Final Fantasy XIVis a seminal MMO for a variety of reasons. It boasts gorgeous visuals, satisfying combat mechanics, and it’seasy for first-timers to pick up. It’s a game that stands on its own two feet separate from other entries in theFinal Fantasyseries, in large part because of its wholly unique storyline and inclusion of well-rounded, meaningful characters.
After a while, though, players might get the itch to try something different – playing the same game for a long time takes its toll, especially in an MMO setting. Fortunately, there are many other MMOs with intriguing story hooks that keep players engaged. If other MMOs don’t end up satisfying that need, the break can still help players appreciateFinal Fantasy XIVwhen they return.
10Guild Wars 2 (And Guild Wars 1)
Guild Wars 2was one of the highest-rated MMOs of all time upon release and served as a fully-improved version of the original game. WhileGuild Wars 1is still playable and some say has an even better sequel than its follow-up,Guild Wars 2simply has a larger, more dedicated player base.
RELATED:Guild Wars 2: 10 Mistakes New Players Make (& How To Avoid Them)
The story of Guild Wars 2 is unique in that it is based on the choices the player makes when creating a character. Unique objectives and story details unfold around the player, making for an incredibly immersive experience.
9The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Onlineis a sleeper hit of the MMO genre. Panned on its initial release for being buggy and underdeveloped, the game now has multiple expansions and updates under its belt that improved the game so much that it is one of the most-played MMOs in the world.
This MMO allows the player to explore the narrative at their own pace, with the world of Tamriel scaled to their level. Players can choose to level in just about any zone in the game, even from the start, and the tomes of lore in theElder Scrollsfranchiselend themselves to deep, beautifulstorylines.
8World of Warcraft
An absolute titan of the MMO genre,World of Warcraftis the longest-running and most-played MMO of all time. The recent expansionShadowlandsallows players to go back to any expansion in the last 17 years and experience the storylines and worlds as self-contained experiences.
While some say the game has fallen in quality in recent years the lore of theWarcraftuniverse is, in a word, epic. Even for dedicated players, ittakes years to experience every narrativearc the game has to offer.
7Secret World Legends
Secret World Legendsis unique among MMOs for a variety of reasons, number one being the setting.Secret Worlds Legendstakes place in the modern world, with real-life locations represented in-game.
It pits the player against armies of darkness and tasks the player with uncovering the secrets of the supernatural in a story-driven setting. The combat and visuals are great, but this game really shines on its narrative.
6Dungeons and Dragons Online
When there’sno tabletop to play on, there’s alwaysDungeons and Dragons Online.While the graphics of this MMO are outdated, to say the least, it draws upon decades ofDungeons and Dragonslore in a seamless and satisfying experience.
IconicDungeons and Dragonsenemies such as Beholders make their appearance, as well as iconic locations such as Khorvaire (the primary continent the Eberron campaign takes place in.) But if the visual style is too outdated, there is a spiritual successor that also takes place in theDungeons and Dragonsuniverse.
5Neverwinter
Neverwinterwas released far more recently thanDungeons and Dragons Onlinebut is based in the same universe. The story revolves around the initial invasion of the Lich Queen Valindra on the city of Neverwinter, and over the years has added a number of deep plotlines anyDungeons and Dragonsfan should experience.
RELATED:Neverwinter Is Working On A Major Content Overhaul
Neverwinterhas a large, dedicated fanbase and is easy for first-timers to pick up – plus, likeDungeons and Dragons Online, it’s nearly completely free.
4Lord of the Rings Online
TheLord of the Ringsfranchise is legendary among fantasy epics – it’s no wonder thata game eventually came outusing this lore as the basis for an MMO. Made by the same developer asDungeons and Dragons Online, the graphics are somewhat outdated, but the representation of Middle-Earth makes up for this in spades.
The highlight ofLord Of The Rings Onlineis the accurate-to-the-books representation of characters and areas of Middle-Earth. Plus, players can experience being one of Sauron’s servants, as there is an option to play as an evil race.
3Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republicis another MMO that relies heavily upon the player’s choices to tell the story. The fact that it was developed by Bioware, the legendary company behind the Mass Effect series, should indicate the role the player has in the game’s overall narrative.
RELATED:The Best (& Worst) Class Stories in Star Wars: The Old Republic
Playing as a Jedi-in-training, a smuggler, or even a Wookie never felt more immersive – and in the last few years, the game went to a free-to-play model.
2Star Trek Online
For fans of theStar Trekfranchise,Star Trek Onlinegives players the opportunity to join Star Fleet and command their very own vessel. This game is unique for its 3D space combat and itsmission-by-mission storytelling– like the episodic nature of the show.
Star Trek Onlineis fun for newcomers but even better for Trekkies who recognize iconic characters from the TV series and movies, who they can then quest alongside.
1Runescape
Ah yes,Runescape,the classic middle-school point-and-click RPG that made waves upon its initial release. The game has gone through significant changes in recent years, and re-released old school servers for players toexperience the grind all over againin the original 2007 setting.
Runescape’s storyline is uncovered through quests and throughout the world. When the player isn’t farming cows for leather outside Lumbridge, they might be solving a murder mystery or saving a town from a cave yeti. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, though, and plenty of quests and narratives are purely there for laughs.
