Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games: Top Ten Ultimate MMORPGs

Chances are, you've heard of World of Warcraft. But how much do you know about other amazing MMORPGs available? Try out these high-rated online role playing games today and dive into the adventures with your friends, both in real life and online!

Dark Age of Camelot
www.darkageofcamelot.com

Dark Age of Camelot, (DAoC) truly brought to life the epic player versus player and faction vs faction wars that MMROPGs truly needed. Epic large-scale conflicts occurred across the land during the height of DAoC's popularity, as the main factions battled for supremacy. Even today, with aging graphics and a smaller community, DAoC still retains its Arthurian-style charm and intense conflicts. Other games have attempted to copy it, but it still stands as the originator of large-scale PVP in MMROPGs.

Everquest
everquest.station.sony.com

No MMORPG list would ever be complete without mentioning the Everquest series. For gamers in the United States, Everquest was the premier MMORPG for many years, before the World of Warcraft-generation of MMOs came on the scene. Still, it has stayed alive and continues to be one of the big names in MMORPgs.

Ultima Online
www.uoherald.com

Remember when a player killed the creator of a game (in-game)? That famous event in MMORPG history occurred in the realm of Ultima Online, when Lord Richard Garriot was attacked and killed by a player during an in-game event. Quite successful for its time, Ultima has fallen considerably from its beginnings, but it still has an active player base.

Maple Story
maplestory.nexon.net

Why am I including this "kids game" in a list of top MMORPGs? It's undeniable that Maple Story is a popular game amongst younger MMO gamers, and it is an easily recognizable name to MMO gamers everywhere. It may not have the nicest graphics or the most exciting gameplay, but it certainly is one of the more popular MMORPGs on the market today.

Planetside
planetside.station.sony.com

Planestside was the premier FPS-style MMORPG, and few, if any MMOs have appeared to take its place. Huxley was one game that looked to replace Planetside, but has still not yet been released. Planestside has dropped in popularity dramatically, but it is still played by a dedicated set of fans.

Tibia
www.tibia.com

Never heard of Tibia? You should have, if you are a big MMO gamer. It has been around for a long time, and has free and pay-to-play sections. It is one of my favorite MMOs from my history og MMO gaming. It's not an easy one to play, doesn't have beautiful graphics, but has loads of fans (37000+ on as I write this) that actively play, something many free MMOs do not have. Check it out!

Lord of the Rings Online
www.lotro.com

Lord of the Rings Online has been one of the few MMOs released in recent years to stay successful and maintain a great community. Beautiful graphics, a wonderful game IP (Tolkien, anyone?) and a rich storyline contribute to this fantastic game. It is supposed to go free-to-play in the next few months, so definitely watch out for it!

Runescape
www.runescape.com

Love it or hate it, Runescape is one of the most popular free MMORPGs available online today. It actually holds the Guiness World Record for the most popular free MMO, quite an astounding feat in today's competitive market. Graphics aren't amazing, but gameplay is pretty decent and the game does not have large system requirements. I played it for several years and had fun when grouping with people I knew in real-life. The company behind Runescape, Jagex, are working on a new MMO, with a sci-fi basis. Definitely keep it in mind!

Eve Online
play.eveonline.com

Eve is one of the most hardcore MMORPGs and has one of the most dedicated fan communities world wide. It is not an easy MMO to play, with a very steep learning cuve, and it is very different from most other MMOs. However, it is quite successful and is one of the few, truly open-world and "sandbox" style games online today. Check it out if you want a hardcore, sci-fi MMORPG and have plenty of time to dedicate to a fantastic game.

World of Warcraft
www.worldofwarcraft.com

World of Warcraft, or WoW for short, is THE most popular MMORPG out there today. Last time I checked, they had several million active subscribers. That is an enormous number and an enormous amount of revenue generated for Blizzard Entertainment, based in Irvine, California. Everyone has a different opinion on WoW, but I played it for a year and had a blast, until I got tired of grinding. Still, the epic PvP at high levels keeps players coming back for more.