16 Games Like World Of Warcraft (WoW) - Popular MMORPGs
Games Like World of Warcraft (WoW), Both Free and Paid
Are you looking to a play a MMORPG like World of Warcraft (WoW)? There are plenty of similar games available, and some are even available for free.
World of Warcraft is widely regarded as the most popular MMORPG available on the market. The game is published by Blizzard Entertainment and requires a subscription to play (although WoW is free for players up to level 20).
World of Warcraft is definitely not the only MMORPG on the market though; the genre is full of thousands of games that are just as good if not better.
My WoW days are long behind me now. But during my MMORPG craze phase, I played tonnes of games in the genre, and I know how hard it is to find a solid experience (there is a lot of junk games in the MMO genre; I don't think anybody can argue that). I hope you find this list of my favourites helpful in cutting down the length of time it takes to find a new game to play.
Most of the games here offer a free World of Warcraft experience since I have always believed that subscription-based MMOs rarely offer gameplay quality above that of the free alternatives (at least not enough for the price).
Don't forget to vote in our poll for your favourite. If you know of some more games like World of Warcraft don't hesitate to comment further down the page; I'm always reviewing this page for new games.
What Is The Best Game Like World of Warcraft?
LOTRO
1 - Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO)
A MMO game for Lord of the Rings fans.
Lord of the Rings Online (or LOTRO) is definitely a MMO worth experiencing (especially for fans of the book or film series). The population is surprisingly large for a game that comparatively doesn't receive much press—this is easily within the top 10 if not top five most-populated MMORPGs out there.
The main storyline that you’ll follow in LOTRO is split into a series of books and chapters, making it feel like you are adventuring within one of the Lord of the Rings stories. For the most part, these chapters feature fairly standard MMO gameplay with quests, NPCs, and increasingly difficult challenges.
The game does try to capture the Lord of the Rings feeling in ways other than storyline, though, such as the use of cooking, crafting, and even music. This also extends to the deed, title, and trait systems that have a very Middle-Earth feel to them.
If you are a fan of PvP, you'll find a nice home in Lord of the Rings Online with plenty of emphasis on PvP combat, so there is no shortage of end-game potential between the PvP and PvE gameplay.
Lord of the Rings Online Gameplay: Some Gameplay From MMOHut
Runes of Magic
2 - Runes of Magic
A Popular Free Fantasy MMORPG
Runes of Magic (also known as RoM) was originally developed by the Taiwanese company Runewaker Entertainment and, like most MMORPGs, was later translated for English players by a different company (Frogster Interactive in this case). The game is free to download and play, as it makes use of a micro-transaction shop feature.
Runes of Magic offers two different race options (Human or Elves) along with eight classes which can be mixed and match to create nearly 50 possible class combinations.
Runes of Magic offers PvP, housing, marriage, and even guild castles (which can be upgraded to provide many different benefits to guild members). A unique feature of Runes of Magic is 'Monster Cards', which enemies leave behind and act as both trophies and stat bonuses.
Runes of Magic is another free alternative that I strongly recommend players try out and is definitely within the top 3 free MMOs that are currently available.
Runes of Magic - Official Website
Age of Conan
3 - Age of Conan
The Mature MMORPG Is Now Free to Play
Age of Conan aims to be a mature MMORPG that includes violence, blood, and other mature themes. The game originally released in 2008 as a subscription-based model but has had a free-to-play component since 2011 (under the relaunch name of Age of Conan: Unchained).
The game's combat system is definitely one if its best features (along with the massive amount of lore and locations to explore).
Combat is all about striking your target from various angles and combining these in a realistic and real-time manner to perform combinations for extra damage. As such, Age of Conan is often considered a 'skill-based' MMORPG as quick timing and good dexterity are required to be successful, with equipment playing a small role.
For the truly keen MMORPG player, there are hardcore servers available for both the EU and US. In these servers, the guards from various cities are removed, allowing players from different alliances to roam freely and PvP battle at any location.
Age of Conan Trailer
tera
4 - TERA
A Bright and Colourful MMORPG Experience
TERA is one of the newer MMORPGs to be featured on this list, making it a perfect option for those MMO fans who love to get into a game early and become a powerful player before it becomes saturated.
