Choosing from the plethora of the best MMO games that are online now can be tough – and that’s why we’ve assembled a guide to highlight the best MMORPG 2025 has to offer.
There’s something special about finding a truly spectacular gem amongst the best MMORPG games. It’s almost a guarantee that you’re about to spend hundreds of hours carving out a virtual life with a character that you create from the ground up, and there’s a fair chance that you’re going to meet friends and enemies along the way.
For the most part, MMO games are hyper-ambitious, open-world games that offer up countless opportunities for entertainment and excitement. They’re some of the most immersive games in the history of the business, giving players the potential to create a virtual life, buy digital homes, earn in-game currency, and become whatever they want to be – within the confines of the game, of course.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best MMORPG in 2025, and everything else that exists behind it.
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
If you’re a gamer, you know what World of Warcraft is. Since 2004, World of Warcraft has been widely regarded as one of the best MMORPG games of all time, and for good reason. It’s a fan-favorite that’s appreciated all around the world, and it’s synonymous with the genre – it arguably pioneered the genre. Over the years, the player count may have hit some broad peaks and troughs, but for the most part, it has remained stable – and Blizzard Entertainment refuses to let it die.
The latest expansion for the game The War Within was released in 2024 starting a new three-part arc. It was well-received thus far, followed up by WoW Classic SOD and further pleasing the community that has been upholding World of Warcraft for such a long time. There are World of Warcraft esports tournaments, a competitive scene, an enormous open world to explore, and millions of players to meet.
By sheer legacy alone, World of Warcraft is the top MMORPG right now. When it comes to the best MMORPG 2025 has to offer, World of Warcraft absolutely sits at the top of the table. It’s a subject of great debate and we might alienate some gamers by saying this – but we believe it’s an accurate statement! With WoW Classic live too, Warcraft really has something to offer anyone.
So, we’ve established what the best MMORPG is in 2025, but what else is on the market? Read on to learn everything you need to know about every game competing to be considered one of the best MMORPG games on the market.
Note: This portion of our list isn’t in any particular order – they’re all great!
© FFXIV
The Final Fantasy Franchise is one of the biggest in gaming. There is a long history of titles that have been some of the defining titles of their era. So how is Square’s crack at an MMORPG holding up? Honestly, it’s done pretty well, as Final Fantasy 14 managed to recreate that iconic Final Fantasy world. Bringing it alive with an emotive and intensive story.
The title does manage to feel just like the series it hails from. It receives new content pretty regularly, so you can always rely on having something new to discover. The game’s story is even worth playing through if you’re not normally interested in an MMO and just want to play a simple story game. Final Fantasy’s graphics are pretty impressive, given the scale of the title. The dungeons are frequently some of the most fun you’ll find, even in the best MMORPG games. However, it likely won’t grab the attention of those who actively dislike the fantasy genre.
Currently, FFXIV is getting plenty of attention as streamers have actively engaged with the game. Influential streamers the likes of Asmongold, Summit1g, AnnieFuchsia, and EsfandTV, have all recently played the game, bringing plenty of appeal to new and upcoming players, and it’s certainly a contender for the top MMORPG.
It’s one of the most popular MMORPGs just in terms of raw FF14 player numbers. It’ll likely expand even more with players getting into the franchise through the 7 Rebirth series.
If you are looking for an MMORPG that screams action, then Lost Ark is the thing you are looking for. While it was released in Asia back in 2019, it hit a global release on February 11th, 2022. Needless to say, the game was so successful in the East that as soon as the global release was announced, it became one of the most hyped MMORPGs ever.
The game truly offers everything a player might be looking for. The gameplay allows you to do many satisfying combos, rewards the time you put into the game without punishing you by making you waste more time, and has a great story. Even if you are not a fan of games with isometric cameras, you should give this game a try in 2025. It might even become the most popular MMORPG as we dive deeper into the year.
