MMO Games ranking

What We Liked..

Generous free to play model

Large playerbase

Steady stream of updates and content

Great sandbox

.. and what we didn't

Not solo friendly

Lacks content diversity

Large world but feels empty

3.8 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.7

Genre: mmorpg

Setting: fantasy, historical

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: guild or factions matches or duels PvE PvP


When it comes to free to play sandbox MMORPGs, Albion Online stands out. Its top-down isometric gameplay, low-polygonal graphics, huge game world and immersive sandbox systems are its core strengths that keeps its healthy playerbase coming back for more. In Albion, players will grow their classless characters into farmers, crafters, traders or sell-swords, depending on what you want to do which means there's literally something for everyone. While its progression systems are deep and complex, it offers long-term grinds that are worth the effort. Unfortunately, solo players will find it hard to progress far in PvE if they dislike PvP, while large guilds and factions will dominate the economy in different parts of Albion. Overall, it's a solid free to play MMORPG.

➔ Main points:

  • Isometric sandbox MMORPG
  • Free to play with optional premium currency and status
  • Deep and immersive progression systems
  • Grindy but worth the effort especially for PvP end-game
  • Large and active playerbase

What We Liked..

One of the best space sim MMOs to-date

Plenty of content

ships and players

Huge battles are stories worth experiencing

.. and what we didn't

Can be too complex for new players

Grindy in-between fun moments

3.8 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.7

Genre: mmorpg, simulation

Setting: sci-fi

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: guild or factions PvE PvP


EVE Online is a legendary space simulation MMO that first launched in 2003. The game puts players in a compelling visual game world that's all about conquering space for your race, corporation and faction. With almost two decades worth of content and updates, EVE Online offers PvE and PvP that's unique in the genre, where both solo players and large guilds can carve our their own fun and history through huge battles where everything is at stake, in addition to exploration, economy, crafting and more. While it's an intricately complex game to get into for new players, the time investment pays off in the long run if you have an end goal in mind. The game is free to play and its microtransactions aren't that intrusive. Overall, it's still a household MMO title and worth playing even today.

➔ Main points:

  • Deep and immersive space sandbox simulator
  • Offers plenty of content for all types of players
  • Can be enjoyed for free without pay walls
  • Graphics are decent for a 17 year old game

What We Liked..

Interesting premise for a game

Good use of MMO elements

Nice visuals

.. and what we didn't

Poor performance optimization

Lacks control customization

3.8 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.7

Genre: strategy

Setting: present

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: PvE PvP


RAM Pressure is a turn-based tactical squad strategy game in the mold of XCOM. It's free to play and players will pick either the USA, Russia or China to represent. In RAM Pressure players control squads of soldiers which contain up to 4 soldiers, each varying in terms of class and weapon-set. The objective will be to complete PvE missions and PvP battles to eventually grow their squads through experience points and better gear.

➔ Main points:

  • Squad tactical turn-based strategy game that will feel familiar for fans of XCOM
  • Highly detailed environment graphics and visuals
  • Plenty of missions to do solo or multiplayer
  • Free to play with optional transactions

What We Liked..

Gameplay is simple yet complex enough to keep the player engaged

Accelerated time keeps the game moving and interesting

Graphics are engaging and excellent

.. and what we didn't

Dangerously easy to rely on the game shop

Not good on battery life

Very time consuming as you level up

3.8 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.5

Genre: casual, simulation

Setting: city, present

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: no fighting


Overview

If orange is the new black, then farming is the new popular app. With games like Farmville and Hay Day, players can immerse themselves into the artificial pleasures of farming. This includes things like growing crops, raising livestock, and delivering goods and services to awaiting customers. Like Farmville, Township got its start on the Facebook platform and evolved into a standalone app. But where Farmville and Hay Day focus strictly on farm-building, Township expands the player's reach into other areas of development, like house-building, factories, restaurants, movie theaters, and even a zoo. It blends farm and city building together into something that's less 'nostalgic farming' and more 'farming metropolis'. The game is also quick to catch on to, with a fairly basic tutorial that relies on simple animated GIFs that show the player exactly how to play, but leaves enough room to let the player explore on their own if they want.

With a fairly basic premise ("Congratulations on inheriting some property!"), a simple-yet-complex gaming structure that keeps you engaged, and amazing graphics, Township remains a top contender in the world-building simulation apps out there.

➔ Main points:

  • Blends both city building and farm building together
  • Grow your own crops, take care of your own animals, and sell the wares that you make
  • Build and grow things in real-time with accelerated speed
  • Focus on building your city into whatever you want it to be!
  • Game shop allows player to use real money to advance your level faster

What We Liked..

Guardian vs. Guardian hook is unique

Plenty of hero builds and customization

Varied selection of heroes with multiple roles to choose from

Regular updates and new content

.. and what we didn't

Cash shop limits hero selection for new players

Matchmaking limited due to limited players

3.8 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.5

Genre: action, MOBA, shooter

Setting: fantasy

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: matches or duels


Overview

Your team of five must strategically capture points, called power circles, in order to grant your Guardian enough power to attack the enemy Guardian, at which point you get the awesome privilege of seeing your gigantic creature dart across the map to give the enemy a good walloping, causing the enemy Guardian to become vulnerable to damage. If your Guardian overpowers the enemy’s enough, then it will be instantly wounded, and you won’t even need to attack it yourself. Talk about a sense of satisfaction (or overwhelming weight of your failures if you’re on the other end).
The game currently features 21 heroes, with more arriving as time goes on, and three maps, plus the expected assortment of skins for both heroes and weapons.