TERA combines traditional MMO influences and features with a touch of Diablo-inspired loot and camera angles to deliver something that quickly becomes more addicting than your average MMO.
TERA lets players take control of countless classes as they face 1,000 quests and hundreds of varieties of monsters. The large selection of monsters and decently large skill tree are particularly well designed along with the massive multi-level dungeons that you'll often be exploring for loot.
With pets, guilds, and plenty of PvP also mixed into the TERA experience, this is a new MMO that has already made massive strides towards becoming the best MMO since release and will only continue upwards from here.
TERA Gameplay
Star Wars: The Old Republic
5 - Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR)
A Popular Star Wars Game
Star Wars: The Old Republic (also known as TOR or SWTOR) is another popular MMORPG that is based within the Star Wars universe. The game was developed by BioWare and was released on December 20, 2011.
Within a few days of its launch, the game already had over 1 million subscribers, making it the world's fastest-growing MMO. Although many players did not stick with the game, it is a great change of setting from the usual fantasy MMOS.
The game offers players two different factions, the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire, although players are able to choose their own level of morality along a light/dark spectrum regardless of their faction alliance.
Character development follows a standard MMORPG-style progression that combines missions, exploration, and bosses. Each level presents players with a variety of skill options to customise your character based on your playstyle or preference.
The gameplay of SWTOR is extremely similar to that of World of Warcraft, but fans of WoW will enjoy the change of scenario that Star Wars: The Old Republic offers. I enjoyed the powerful feeling that comes from being a Jedi Knight, even though I was only one in training.
Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) - Official Website
Star Trek Online
6 - Star Trek Online
A Unique Space-Based MMORPG
Star Trek Online is a unique MMORPG that allows players to play as their own starship captains in the Star Trek universe. Star Trek Online has plenty interesting and realistic aspects to the genre that allows player to explore the ship and planets and battle it out in starship battles. For fans and non-fans alike, the experience is in-depth and unlike other MMO games you've tried before.
Star Trek Online offers fun and varied PvP options (mostly due to the different types of battles). Class options are equally diverse and pair with a range of races to make your own unique avatar and distinct skill tree path, but the game still remains accessible for newer MMO gamers.
If you are sick of playing fantasy-style games like World of Warcraft, then consider checking out Star Trek Online and taking the sci-fi path instead.
Star Trek Online - Official Website
Star Trek Online in 2015
Perfect World
7 - Perfect World
Another Popular MMORPG
Perfect World is a fantasy game. It is a popular MMORPG that originally began on the Asian market and eventually moved to include international versions as well.
Perfect World has all the standard MMORPG features, offering plenty of customisation through races, classes, quest lines, and great skill variety. These well-polished standard features have formed the basis for the success of Perfect World and create an attractive experience.
Perfect World is guild-focused, similar to WoW (200 players maximum). Guilds are able to battle in massive 80- v. 80-player territory wars, which reward the winning guild with territory ownership (battles sometimes reach several hours in length).
Perfect World draws heavily on Chinese mythology and has been around since 2006. One of my deciding factors on whether or not to play a new MMO is how long it has been online, since they often tend to disappear.
This game has been online since 2006, which is a nice middle ground in age. That was what originally attracted me to the game, but the polished content kept me involved for nearly a year.
Perfect World International - Official Teaser Trailer
Forsaken World
8 - Forsaken World
A 3D Fantasy MMORPG
Forsaken World is another fantasy MMORPG and is free to play but does have a hefty file size due to its high-quality graphics (3GB+).
The game offers good diversity with five different races, eight classes and 10 occupations. Forsaken World has a large player base behind it allowing for some truly epic guild battles.
With the variety of races and classes available along with professions and crafting, there are plenty of options available for players creating great replay value. Forsaken World also packs some unique features including a soul-based PvP system and map-wide skills.
Forsaken World is only let down by its translation errors, but these are constantly being ironed out.
Forsaken World Gameplay
Conquer Online
9 - Conquer Online
A Free Game Set in Ancient China
Conquer Online is simply packed full of content, and the regularity of game updates in particular makes it a fan favourite. Focused around martial arts, the game has a high amount of action that encourages PvP combat. Set in ancient China, you've got plenty of great locations to explore with a very eastern feel to the entire game that is brilliantly portrayed.
