Top 10 MMORPGS I've Ever Played

There are a few challenges in listing the top 10 MMORPGs. First of all, what a MMORPG consists of is subjective. To many people, social games like Mafia Wars qualify as MMORPGs - though gaming "purists" would disagree. Based on inequal worldwide markets and inflation since the first MMORPGs appeared in the '90s (or the '70s, if you count as far back as arcane titles like Colossal Cave Adventure), it's also difficult to rank games based on an estimated player base or adjusted gross income. Instead of going for sheer size or listing a bunch of Korean games that no one I know has ever played, this top 10 MMORPGs list is based on my own personal preferences.

Feel free to argue with me in the comments if you disagree with me leaving out mega-popular games like MapleStory or seminal games like Asheron's Call.

Top 10 MMORPGs

10 - Pirates of the Burning Sea

Pirates of the Burning Sea (or PotBS) is set in the Caribbean, circa 1720. The game focuses on all the elements you'd expect from a period pirate game, from sailing to swashbuckling, with trading and intrigue inbetween. Players can choose between playing for one of 4 factions - the Pirates, the British, the Spanish or the French. Though the Dutch were also prominent in the so-called Spanish Main during that time period (and are encountered throughout the game), they are not a faction choice.

As a fan of pirate history and a big fan of the original Sid Meier's Pirates! game, I was very eager to try this game out. I got in during the beta testing phase and played through until after release. The game proved to be worth the wait (it was in beta testing for 3 years). Though some of the game's details are a bit off-the-path compared to more popular MMOs such as World of Warcraft, PotBS has some interesting features. The port contention PvP and the ship combat are interesting additions, and the player-based economy based on land is a nice departure from games where crafting takes a backseat.

Top 10 MMORPGs

9 - Second Life

In recent years, we've all heard a lot about Second Life (or SL). This game offers people the chance to just be themselves, or to choose to be someone else, in a 3D virtual world that never sleeps. Second Life is often excluded from list of MMORPGs, due to its lack of traditional game elements. Characters don't level in the traditional sense, nor do they battle animals or fight for terrain control. When Second Life players congregate in the game, it's to hang out in a plaza or party at a disco - not to take down a massive boss.

Unlike most video games, Second Life allows the transference of in-game currency to real money - and successfully, to boot. Millions of US dollars are traded with the game's Linden Dollar currency unit annually, on the LindeX currency exchange. This is made possible through the game's highly user-friendly creation system. Players are able to create everything from structures to skin colors using software programs such as Photoshop, and selling their creations to other players within the game. Some people are making a full-time living in this video game, running businesses within the game (or even doing less-seemly things to earn a dirty Linden Dollar). Since the game is free to play, starting a Second Life business means no overhead - perfect for the pixelated bootstrapper in all of us.

This is truly the first game to take gaming to a different level of potential. Every gamer entertains the idea of playing video games for a living, but SL players are actually making that happen. Whether you denounce the game for lack of levels, battles and other video game standards, you've gotta give Linden Labs credit.

Top 10 MMORPGs

8 - The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

Based on the legendary Middle Earth writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings Online:Shadows of Angmar is a fantasy MMORPG. Many of the game's features are consistent with "typical" fantasy and MMO style, including the combat and crafting systems. One marked difference is the lack of magic use among players, which is consistent with the original LOTR storyline. In the books and films, magic is carried out only by skilled wizards such as Gandalf and cannot be wielded by regular adventurers. Many MMORPGs and fantasy games in general feature magic-dealing classes or characters in much more common supply.

LOTRO is not your game if you're seeking a completely unique gaming experience, but its features are fun and familiar. Though LOTRO initially featured a monthly subscription fee, the game's inability to capture a large share of the competitive subscription market prompted LOTRO to move to a free-to-play system as of mid-2010.

Top 10 MMORPGs

7 - The Realm Online

This is just a tiny game, but packs a big punch. This 2D game was launched in 1996, even earlier than the game often touted as the first MMORPG - Richard Garriott's Ultima Online. This is another basic fantasy game, and feels more like a MUD than an MMO. The game relies heavily on socializing and the leveling is simple, making it a great fit for a first-time gamer or for kids. There's no endgame, no PvP and very little advanced play, however, so for some it can get old very quickly.

This was the first MMO I ever played, though this limited game is a far cry from the immersive MMORPG worlds of today. What it lacked in scope and cutting-edge graphics it more than made up for with community and goofy, accessible fun. Though The Realm Online has changed hands a few times since its inception, it's still online and manages to still command a subscription price.

Top 10 MMORPGs

6 - Guild Wars

Guild Wars (or GW) is another fantasy-themed MMO, but has some notable differences from the traditional game template. Unlike many games, GW gives you the option to create a maximum-level character if all you're interested in is PvP combat. Another large difference from most MMORPGs is the instanced world. Outside major towns, the game world as you see it is unique to you and your group. This eliminates the problems with mob camping and loot stealing that plague other games, as well as unprovoked PvP encounters. This game is also notable for its lack of subscription; once you purchase the game, it's free to play without a monthly fee, which is a departure from traditional subscription-based MMORPGs.

