The Best Fantasy-Based MMOs To Play In 2022 | MMORPG.com

System

The Best Fantasy-Based MMOs To Play In 2022 | MMORPG.com

With decades worth of fantasy MMORPGs to choose from, finding the right one can be an epic quest in and of itself. To help you begin your journey, here are the 10 healthiest, most robust, and most promising fantasy-based MMORPGs to play in 2022. 

Read the full story here

Tiller

I'm sticking with FFXIV and Lost Ark; and I might be interested in the next ESO expansion depending what I learn during tomorrows presentation.

mklinic

"Best... to play in 2022"

release dates 2016, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2004, 2007, 1999, and 2013
not released yet: Lost Ark

I read the title and sort of thought we'd be discussing more current games. But then, not sure if a list could be filled out when adding that criteria...

...and yes, I know the article establishes scope as "With decades worth of fantasy MMORPGs to choose from." Just amazed to see a game that is 20+ years old on the list. Maybe that's just a testament to the games though.

ashiru_1978

mklinic said:

"Best... to play in 2022"



release dates 2016, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2004, 2007, 1999, and 2013

not released yet: Lost Ark



I read the title and sort of thought we'd be discussing more current games. But then, not sure if a list could be filled out when adding that criteria...

...and yes, I know the article establishes scope as "With decades worth of fantasy MMORPGs to choose from." Just amazed to see a game that is 20+ years old on the list. Maybe that's just a testament to the games though.

What's so special about Lost Ark that everyone is raving about it? It's just another mediocre, generic Asian MMO that will die and be forgotten 6 months after launch.

dirtyside

you writers are just as bad as G4 TV trying to come back ............

Splattr

mklinic said:

"Best... to play in 2022"



release dates 2016, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2004, 2007, 1999, and 2013

not released yet: Lost Ark



I read the title and sort of thought we'd be discussing more current games. But then, not sure if a list could be filled out when adding that criteria...

...and yes, I know the article establishes scope as "With decades worth of fantasy MMORPGs to choose from." Just amazed to see a game that is 20+ years old on the list. Maybe that's just a testament to the games though.

Trust me when I say I wish there were more recent games on the list. SOLO, Bless Unleashed, and Elyon all have abysmal player counts just a few months after release. New World still has a chance to correct course, but will it?

And yes, Lost Ark hasn't released yet but it had a lot of positive hype from the November test, so it is definitely worth playing when it comes out next month. Will it follow the path of the other recent releases though? Maybe, and that's the good thing about a list like this. Should Lost Ark fail it can be replaced with another game. If New World or one of the others catch a second wind, they too could be added in. We will be revisiting this list throughout the year and making changes as the ebb and flow of the MMO universe demands.

Tiller

ashiru_1978 said:

mklinic said:

"Best... to play in 2022"





release dates 2016, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2004, 2007, 1999, and 2013


not released yet: Lost Ark





I read the title and sort of thought we'd be discussing more current games. But then, not sure if a list could be filled out when adding that criteria...

...and yes, I know the article establishes scope as "With decades worth of fantasy MMORPGs to choose from." Just amazed to see a game that is 20+ years old on the list. Maybe that's just a testament to the games though.

What's so special about Lost Ark that everyone is raving about it? It's just another mediocre, generic Asian MMO that will die and be forgotten 6 months after launch.

Tell your handlers we are immune to paid trolls here.

Ridrith

What a sad state of affairs for the MMO industry. This entire genre is stagnant beyond belief. Same old games keep surviving and no one is willing to do anything differently. We have the shitty Kickstarter MMOs of course, but so far those have been abject failures every single time they've "released" to the public.

laserit

I'm looking towards other genres for what I always wished the MMORPG genre would give me.

That's ok, I don't want to change the direction of the genre. I just wished it was something it never really was.

A fantasy

Hariken

Does anyone ever wonder why the solo option in mmo's is so big now? Some people always complain about it but never want to say why players prefer to play that way.

