Ranking mmorpg games

RAID: Shadow Legends is a free to play fantasy MMO with strong RPG elements. Developed by Plarium, it puts players in control of their party of hero characters in combat.

At the game's core is the PvE progression in which you'll embark on story campaigns, dungeons and faction wars in order to level up your heroes and give them better gear.
Combat is turn-based, complex enough to keep it stimulating on the long run, but also easy to grasp for beginners.

You'll recruit new heroes over time (there are hundreds of them!), each one with its own strenghts and weaknesses that can be enhanched\mitigated through the use of artifacts, potions, glyphs and other items.
Only those who will understand how to maximize the potential of their champions will be able to climb the rankings in the PvP arena, the ultimate objective for the advanced player.

RAID features very good visuals: all of the in-game artworks (characters, locations, items, etc..) are beautiful, and this contributes a lot to the lore and atmosphere of the game.

Overall, RAID is a very good and fun MMORPG.
Plarium was known for making top-notch, though ordinary, strategy browser-games... with RAID, they markedly upped their ambitions. While it does feature some of the mechanics typical of the company's browser-based titles (like the Bastion to grow your hub), its core lies in the brand-new RPG elements of turn-based combat and heroes collection, which is where the real fun begins for MMORPG lovers.

➔ Main points:

• Free to play party-based MMORPG that's fun and visually pleasing.
• Hundreds of unique hero characters with individual skills and combat animations.
• A combination of strategy and RPG turn-based combat mechanics.
• Extremely popular title with active playerbase (also on mobile platforms).
• Simple for beginners, but can become really tactical for hardcore gamers.

Neverwinter is a new free-to-play MMORPG based off the classic table-top RPG, Dungeons and Dragons. The game immerses the player into the Forgotten Realms, the world in which Dungeons and Dragons takes place.

As usual, at the beginning of the game you create your own personal character, choosing their race, class and even their "faith" and back story. The battle system is rather fluid and is controlled by the player in real time, allowing the rhythm of the game to keep steady.

Neverwinter gives the players even more control of the game with its online quest creation system. Appropriately called the "Foundry", it allows you to make your own personalized adventures which all players are able to play.

Neverwinter is a great MMORPG thanks to the originality of its combat system and quest creator all while still holding to its classical RPG roots. If you've played Dungeons and Dragons, there's no excuse not to try Neverwinter.

Star Trek Online is an MMO developed by Cryptic Studios and inspired the eponymous television series.
Chronologically, it is set thirty years after the conclusion of the events of Star Trek: Nemesis and drops us in the middle of the rekindled conflict between the Federation and the Klingons, without forgetting about the Borg, always lurking in the background.
Character customization is very good and allows you to choose between three different factions, with numerous races for each, and three distinct classes between them.
Customization also extends to physical appearance and choice of skills.
During the game we will have the opportunity to complete assignments on foot or aboard our personal spaceship.
On foot, the game seems like an action/RPG hybrid where we directly control our character through a third-person view.
Aboard the ship, however, we will have the opportunity to fight and to explore the surrounding area.
Graphically the game is very good but is lacking in some technical fields, one of which is the animation in the third-person sections.
All in all, it's a good game for fans of the genre and a great game for avid fans of Star Trek.

UPDATE: since June 2017, the game isn't easily playable via browser anymore. Only a few combinations of browsers and java versions will keep working, but everyone will still be able to play the game after downloading its client.

Drakensang Online is an excellent free hack & slash, published by BigPoint, based on a famous and popular series of role-playing games.
The game has many typical features of a MMORPG (such as skills, level-ups, crafting, etc...), with the welcome addition of a combat system based on combos and dodges, just like a typical third-person action game (anyone who knows the Diablo saga will certainly find it all very familiar).

As well as the ability to carry out the plot quest (either alone or in the company), there are also different PvP modes (including an original "Storm the fortress 6vs6") for those who prefer a competitive game.