➔ Main points:

  • 5v5 skirmishes
  • Fast-paced 3rd person action
  • Contribute to the battle in a wide variety of roles, including tanks, supports, and nukers.
  • Cartoonish, stylized graphics

What We Liked..

Fully free to play

Good dungeons and raids

Plenty of collection systems

.. and what we didn't

Disappointing story and quests

Aging graphics and visuals

Cash store reliant

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: mmorpg

Setting: fantasy

Graphics: full 3D

PvP: guild or factions matches or duels PvE PvP


Blood Rites is a free to play Asian fantasy MMORPG, first released in 2011. The game features a tab-target combat system, four classes and plenty of progression systems to sink your teeth into. These include weapon enchantments and the more popular Elf companion system, which lets you increase attributes with pets. In the content department, the game's PvE dungeons and raids is where you'll have the most fun, as opposed to the unbalanced PvP modes and a bland story and questing experience to level cap. Graphics and visuals doesn't do Blood Rites any favors, but players actively looking for a classic MMORPG won't mind that too much. Elswhere, the in-game cash shop can be obtrusive if you want to be a competitive player, but otherwise the game is completely playable as a free title.

➔ Main points:

  • Fully free to play without any restrictions
  • Only four classes but plenty of growth systems to make up for it
  • Aging graphics and game engine
  • Fun PvE group content to counter the bland questing

What We Liked..

lots of strategy involved

clean graphical style

easy to pick-up and play

.. and what we didn't

really slow going

lots of gated elements

gold can give too great of an advantage

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: strategy, war

Setting: historical

Graphics: plain text and images

PvP: matches or duels PvP


Call of War: 1942 is a strategy game set during World War 2. You build, you expand, you go to war, and yes – you exploit. Call of War is most definitely a 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) game, and even if that genre isn’t quite familiar to you, you’ve probably heard of another immensely popular 4X game: Civilization. Call of War takes the concepts of a 4X game and applies them to a free-to-play model.

➔ Main points:

  • Browser-based 4X strategy game
  • Matches last weeks
  • Set during WWII
  • Light system requirements

What We Liked..

Fun combat system

Great graphics for a browser game

Not required to buy anything from cash shop

.. and what we didn't

Takes a long time to load graphics

Limited class choices

Repetitive gameplay and questing

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: mmorpg

Setting: fantasy

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: guild or factions matches or duels PvE PvP


Dark Omen is a high fantasy browser-based MMORPG that pits you and other heroes against a demon invasion and you must save your world. The game is free to play and features in-depth MMORPG systems like PvE dungeons, PvP arenas, Guilds and more which is great for browser players.

The game offers limited class choices at launch, but makes up for it with very good graphics and combat mechanics. Content isn't original, but offers enough progression such as upgrading mounts, gear and more to keep players interested at the end-game.

➔ Main points:

  • Completey free to play at launch with optional cash shop
  • Lack of class choices as only two available at launch
  • Very good graphics but it takes a long time to load
  • Plenty of character progression mechanics that may seem overwhelming

What We Liked..

Highly realistic thanks to modern day setting and accurate depiction of military units

Active player base with Alliances recruiting across all game worlds

Dynamic weather system that can change battle outcomes

Achievement system that's uncommon for this type of game

.. and what we didn't

Slower than usual progression to encourage the purchase of premium Diamonds to speed things up

High learning curve for players that aren't familiar with military language

Graphics and artwork aren't the best to look at

No horizontal progression such as Champions to break the waiting game monotony

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0


Watch the trailer:

Genre: strategy, war

Setting: city, sci-fi

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: guild or factions all vs all


Desert Operations is a highly realistic military themed strategy game that is free to play and has a modern day setting. The gameplay revolves around familiar strategy mechanics such as building, researching, resource management and real time-based PvP warfare. The game worlds are populated and advancing your nation is a fun challenge as players navigate through mechanics like a dynamic weather system that could change the outcome of battles. In addition to that, joining social Alliances will be crucial for the late game, but there are there things to do like hunting Achievements which is rare for games of this genre.

Other aspects of Desert Operations aren't the best such as graphics and aesthetics, but that won't matter too much if you're used to browser-based strategy games. While Desert Operations is easy to jump into, it does have a high learning curve for non-military enthusiasts and there is a very slow rate of progression which encourages you to spend real money on Diamonds to progress things like building or recruiting faster.

➔ Main points:

  • Modern day setting with familiar strategy mechanics
  • Realistic depiction of military units, buildings and tech to reflect today's era
  • Active player-base thanks to more than 6 worlds to play on
  • Short and succinct tutorial to get new players up to speed and playing in less than 5 minutes

What We Liked..

looks and sounds great

lots of strategy

positioning adds another layer

currently quite balanced

.. and what we didn't

just not as popular as some other CCGs

Bandai Namco brought more microtransactions

3.5 out of 5
Editorial vote: 7.0

Genre: strategy, cards

Setting: fantasy, sci-fi

Graphics: animated artworks

PvP: matches or duels


In most collectible card games, the hero, or summoner (or whatever you want to call it), sits out of sight, signified by a portrait, but in Duelyst, your general starts on the battlefield and gives the game its namesake. Battles in Duelyst are just that, duels. It’s your general pitted against your enemy’s general, and all the cards you play are in service of that.

➔ Main points:

  • fun implementation of generals
  • lots of strategic options
  • grid-based movement and positioning
  • great pixel art