With a community behind it in the millions, eight very distinct classes, over a thousand quests, and hundred of items, this free-to-play MMO isn't short on longevity (the game has been around for over a decade). These eight classes include several of your standard archetypes but also an additional few that will keep you on your toes and have you wanting to try their unique skills that you haven't seen in a MMO before.
With a 10 million+ strong community and a rebirth system encouraging you to keep playing, Conquer Online has become a must-play MMO for many gamers looking to commit themselves to a game for the longer term and make lasting friendships.
Conquer Online - Official Game Website
Conquer Online Gameplay
Aura Kingdom
10 - Aura Kingdom
Another Great Free MMO Game
Aura Kingdom is a free MMORPG with a number of unique features and a colourful anime-influenced art style.
Like many other MMOs, Aura Kingdom focuses on letting the player complete quests, explore the world, and make friends as he or she searches for clues relating to the backstory of the game world. It's the level of quality in each of these elements, though, that makes Aura Kingdom such a good option.
Where Aura Kingdom really shines is in its unique features. The most impressive of these features is the class freedom on offer, the storyline that connects quests together, and the use of pets. The game also takes a page out of more sandbox-style MMOs with the likes of fishing and digging included in the core gameplay.
Aura Kingdom Gameplay
EverQuest
11 - EverQuest
A Free-to-Play Game
EverQuest was one of the first MMOs to gain a large following. Just like World of Warcraft, this is a game that has gotten better with time, with a dozen expansions adding a lot to the original experience. If you've tried EverQuest in the past, then it's definitely worth returning to see all the new additions to the content.
EverQuest features a massive game world where you can make friends and head off on countless adventures and quests together. If you've got a group of friends that regularly jump from MMO to MMO, then you'll find EverQuest is very easy to get started and experience as a group.
The graphic quality of skill animations in EverQuest is one of the highest when it comes to the free-to-play MMORPG genre. Combine that with the varied lands to explore within the game, and you can see that EverQuest offers a visually appealing experience.
EverQuest features an extensive quest system featuring over 8000 quests along with dozens of different class and race combinations; there is plenty of gameplay to be explored.
EverQuest Gameplay
The Secret World
12 - The Secret World
Join a Secret Society to Save the World From a Plague
The Secret World is a high-quality MMO experience with a very unique theme and style that sets it apart. It's a one-time purchase game with an optional subscription on top of that for a handful of extra features (definitely not required).
The game focuses on three secret societies as they fight to save the world from a deadly plague. Speed is the aim of the game with a very fast approach to the MMO genre that almost has the speed of an fps game rather than a RPG.
Joining either the Illumanti, Templar, or Dragon, you'll develop your character through missions, experience, and items. With a unique ability, wheel players can change their character instantly, preventing you from feeling locked into a class. With a huge selection of items, spells, and abilities available without restriction, its a much more free flowing game than most MMORPGs.
If you want something unique, faction-based, and filled with quests then The Secret World is well worth your money.
The Secret World Gameplay
DC Universe Online
13 - DC Universe Online
A Superhero MMORPG Also Available On PS3
DC Universe Online is an MMORPG by Sony Online Entertainment that features a number of popular superheroes and villains that fans of comic books will instantly recognise.
The game was originally subscription based but has since gone free to play with premium features facilitated through the use of Sony's Station Cash.
The game aims to stand out from the crowd with a high focus on interaction and features all the standard bells and whistles that you would come to expect from an MMORPG.
One notable feature is the unique game world, which is made up of several large shared spaces (limited territory ownership) with safe houses for each faction (superhero or villain) scattered across the world.
At the start of the game, players will choose their character's mentor, who has a large impact on starting location and quests, giving the game some solid replay value. Mentors include fan favourites Superman, Batman, and the Joker.
If you are tired of fantasy-style MMOs and looking for a different theme, then DC Universe is a great option, and best of all, it's available for free.