Kratier

wow, so many haters, shitters, and whatever else just bandwagoning negativity
there are so many great MMOs out there, SWTOR has better story quests than most 60$ singleplayer games, and the gameplay in some mmos are better than AAA singleplayer games

there's so many great mmos to choose from, i don't have enough time to play them all. ESO is still king for me, and lost ark will be a contender, ESO does a live stream tomorrow with all new year of content , and for you all to sit there hating on "old mmos" wow is like almost 20 years old too, so what? still a great game for people who enjoy it
i think you all have a terrible toxic mindset towards content and games, if it isn't coming out soon, you think it doesn't exist. man you could go play ESO and have content as f2p for the next 3 years casually playing without paying a cent

Mendel

A good selection of older (in some cases, very much older) games.

One major correction to the oldest selection, EverQuest.  It's still pretty much a grouping game, however, unless your character is 85th level or higher, the game is almost entirely a solo game.  Grouping is almost exclusively an end-game activity anymore.

That doesn't mean it isn't still good to play on occasion, just different.

cheyane

Torval said:

Those are all fine games and I think Mitch compiled a good list. So firstly, nice article and very informative! But, and this is the mmo killer for me now, after 50 levels or so of fluff it's all "endgame dungeons and raids". Every. Single. One. Of. Them. And I'm super burnt out and bored with that. So, I don't plan on playing any of those in 2022.

It doesn't matter if new games were added to the list because they too would end up with that same tired template. SOLO and New World could be added alongside Lost Ark and it would change a thing because those games too are following that same tired template.

Add in the fact that, for me, the massively multiplayer part isn't really a big net positive anymore. It just means everything about the game will be distilled down to the lowest common denominator. Rich community development rarely, if ever, happens. It's just a bunch of people all in their own little bubbles grinding out content as fast as they can. So what we end up with is a watered down experience with strangers and for what reason?

If that floats your boat, then cool, no shade thrown at those who enjoy that, but I'm looking for richer gaming experiences than what that offers.

I don't raid any more. It is not that I cannot but the reason I play MMORPGs has changed. When I started playing Everquest all I wanted to do was to raid. I enjoyed it immensely. I raided in many games like FFXIII , WoW and done some big events even in City of X but over the years as I grew older what I want is the world where I can meet and talk to people but the raiding has dropped off.

I went back to Classic TBC and made ten toons. Well I did not start with ten I made two Horde characters then 3, 4 and then I made an Alliance toon then another. I made them go through different areas doing different quests , all of them have different crafting and gathering skills. I am really just slowly playing the game. I love looking about and 'smelling the roses' so they say and merely just experiencing the whole game and I am not rushing to any end game. In fact I may never get even one of them to 70. That's okay.

I strike up conversations with people and surprisingly people do just chat and even as long as 40-50 minutes and I just generally enjoy the whole world. I soak in the music and the atmosphere and I take time to really even look at the sunsets. The world is truly quite lovely. Yes it is an old game but it was a very well crafted world. 

I think the whole rat race raiding took away many things you could have appreciated in favour of rushing to the end game to raid. Yes I am sure there is fun and challenge in it. I also find doing a hard quest which I almost died or died 5 times challenging and fun too. My focus has simply changed and you know what as long as I am enjoying myself it does not matter how old and tired others might think the game I'm playing is.

There is no shame in not reaching the end and there is no need to raid to enjoy a game. This is something many people have overlooked and they always do what other people do and never stop to think if that is what makes the game enjoyable. Instead they just burnout. Well I can burn out too on my ten toons but right now I'm having a blast.

itchmon

I was hoping for EQ to be on the list thanks!
it's still the best!!

moosecatlol

Oof, imagine being a new player in wow.

Tokken

I envy those players who have never played WOW. Once they start, they have a whole new world to explore. I miss that feeling.

cheyane

My druid .