This was the first of many games to be touted as a "WoW-killer," like Age of Conan, Aion and LOTRO. Like all of those games, Guild Wars failed to make much of an impact on WoW's subscriber base. Though GW undoubtedly has its own thriving player base, these players seem to have different playstyles than the average WoW player. A sequel to GW is currently in production, promising extensive upgrades and innovations but with no announced release date.

Top 10 MMORPGs

5 - EverQuest

Well before World of Warcraft, there was EverQuest. EQ launched in 1999 and quickly grew a devoted fanbase. More than a decade later, it's still going strong - having released it's 16^th expansion in late 2009. EverQuest has served as a model for many elements of more recent MMORPGs, including group, raid and guild dynamics. This game boasts 14 playable classes (vs. 4-10 in most other games) and more than 375 unique zones throughout the world and various dungeons.

EverQuest is also famously addictive, with some going so far as to dub the game "EverCrack." Several reports of marriages or relationships suffering (or even dissolving) because of one member's devotion to EQ led to the term "EverQuest Widow," with online support communities cropping up for people to discuss their loved one's addiction to the game. The game provided a lot of insight as to the social psychology of video games and their addictive qualities, and was also a source of interest for the player economy. At one time, the value of in-game items and currency were translated into real-world currency terms by the BBC. The findings showed that, if EverQuest were a nation, it'd be among the hundred richest in the world with an annual GDP in the millions.

Top 10 MMORPGs

4 - City of Heroes/City of Villains

City of Heroes (or CoH) was launched in 2004 by NCSoft, the same company who publishes Guild Wars. This game is set in a superhero-heavy, comic book-style universe where players get to be their own unique superheroes. In its expansion pack/sequel City of Villains, players got the opportunity to play as supervillains rather than heroes. The game offers a notable character customization system, making each hero or villain unique despite the limited number of offered classes.

This is a great game for playing with a small, contained group of friends - which isn't always possible in some MMOs. There are opportunities for large-scale gameplay in superhero groups (think X-Men), it's more of an option than a necessity. Though the game doesn't have the intricate crafting or other auxiliary timesinks of many of its competitors, it comes off as refreshing rather than an unfinished game. CoH/CoV remains fun, even when played through as a single-player game that just so happens to be online.

Top 10 MMORPGs

3 - Final Fantasy XI Online

This MMORPG is set in the Final Fantasy universe, and has been around for nearly a decade. Since 2002 FFXI has maintained a respectable share of the MMORPG subscription market, despite having low-end graphics. The game includes a notoriously difficult, expensive and time-consuming crafting system, which becomes highly lucrative at upper levels. There's raiding and epic questlines, but no PvP combat - lending to a PvE-heavy gaming experience. FFXI is notably popular in Japan, and the game makes concessions to connect its English and Japanese-speaking players through the use of an in-game chat translator. FFXI also has the distinction of being available for play on more than just the PC and Mac - players can still log on and play via Xbox Live on the Xbox 360.

A second Final Fantasy MMORPG (though not a sequel to FFXI), numbered FFXIV is currently undergoing beta testing in preparation for a September 2010 release. Though FFXIV is in production, FFXI is expected to stay online. This has worked for EverQuest, which remains online and subscription-based despite the 2004 release of EQ2.

Top 10 MMORPGs

2 - World of Warcraft

Unless you've been living under a rock since 2004, you've probably heard of World of Warcraft. This game has been hugely popular since its release, and maintains millions of subscriptions. This game is set in a war-torn fantasy universe originally conceived in the Warcraft series of RTS games. This game boasts just about anything you'd want in an MMORPG (short of player housing), from collectible items to highly competitive PvP combat. Part of what makes WoW so successful is that it contains several sidegames including crafting, collecting and pursuing achievement points.

Though the game has implemented several interesting updates and content expansions since its release, the game is not without some disgruntled players (present and former). This is due to the consensus that the game has been significantly "dumbed down" in order to keep drawing in players. There have been experience, PvP system and content nerfs, as well as a decrease in the effort needed to get upper-echelon items. There still exists a large gap between high-end raiding guilds and the average player, but that gap tends to be less felt by newbies than before.

Top 10 MMORPGs

1 - Star Wars Galaxies

A great odyssey in the Star Wars universe, this game gets my top spot for several reasons. First, the player-based economy was very well-done, allowing players to trade through a bazaar (auction house), through invididual shops and face-to-face trading. An important innovation were the 30+ player professions, which made for unique class combinations and didn't tie players to a single class like most MMORPGs. Instead, players leveled individual skills based on the professions they wanted to maximize. This progress could be undone at any time, allowing players to change classes on a whim. There were non-combat profession options for players who preferred to craft or socialize, PvP-style combat versus players and environmental options, and individual and group-based PvE combat. The game was touted as a way to exist within the Star Wars universe, and definitely lived up to the claim.

Unfortunately, the game was arguably mismanaged by Sony Online Entertainment, who implemented sweeping game changes that took away the very features that made the game special. This was their response to the overwhelming initial success of World of Warcraft, which caused several MMORPG franchises to rethink their games. Like many SWG players, I quit when the new changes proved unplayable after testing. BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic (or SWTOR) is on the horizon, however - and with some of SWG's development team behind it, the game is a new hope (sorry, I couldn't resist) for SWG's displaced playerbase.