do a little crafting, and tend to your farm while popping out for the occasional fight and odd monster hunt, then Albion Online is the game for you. However, it's worth noting that it's PvP from the get-go, and for that reason, you'll always need to be alert and on guard - you may want to get in with a faction ASAP for a lil bit of group safety. The full-loot drop system can be slightly frustrating, but Albion Online demands players to be tactical and patient. It's a lot of fun and requires brain power and perseverance to steer your guild in the right direction, but it's as rewarding as it is tough.

Sporting a charming art style and a vast open world to explore (between navigating murderous PKers), and a class system redolent of FF14's job-based structure, Albion Online is incredibly approachable for newcomers to the genre. Like Old School Runescape, you can also play it on mobile, ensuring you always have the means to progress, even when you're taking a bio break at work.

Recently, Albion Online launched its Abyssal Depths update, offering high-risk small-group encounters in the form of challenging trials. It has, largely, been a resounding success, and developer Sandbox Interactive is now looking to further improve the PvP aspect at the core of the game and give factions even more reason to duke it out.

Play for free on Steam

8. Dune Awakening

Frank Herbert's odyssey, Dune, has captured the hearts and minds of sci-fi nerds for decades, and the fervor for Paul Atreides' sandworm-riding escapades has only intensified with the release of Denis Villeneuve's exquisite film series. Though Dune has had its fair share of excellent (and not so excellent) videogame adaptations over the years, these have typically been restricted to the realm of strategy. When Dune Awakening launched in 2025, players finally got to tread the sands of Arrakis for themselves, only, Paul is completely out of the picture.

You see, Dune Awakening sets itself in an alternate timeline where Paul Atreides was never born. As you can imagine, a Lisan al-Gaib-less universe looks very different from what we're used to, but that only adds to Dune Awakening's mystique. Here, you can create your own character, born from one of the great houses, and forge your own legacy. Part-MMO, part-survival game, Dune Awakening will see you survive, and then thrive on the universe's most unforgiving (and most lucrative) planet. From running from the ravenous sandworms to soaring high above the dunes in your own ornithopter, Dune Awakening truly is a treat for series fans and newcomers alike.

Recently, Dune Awakening received its first paid DLC, Lost Harvest, which adds a host of new cosmetic goodies to the game. This includes the funky-looking Treadwheel, which Star Wars fans will immediately compare to General Grievous' wheel bike from Revenge of the Sith. This one has a second tread, though; twice the tread, double the speed, or something like that.

Check prices on Fanatical

9. Black Desert Online

If you're all about flashy aesthetics and deeply satisfying free-flowing combat, then Black Desert Online is the MMO for you. There are few things more satisfying than pulling off a complex combo and feeling the heft as each blow lands, decimating whatever poor creature has made the terrible decision of trying to attack you. There's a huge amount of class variety, too, from the monk-esque Mystic that specializes in martial arts, to the paladin-adjacent Drakania which rips through enemies with draconic power.

You'll want to acclimate to your newfound might as quickly as possible, though, as there's plenty of fighting (especially against other players) and grinding ahead. If you're looking for a relaxing MMO, this may not be the game for you due to its depth. It can also be tricky to get your head around its systems, especially how trade, diplomacy, and resources work, so be prepared to spend plenty of time poring over wikis. That said, once you do get a handle on BDO, it's one of the most satisfying MMOs around.

Be sure to check out our Black Desert Online codes guide if you want to jump into this MMO with a bit of a headstart. Pearl Abyss often gives out freebies, so make sure you refer to the guide regularly so as not to miss out on juicy free loot.

Check prices on Humble

10. Lost Ark

Welcome to Arkesia, a world scarred by an ancient conflict that is on the precipice of erupting once more. As an adventurer, you're tasked with hunting down an Ark, one of seven powerful relics lost to the ages, with the hopes that it can be used to eliminate the demonic scourge once and for all. It's a beautifully crafted MMO with incredibly deep systems that you can easily sink thousands of hours into, though this can be to its detriment. If you've pumped serious time into dungeon crawlers like Diablo and Path of Exile, you'll find yourself right at home here as Lost Ark shares many design similarities.

In their glowing Lost Ark review from its western launch in 2022, Wren Romero writes: "To look at the mechanics of it, Lost Ark is nearly perfect: the dungeon crawling is rewarding, the PvP is nuanced and dynamic, the raids are inspired, the designs are enticing, the monetization - however powerful - is unobtrusive. Every cog and gear is masterfully crafted, even the ones designed to extract thousands of hours and hundreds of dollars on punishing, greed- and guilt-driven grinds in the middle of an otherwise splendid game."

Since then, developer Smilegate has worked to make Lost Ark much more approachable for new players, helping them to circumvent much of the late-game grind that entices players to spend. Earlier this year, the studio introduced Paradise mode, which drastically increased the rate at which solo players could progress. The same update also overhauled solo mode to provide a much smoother onboarding experience for newbies. There's still a way to go, but it's a solid start.

Play for free on Steam

11. Star Wars The Old Republic

A galaxy far, far away is the perfect setting for one of the best MMOs, so it is no surprise that BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic is a winner. Play as one of eight classes split across the Empire and Republic. Each has a detailed, dramatic story that really adds some much appreciated zest to the mix. You can take on the role of an Imperial Agent, working for the good of the Empire by rooting out terrorists; a Jedi Knight sworn to hunt Sith and protect the galaxy; or even a slave-turned-Sith Inquisitor, playing a dangerous game of politics.