Torpian

For better or worse, I've actually played every game on this list - including Lost Ark (through a VPN / English patch on the Russian server). There's a couple of great games I'd add to the list:

1. SWTOR
2. Genshin Impact

Also, Lost Ark is a lot of fun - don't judge it until you've played it. I've played a lot of Korean games (Aion, BDO, TERA etc...) and I agree they milk you for money via their microtransactions and RNG systems. So far, Lost Ark gives a lot of content (including a large inventory space) without asking you for anything. Try it when it comes out, it's free.

lahnmir

Writer: Damn, I have a problem, I am trying to make a top ten of best fantasy MMO's to play in 2022 but I only got nine, what to do?
Editor: Did you include New World?
Writer: Hell no, what is wrong with you? It might be a top fifteen most played on Steam game 6 months after release but that is the outside world. Do you want to get the comment section locked or something???!!
Editor: Okay, okay, fair enough. How about Ultima Online then? The people here love the golden oldies.
Writer: No, no, no, no good at all. People will be convinced Scorchien paid us to include it, it would definitely hurt our integrity.
Editor: Fair enough. How about ESO?
Writer: It is on the list.....
Editor: Ohh, sorry. It is so bland that I missed it. Warhammer Online then? The RoR private server is amazing.
Writer: Lets not get our audience even more confused about what we do, and don't, tolerate around here when it comes to discussing private servers.
Editor: Bloody hell, do you want a top ten or not? Ryzom then? Still going and still amazing?
Writer: Too sci-fi man, our readers would be so confused. I could include EQ2?
Editor: Whahahahahaha
Writer: Whahahahahaha
Writer: you know what? I've got the solution, I will just include Blade & Soul.
Editor: ......... God, have mercy on our souls......

Thank you for reading my meta comment on the state of the industry and this website.

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

Pala

I dont play mmos to solo, any good group pve mmos?

Scot

Torval said:

Those are all fine games and I think Mitch compiled a good list. So firstly, nice article and very informative! But, and this is the mmo killer for me now, after 50 levels or so of fluff it's all "endgame dungeons and raids". Every. Single. One. Of. Them. And I'm super burnt out and bored with that. So, I don't plan on playing any of those in 2022.

It doesn't matter if new games were added to the list because they too would end up with that same tired template. SOLO and New World could be added alongside Lost Ark and it wouldn't change a thing because those games too are following that same tired template.

Add in the fact that, for me, the massively multiplayer part isn't really a big net positive anymore. It just means everything about the game will be distilled down to the lowest common denominator. Rich community development rarely, if ever, happens. It's just a bunch of people all in their own little bubbles grinding out content as fast as they can. So what we end up with is a watered down experience with strangers and for what reason?

If that floats your boat, then cool, no shade thrown at those who enjoy that, but I'm looking for richer gaming experiences than what that offers.

edit: spelling

I think raiding is a MMO must, but on that list BDO does not have raiding, go east young man.

Also not sure Neverwinter has proper raids?

laserit

Scot said:

Torval said:

Those are all fine games and I think Mitch compiled a good list. So firstly, nice article and very informative! But, and this is the mmo killer for me now, after 50 levels or so of fluff it's all "endgame dungeons and raids". Every. Single. One. Of. Them. And I'm super burnt out and bored with that. So, I don't plan on playing any of those in 2022.

It doesn't matter if new games were added to the list because they too would end up with that same tired template. SOLO and New World could be added alongside Lost Ark and it wouldn't change a thing because those games too are following that same tired template.

Add in the fact that, for me, the massively multiplayer part isn't really a big net positive anymore. It just means everything about the game will be distilled down to the lowest common denominator. Rich community development rarely, if ever, happens. It's just a bunch of people all in their own little bubbles grinding out content as fast as they can. So what we end up with is a watered down experience with strangers and for what reason?

If that floats your boat, then cool, no shade thrown at those who enjoy that, but I'm looking for richer gaming experiences than what that offers.

edit: spelling

I think raiding is a MMO must, but on that list BDO does not have raiding, go east young man.

Also not sure Neverwinter has proper raids?

I believe that part of a good fantasy world includes creatures that are so massive and fierce that it takes a small army to take them down.

Creatures so dangerous, that a single man stands no chance. A dangerous world where one lives in fear of being hunted by these creatures.