© Black Desert Online
Since its graphics remaster in 2020, Black Desert Online has been one of the most visually impressive MMORPGs that are available. The game takes the original ideas for an expansive world behind games like World of Warcraft but does them in the highest quality that is possible today. Black Desert Online is one of the most ambitious and complex MMORPG in 2025.
The game has systems behind combat, trade, diplomacy, and resources. Essentially it is about as complicated as it gets. The title requires players to pay a lot of attention to their gameplay. While you can grind your way through to get loot, there is a lot of potential for using the right strategies to maximize your time. There’s much more content coming soon with a follow-up announced too. It’s a great time to get into Black Desert Online.
Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout 76 is one of the most unique MMORPGs to make this list. Typically, the best MMO games will be set neck-deep in a fantasy universe, but Fallout 76 follows the trend of the series, planting players firmly in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. However, despite that fact, it’s still unequivocally one of the best MMORPG games 2025 has to offer to fans of the genre. It had a tough time at launch and it took Bethesda Game Studios a long time to make it better, but Fallout 76 is finally a good game.
Read More: Is Fallout 76 Cross-Platform?
In Fallout 76, players are encouraged to explore the largest map they’ve ever seen in a Fallout game – and it’s a diverse one at that. When it was released, Fallout 76’s world – which is set in West Virginia and the Appalachian region – was empty and devoid of life. Now, thanks to updates and involvement from third-party studios, Fallout 76 is full of factions, NPCs, quests, storylines, and yes, lots of other players.
Fallout 76 might not be the biggest game in developer-supported content. However, it’s really the community experience that makes the MMORPG. Fans have done incredibly creative things in this game, making it much more fun to play than what Bethesda delivered.
Image Credit: ZeniMax Online Studios
Elder Scrolls Online is one of the most popular and best MMORPGs in 2025 overall, and it has existed for a good few years. In a way, it’s a sister MMO to Fallout 76, given the close relationship between the two franchises, but it uses a totally different operating model. Like Fallout 76, it’s a single-player franchise made multiplayer, but it does the ‘MMO thing’ a little better than its post-apocalyptic counterpart.
Read More: Is Elder Scrolls Online Cross-Platform?
It’s set thousands of years before the ever-popular Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and it features essentially the entire world map that Skyrim is a part of. It’s a multi-regional, in-depth MMORPG with countless features that never fail to wow new players – and some veteran players. There’s a good spread of world events, dungeons, and an immersive storyline to follow, and the game is expanded immeasurably through a paid subscriber called ESO Plus. In a world where The Elder Scrolls VI still doesn’t exist, ESO is the perfect substitute for now.
Image Credit: BioWare
Star Wars: The Old Republic is an older MMO, but it is still a title that is pretty important for the development of the overall genre. This game is set within the universe of Star Wars, but it stands out as one of the most in-depth and unique spin-off titles for the game. The story of the MMO is set long before most other Star Wars content, in the Old Republic.
The game allows you to take control of a Jedi, a sith-inquisitor, or an agent for the empire. You can progress through the game in any of these roles, exploring what it has to offer.
Knights of the Old Republic had a few expansions, but fans are still craving a full sequel and follow-up. While a little older, this title still feels fresh as one of the best MMORPG games with a lasting legacy. It was revealed in 2024 that Star Wars: The Old Republic would be relinquished by BioWare so that the developer can focus on the production of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, but another studio – Broadsword Online Games – will assume control of one of the best MMORPG games 2025 has to offer.
Image Credit: MiHoYo
The game that took everyone by storm with its fantastic cell shading graphics and an impressive roster of playable characters is Genshin Impact. While many refer to it as a “waifu collector,” the game offers so much more than that with its crisp gameplay and fantastic story. If you are a fan of anime, this is probably your best MMORPG in 2025.
In 2024, MiHoYo released Honkai: Star Rail, another RPG set in a similar universe to Genshin Impact. It was a dramatically popular game even before it was released, with tens of millions of players signing up for pre-registration. If you’re a fan of Genshin Impact, then try Honkai: Star Rail – it’s basically the same thing.