Several expansions have kept it feeling reasonably fresh, though we haven't heard anything about a possible follow-up to 2022's so-so Legacy of the Sith just yet. It is still being updated regularly, though, so don't worry about delving into a game on Vader-esque life support. You can play the first two expansions for free, though the excellent Knights of the Fallen Empire is gated by paid subscription. If you really enjoy the F2P content, a sub is worth investing in, as you can also level faster and concentrate solely on the interesting class and planetary quests instead of the trite filler rubbish.

With its web of intrigue, relationships, and a focus on player choice, Star Wars The Old Republic feels more like a proper Knights of the Old Republic sequel than anything that has come before it. As such, SWTOR is easily one of the best Star Wars games ever.

Play for free on Steam

12. Lord of the Rings Online

Tolkien's world of Middle-earth is a perfect setting for an MMO. It has great characters, a massive world to explore, and everyone is always fighting. Though it's definitely showing its age in the visuals department, Lord of the Rings Online is no less delightful than its more modern counterparts. Seeing as Tolkien's fantasy epic is predicated on Frodo being a bonafide delivery hobbit, exploration is undoubtedly the most important element to get right for any open-world LOTR game. The good news is that, despite its dated graphics, LOTRO does an excellent job of pulling you into Middle-earth, so prepare to find new things to uncover, even on your 111th birthday.

Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits - aka the good guys - make up the playable races of Lord of the Rings Online, and as hunters or burglars or one of the other classes, you'll go on your own adventure, half-following in the footsteps of the famous Fellowship. Meet Ents, get lost in Moria, or take long rides through Rohan. Expansions push the story forward, following the books, and with each major plot point comes new mechanics, like the addition of mounted combat. If you have ever dreamed of experiencing Tolkien's world firsthand, this MMORPG has you covered. Best of all, it is free-to-play, so you can dip in and out as you please without having to worry about wasting subscription time.

That being said, you can cough up your hard-earned money in return for quest pack DLC, which grant new missions based on in-universe events. However, if you're a sneaky hobbit and use a LOTRO special promo code before November 3, 2025, you can snag $300-worth of content for free. Cue the scene of Gollum dancing for joy in Mount Doom.

Play for free on Steam

13. Eve Online

There's a good chance you've already heard about one of the many tales of dark bastardry that have spun out of Eve Online's New Eden. It is a game of cold-hearted betrayal, mining, economics, more betrayal, more mining, and the occasional thousand-person spaceship battles - the latter of which has earned the game several Guinness world records.

With CCP's hands-off approach, the universe of New Eden is one of the most player-driven MMOs in existence. Wars span weeks, if not months, across multiple systems. Years of plotting and sabotage to bring huge corporations down from the inside. Reports of huge losses in ships and cargo, some reaching thousands of dollars in real-world value.

As you can imagine, it is not the easiest game in the world to learn, but that doesn't mean it is impossible. Before embarking on your own intergalactic odyssey, peruse our own Eve Online beginner's guide; this will show you how to set up one of the best MMOs around and get going.

Play for free on Steam

14. New World Aeternum

New World Aeternum is as much a sandbox survival game as it is a traditional RPG. It dispenses with the typical character creation of other fantasy MMOs; there are no other races aside from humans, and strict classes are replaced with attributes and skill systems that grant you the freedom to experiment with different character builds at your leisure. These systems have only improved over time, especially after the game's FF14-style relaunch in late 2024. New World Aeternum is set in an approximation of the 1600s, so while you can don burnished plate armor and cast spells with an elemental staff, you can also wield a musket or blunderbuss.

The newly discovered, hostile land of Aeternum is threatened by The Corrupted, a demonic horde whose presence must constantly be beaten back by the forces of good. You can band together and help construct and maintain settlements or strike off into the wilderness and face the supernatural threat alone. You can craft, quest, and explore across Aeternum and even wage war in large-scale PvP conflicts as each New World faction's territory expands and encroaches upon one another.

Though New World Aeternum will likely never reach the player numbers it had during its ridiculously hyped launch window, it remains a steadfast incumbent of our best MMOs list. If you do decide to jump in for yourself, use our best New World Aeternum class list to find the right archetype for you. You can switch between them at any time, so take your time to experiment with everything the game has to offer.

Check prices on Loaded

15. Palia

Following a long beta period, Palia released its 1.0 version in early 2024. It's one of the few MMOs on this list that has no combat; you're tasked with making as beautiful an environment as you can while helping your fellow villagers - real wholesome stuff. Partake in some chilled-out gardening, decorate the area, and socialize with your peers in this relaxed, cozy, community MMO.

Palia's drawn more than its fair share of comparisons with other top-tier laid-back life sims like Stardew Valley, and it's more than earned its plaudits. Its endearing visual style that marries elements of fantasy and steampunk, and magical machinations help distinguish it from its competition, and the sheer amount of freedom in its customization provides endless possibilities.

Palia's most recent major update, Botanical Bliss, injected plenty of summery goodness into the game, adding ten types of flowers, new floral templates, and even fishy plushies to ensure your dream home is more glub than glum.

Play for free on Steam

New MMOs and MMORPGs

Our regularly updated upcoming PC games list keeps tabs on every new game on the horizon, including the latest MMOs and MMORPGs that will soon throw their hats into the ring. The scintillating, time-based combat of Chrono Odyssey has earmarked it as our biggest one to watch, though we're also keeping an eye on the medieval fantasy world of Verra as Ashes of Creation continues to undergo extensive playtesting. If either of these live up to their hefty expectations, you can expect to eventually see them added to our best MMO list.

Until then, you've got 15 incredible games to potentially lose your life to; not that that's a bad thing, considering their quality. If there's an MMO you're dying to see added, hop into our community Discord server and make your case. If you're after more amazing games you can play with pals, but without the risk of never touching grass again, check out our selection of the best multiplayer games. More broadly, if you just want to know what the best PC games all told are, PCGamesN also has your back.