5 Best MMORPGs That Aren’t World of Warcraft

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Although World of Warcraft is often in the spotlight, it’s far from the only successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) available. The genre is filled with popular titles, many boasting tens or hundreds of thousands of active players each month. We decided to explore the 20 most popular MMOs (excluding World of Warcraft) and highlight the five best, each representing a different style of gameplay. These aren’t ranked—they’re presented alphabetically—but were selected based on critical reception, how fun they are to play, and how many people are currently enjoying them.

1) Eve Online

Released in 2003, Eve Online is a long-running space MMORPG often called the best free-to-play game in the genre. Players can explore over 7,800 star systems and participate in a wide range of activities, including fighting, building, and even piracy. The game is incredibly large, even for a ‘massive’ multiplayer game, and has been consistently updated with new content over the years. It’s even spawned a board game adaptation! Eve Online currently averages around 30,000 players each month, with peak subscriber numbers reaching as high as 300,000.

2) Final Fantasy XIV

Originally launched in 2010, the online game Final Fantasy XIV wasn’t successful. However, after a complete overhaul and relaunch three years later, it became incredibly popular. Now available on all major consoles, PCs, and Macs, the game lets players immerse themselves in a detailed and expansive world. Despite a rocky start, Final Fantasy XIV is now the most-played game in the Final Fantasy series, boasting over 24 million players. Regular updates and expansions have kept the game thriving, with an average of over 30,000 players enjoying it each month.

3) Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is a free-to-play fantasy game set in the world of Tyria. It’s the fourth game in the Guild Wars series, continuing the story that began in 2005 and concluding with the 2023 expansion, End of Dragons. What makes it unique is its immersive story and dynamic event system, which offers players flexible ways to complete quests instead of following fixed paths. Released in 2012, Guild Wars 2 was a big success and still has a strong player base, with an average of over 50,000 active players.

4) Old School RuneScape

The original RuneScape launched in 2001 and quickly became a very popular online game. Later, in 2013, Old School RuneScape was created as an updated version of the classic game, featuring improvements, new content, and changes often decided by player votes. It quickly surpassed the original in popularity, and a mobile version has proven equally successful. Old School RuneScape now boasts a large and active player base, averaging over 190,000 players at any given time.

5) Star Wars: The Old Republic

BioWare created Star Wars: The Old Republic before Disney took over the Star Wars franchise, which is why it’s one of the few games still available after the change in ownership. The game’s story takes place during the era of the Old Republic, a time of conflict between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. Players can choose from eight different classes, including both Jedi and Sith, and their choices affect a morality system based on the light and dark sides of the Force. It’s remained a favorite among Star Wars and massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) enthusiasts, and it was very successful when it first launched. Even now, it continues to be played by around 20,000 people each month.

What’s your favorite MMORPG? Share it in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-20 22:16