They do need to eat

Scorchien

Scot said:

Torval said:

Those are all fine games and I think Mitch compiled a good list. So firstly, nice article and very informative! But, and this is the mmo killer for me now, after 50 levels or so of fluff it's all "endgame dungeons and raids". Every. Single. One. Of. Them. And I'm super burnt out and bored with that. So, I don't plan on playing any of those in 2022.

It doesn't matter if new games were added to the list because they too would end up with that same tired template. SOLO and New World could be added alongside Lost Ark and it wouldn't change a thing because those games too are following that same tired template.

Add in the fact that, for me, the massively multiplayer part isn't really a big net positive anymore. It just means everything about the game will be distilled down to the lowest common denominator. Rich community development rarely, if ever, happens. It's just a bunch of people all in their own little bubbles grinding out content as fast as they can. So what we end up with is a watered down experience with strangers and for what reason?

If that floats your boat, then cool, no shade thrown at those who enjoy that, but I'm looking for richer gaming experiences than what that offers.

edit: spelling

I think raiding is a MMO must, but on that list BDO does not have raiding, go east young man.

Also not sure Neverwinter has proper raids?

It does...

ultimateduck

The only MMO that has the potential to actually be different isn't even on the list, and it's releasing today.

Zenith. VR is the future of the genre.

Splattr

lahnmir said:

Writer: Damn, I have a problem, I am trying to make a top ten of best fantasy MMO's to play in 2022 but I only got nine, what to do?


Editor: Did you include New World?


Writer: Hell no, what is wrong with you? It might be a top fifteen most played on Steam game 6 months after release but that is the outside world. Do you want to get the comment section locked or something???!!


Editor: Okay, okay, fair enough. How about Ultima Online then? The people here love the golden oldies.


Writer: No, no, no, no good at all. People will be convinced Scorchien paid us to include it, it would definitely hurt our integrity.


Editor: Fair enough. How about ESO?


Writer: It is on the list.....

Editor: Ohh, sorry. It is so bland that I missed it. Warhammer Online then? The RoR private server is amazing.


Writer: Lets not get our audience even more confused about what we do, and don't, tolerate around here when it comes to discussing private servers.


Editor: Bloody hell, do you want a top ten or not? Ryzom then? Still going and still amazing?

Writer: Too sci-fi man, our readers would be so confused. I could include EQ2?


Editor: Whahahahahaha


Writer: Whahahahahaha


Writer: you know what? I've got the solution, I will just include Blade & Soul.


Editor: ......... God, have mercy on our souls......





Thank you for reading my meta comment on the state of the industry and this website.



/Cheers,

Lahnmir

That was some good satire right there. The real conversation went more like this though: "Here's the list." "Oh, thanks."

But hey, let's play point - counter point just for funsies.

New World: Is there anyone in the room suggesting their friends join them in New World? Anyone? Ok, let's move on. Oh wait, they already did.

Ultima Online: Unfortunately, no one has approached me and offered to pay if I would include their game. All of the words I write come out of my own brain, and sooner or later guys in white coats will come to take me away because of them.

ESO: Like it or not, it is a good game. Sorry, I couldn't think of anything witty to say on this one.

Warhammer Online: Do your research before you make a joke. https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/mmo-reroll-the-private-servers-2000122411

Ryzom: New World is top 15 on Steam and we didn't include it. What makes you think we would add a game that peaked at 24 concurrent players in the last year?

EQ2: Whahahahahaha

Blade & Soul: Even though it isn't for me (https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/mmo-reroll-blade-and-soul-2000119905) B&S still deserves a spot on the list. If this was 100% my favorites, Tera, Elyon and DDO would be on here instead. But the title doesn't say Mitch's favorites, it says best fantasy-based MMOs.

Thank you for reading my gimped, carebear, pleb comment on the state of the mmo community and gamers in general.

Splattr

ultimateduck said:

The only MMO that has the potential to actually be different isn't even on the list, and it's releasing today.



Zenith. VR is the future of the genre.

I'm not sure Zenith or any VRMMO is ready to go toe to toe with the big guys just yet, but I do agree that VR is the future of the genre. And that's why I made a list specifically for VR MMOs that went live this morning. Enjoy. https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/vr-mmos-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-2022-2000124208