When Amazon develops a game, one would probably assume that it will be prevalent and excellent. Once the game was finally released on September 9th, 2021, after its many delayed releases, it proved that the anticipated predictions for the game were accurate.
Read More: Is New World Dead in 2023?
If you have played an MMORPG before, you will have no trouble jumping into the game, as it provides the classic third-person experience one would expect from the genre. The gameplay includes no auto-locked attacks, which makes combat very interesting. PvP tends to be the endgame that most players enjoy and the exciting crafting system you can sink a lot of hours into.
The game is moving forward in 2025. It hasn’t been too healthy lately, but quite a few players still play New World in 2025. It’s worth checking out.
Image Credit: Cloud Imperium Games
It often leads to the game’s downfall when too much ambition is involved, but Star Citizen managed to pull off everything it was aiming for, making it one of the best MMORPGs to play in 2025. In essence, it is a space trading and combat simulation game, so if you have been playing looking for some ship-to-ship combat in space that works perfectly, then this game will make those fantasies come true.
Other than that, you can explore the vast world that the game offers. The game plays out in the first person while you are outside of vehicles and switches to the third person while you are in a vehicle. You can do pretty much everything you could expect from a game that emphasizes exploring various planets, where trading, mining, and bounty hunting are just some of the options.
There will also be a single-player campaign called Squadron 42 that will impact the player’s career in Star Citizen, which is a pretty exciting idea on paper, and hopefully not a quick cash grab. Overall, if you like space adventuring, trying out this MMORPG should be your priority.
Guild Wars is a fun addition to the MMO genre, which is pretty different from the WoW model. It features quests that players can engage in but with big group sizes. Guild Wars is a more difficult MMO. Players are going to need to engage with the game’s mechanics deeply. The title has a more solid endgame than most others here, but there is plenty of post-game content available to players in this one of the best MMORPGs.
Image Credit: Jagex
The game that has been around for more than 20 years and still going strong with a huge player base has to end up on this list. Considering its release date, it is quite a surprise that it is still a contender for one of the best MMOs 2025 has to offer, but due to how the massive amount of content the game provides, as well as multiple versions of the game, it should not be that unexpected.
Newer players can hop onto modern versions of RuneScape that are more friendly to those who seek adventure in the massive world that the game offers, while Old School RuneScape is for those who miss that punishing grindy MMO feel. Its most popular days may be behind it, but RuneScape is one of the best MMORPG games that fans of the genre should all play at least once.
Image Credit: Bungie
Usually, sequels do not happen in the MMORPG genre that often. However, with Destiny 2, releasing a sequel was a great call by Bungie as it drastically improves on the first Destiny game. It is a first-person shooter where you take the role of a Guardian and fight alien races and other threats from the Darkness. There’s an immense legacy behind Destiny as a series, and Destiny 2 furthers that legacy through awesome, exhilarating gameplay, a great competitive scene, and meaningful updates.
It started off as a paid game, but like many other titles these days, Bungie decided to pivot to a free-to-play model, relying instead on microtransactions to bring in money from the Destiny ecosystem. There’s no doubt that Destiny 2 is one of the best MMORPG games in 2025.
Image Credit: Siege Camp
Most MMORPG games today are about the story’s main character, the superstar. However, Foxhole puts you into a role of a common soldier on the battlefield who can do pretty much anything to contribute. If you ever wanted to go from going to the front lines and mowing down enemies with a machine gun on one day to a truck driver or factory worker on another, then this might be the best MMORPG for you.
Image Credit: Grinding Gear
The first thing that many new players will hear and get scared of when it comes to POE is the massive talent tree that it offers, as there are hundreds of ways to build your character. While that may seem overwhelming, it is not the most important part of the game, as the gameplay and the activities you can do offer so much more. At the end of the day, those who are just looking for some casual fun of fighting monsters and exciting bosses are going to have fun in POE without having an Excel spreadsheet on their second screen.