DC Universe - Official Website
DC Universe Online Gameplay
Guild Wars 2
14 - Guild Wars 2
Highly Acclaimed Sequel to Guild Wars
Guild Wars 2 was released in 2012 and received strong reviews from critics, holding a score of 90 on Metacritic, which is one of the highest for a game in the genre, a real testament to its quality.
Guild Wars 2 is set in the world of Tyria and aims to build on the features and story of the original Guild Wars, but you shouldn't feel pressured into playing the original just for the story's sake.
Guild Wars 2 offers unique features to the MMORPG genre by using a storyline that is heavily focused on reacting to player actions. While this feature appears often in single player RPGs, it is a rare inclusion in a MMORPG and has been a cornerstone for the game's ever growing success in a tough market.
Guild Wars 2 also boasts a dynamic combat system that promotes the use of professions and even allows the environment to be used in battle. Guild Wars 2 has no subscription fees, meaning players only have to purchase the game for full access.
With all the customisation options and multiple classes available, Guild Wars 2 promises hundreds of hours of gameplay. I even went out of my MMORPG retirement to play this game and definitely was not disappointed with the quality.
Guild Wars 2 - Official Website
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 Gameplay
Allods online
15 - Allods Online (Allods)
A Free Fantasy Game with Sci-Fi Elements
Allods Online (or Allods) is a free fantasy MMORPG that also incorporates some Sci-Fi elements into its gameplay. The storyline of Allods is definitely one of its strongest points (which helps separate it from the C-grade stories of other MMORPGs).
The game is highly polished and takes place after the destruction of a planet that leaves a number of small floating islands in space. For fans of PvP, there are plenty of game modes including duels, open PvP, arenas, and even unique astral battles.
Other notable features of Allods Online include unique and varied monster designs, a large number of classes, an amazing immersive world, a solid interface, and plenty of quests for players to explore. The game is without a doubt a standout in the free MMORPG genre and is available at a reasonable download size (a couple of gigabytes) considering the amount of content on offer.
Out of all the free WoW-inspired games I played, this one was always my favourite (mostly due to the space aspects of the game), so it is always my go-to recommendation for players looking for a free alternative.
Allods Online - Official Website
Allods Online Gameplay
RuneScape
16 - RuneScape
A Free Online Game You Can Play In Your Browser
RuneScape is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has been around since early 2001. RuneScape boasts a massive user base (over 150 million strong) with 11 million active accounts per month.
Compared to huge MMORPG experiences like World of Warcraft, RuneScape is definitely something of a more casual experience. It won't drain away large amounts of your time compared to some of the other experiences on this page.
Gielinor is the world of RuneScape, which offers players many different kingdoms and cities to explore. Each region in the game offers different quests and monsters to keep the game fresh and exciting. Considering the game can be played for free in your browser, this large game world is well above what I ever expected.
Overall, RuneScape offers great gameplay freedom and gear customisation options. If you are looking for a game like World of Warcraft to play within your browser, then RuneScape is a great choice.
RuneScape Trailer
Do You Know Another Game Like World of Warcraft? Did You Enjoy This Page?
Delan Cooper from Australia on February 26, 2016:
Totally agree with you, WOW is the number one.
But I prefer Guild Wars 2. :P
Aaa on September 17, 2015:
When i see someone's comparing GW2 to wow i laugh.
blah on March 11, 2015:
Fiesta online was fantastic when people still played it, no 40 man raids though, it was the kind of game you could play on any system though, now everyone has quit and the cash shop is insane :(
Anthony J Vita on August 10, 2014:
World of Warcraft is still the classic and the best. I never get tired of playing this online!!
WarcraftStuff on July 30, 2014:
Very good Lens! thanks for the info.
anonymous on April 26, 2014:
I will have to try some of these. My all time favorite game is Runescape!
amandascloset0 on March 30, 2014:
I personally prefer LOTRO above and beyond all other MMO's. It's Tolkien design and themes follow the literary masterpiece so well. I've done beta testing for LOTRO, which I've been an active player since launch. Also tested on Star Wars Old Republic which I really enjoyed but left you with nowhere to go, Elder Scrolls which looks very promising and Warhammer. Warhammer was the most cartoonish of them all but still had fun pvp.
Allen Clara on March 14, 2014:
I love WOW and Neverwinter :)