The various available classes are well diversified from each other, and ensure a different gameplay depending on which is used, thus ensuring also a great replay value.

One of the highlights of the game is its impressive graphics, capable of displaying a great number of details in a simple web page.

Drakensang Online is really a well-done game: varied, entertaining, technically clean and able to keep the player glued to the PC for hours.

A title that should not be missing in any “free” gamer’s collection.

➔ Main points:

• An Hack'n'Slash A-RPG playable either via browser or downloading the game's client.
• Several PvP modes, including an original "Storm the fortress 6vs6".
• A vast game world with constant updates from the developers.
• All the main elements of a traditional client-based MMORPG.

Runes of Magic has everything you might expect from an old-style MMORPG.
It is captivating, extremely varied and rather vast; offering a fun and challenging experience to new and veteran RPG players alike.
The game's strengths undeniably rest with its variety, as there are hundreds (if not thousands) of objects to find, collect and / or create.
Whilst the graphics may appear dated by modern standards, Runes of Magic is a perfectly good title for anyone who wants a decent MMORPG without having to spend a fortune.

➔ Main points:

• Fantasy themed, free to play MMORPG.
• Huge number of PVE quests to get stuck in with.
• Staggering variety of items to find, collect and craft.

Eternal Fury is a free to play browser-based strategy game with a twist. While raising your kingdoms, armies and alliances are all key gameplay features, you'll also need to upgrade your singular hero ruler, with RPG-like gameplay system in place that offers a good time.
Battles are fought on both maps - the kingdom world view and in arena-style battles that shakes up the usual boring and monotonous gameplay. While free to play, Eternal Fury's cash shop is a mixed bag and borderline hovers over what's fair.

➔ Main points:

• Unique Strategy and Action-RPG gameplay blend
• More to do than the average strategy kingdom builder
• Active playerbase
• Nice visuals and soundtrack

Dark Orbit is a free to play browser based MMO with a heavy focus on ship battles, resource collection, and clan interaction.

Developed by Bigpoint, Dark Orbit (now dubbed Dark Orbit Reloaded), aims to replicate the likes of Eve Online, within the confines of and top down isometric browser game.

Bigpoint creates a wholly enjoyable experience with very few hang ups.
Select between one of three different companies to earn glory and fortune for both the player and the employer by completing quests, collecting resources and killing space baddies.

This gameplay loop, along with some solid sound design and interesting ships to create and customize makes for a very enjoyable browser game. However the repetitive quests, over reliance on grinding, and difficulty may grate on some players’ nerves.

Graphically speaking the game is top notch: we’ve rarely seen browser games as visually impressive.
The sound design is good, however some audio sounds compressed and low quality.
If you’re a fan of browser games or have a rig that doesn’t allow for more intensive titles, Dark Orbit may be an excellent choice for you.

➔ Main points:

• Quality action-based browser-game, that differentiates itself from the mass of strategic titles.
• Fun gameplay loop and top-notch graphics after the latest 2016 major update.
• Interesting choice between companies.
• Few downsides, with repetitive quests being the most problematic.

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

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

Fairy Tail: Hero's Journey is the official online MMORPG of the manga series. For a free to play web-browser game, fans of the franchise will be rewarded as it features authentic characters and story from the manga.

The gameplay is easy to grasp as players pick from one of three classes and progress through the world via leveling up themselves and their companions. Combat is turn-based with party dynamics that are fun to watch due to the excellent animations. However, the battles are passive for the most part meaning you actively do nothing but watch most of the time. The game also has an in-depth cash shop that can be advantageous, but not necessary for end-game progression. Overall, Fairy Tail: Hero's Journey is a good free to play title that will serve loyal fans of the series with plenty of originality and fun.

➔ Main points:

• Gorgeous authentic world and art style based on the Fairy Tail franchise
• Dozens of pets and companions to collect
• Turn-based party battle system but passive in design
• Free to play browser game but expect intrusive cash shop
• Easy to follow stories and quests for fans but will differ for newcomers