It was revealed in 2019 that a sequel of sorts is on the way – Path of Exile II. It’s considered by some to be little more than a DLC or an expansion to the first game, but players have been waiting for it for such a long time. It’ll introduce an entirely new storyline, new skills and classes, and a refreshed feel – but it’s essentially just an extension of Path of Exile (2013).
If you are a fan of the action MMO genre, then POE is one of the best MMORPG games 2025 has to offer you.
Read More: Genshin Impact Switch Release: Is It Coming?
Some games made previous entries to our list, and are still engaging enough for you to consider. They might not make our main list this year around but are still going to keep you glued to your screen for days on out.
© EVE Online
Eve Online is the premiere space-based MMORPG game. The massive persistent universe maintained by CCP Games has players battling for control and might be in for well over a decade. Anything from trade, space piracy, and massive technocratic uber battles goes in this universe. Massive alliance battle for control in the universe, with real-world money costs exceeding millions.
EVE Online is a treat to any real MMO fan to try, but be way as the steep learning curve and well-entrenched in-game politics are hard to tackle. If you are into space sims and trying one of the hardest games to master, look no further than EVE Online.
© Trion Worlds
Rift is part of the second wave of MMO games that launched in the 2010s, following up on Warcraft’s success. While a little older now, these games are notable for the way they build on the 2000s ideas of what an MMO can be. Rift is probably the most versatile of this batch of MMOs, persisting long after a lot of their competition went away. Rift has players join together in really big groups. Spontaneous quests define its gameplay, keeping things exciting.
One of the biggest draws of Rift is a system for class customization that is much more expansive than you’ll find elsewhere. The title still gets regular updates, too, with seasonal events keeping things interesting for this MMORPG in 2025.
© Secret World
Secret World is a bit of a unique case in the best MMORPG games. This one is nearly entirely story-driven. The narrative is different and unique, following a world in which myths and legends are real. The gameplay here isn’t just for the sake of getting loot. The quests push you through solving complex and rewarding puzzles, with expansive elements outside of the game to look through as well.
The game has now gone free to play as Secret World Legends. While it isn’t as well updated as others here, it definitely deserves mention for its unique approach to the MMO genre.
Image Credit: Digital Extremes
While we really wanted to include Warframe in the full list, the truth is that the game is quite similar to Destiny 2, and most players will agree that it is inferior in almost every aspect. But, even if it is very similar, there are still some differences between the two looter-shooters, and if you give Destiny 2 a try and don’t like it, Warframe might just be your forte. It’s one of the best MMORPGs in 2025 and quite unique.
One thing that should be noted about Warframe is that it isn’t beginner friendly at all. Years of content additions have made the new player experience quite rough, and it might take you a while to get the grips with the systems if you haven’t played previously.
Image Credit: Thomas Webb
There are quite a lot of crypto MMORPG games out there since the NFT craze, but one that deserves mention is Worldwide Webb, a game that allows players to use their NFTs. While Ready Player One inspired this game, there is a long way to go until this project reaches that potential, especially when it uses web3 technology and a browser instead of a VR platform.
There are plenty of titles we could characterize as the best MMORPG games on our list, but the ones mentioned above are the ones that deserve your attention this year. Some are worth revisiting, while others are worth just participating in for the sake of the community. We will update this list accordingly as games come in and out of favour.
MMORPG stands for ‘Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game’, which we feel is a fairly self-explanatory term!
As per our list above, we believe that World of Warcraft is the best MMORPG in 2025 although FF 14 gives it tight competition. It boasts a remarkable legacy and millions of players, and with new updates dropping once every so often, it’s kept alive by Blizzard Entertainment while competing titles may falter and fail.
Like the above answer, we’d probably have to say World of Warcraft. It’s an iconic game that almost single-handedly popularised the MMORPG genre, becoming a household name and a recognizable brand the world over.
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