Top Hardcore Massively Multiplayer Online Games You've Never Heard Of

Tired of World of Warcraft, Everquest or Runescape? Check out these unapologetically hardcore Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games for a change of pace. Enjoy!

Love Online
Link: quelsolaar.com
Known as LOVE, this interesting MMO is rather fast-paced, with FPS style combat mechanics. However, most interesting to me is the graphics, something akin to a pastelle and impressionist take on video game graphics, set in a 3d world. Players cooperate together to scavenge enough parts to build settlements, then place unique structures called Monoliths. The terrain is deformable, so walls, buildings, and fortresses can be constructed. Players must work together to maintain their colony while at the same time fending off the enemy AI attacks. Quite an interesting concept, definitely worth checking out!

Wurm Online
Link: wurmonline.com
Wurm Online is perhaps one of the most hardcore MMORPGs available. It's not one for newbies to jump into, expecting something akin to World of Warcraft or Runescape. Rather, it has fairly poor-quality graphics, brutal death penalties, a very high grind slope to learn skills, and you can starve to death. Did I mention you can starve to death? Yep, it is that hardcore. One of the neat things about Wurm is the sandbox nature of the game, where anything can go. You can find fortresses built by player clans, hidden dragon caves no one (seriously, no one, because the maps are quite poor) have discovered, naval armadas built by players and more. Conflict plays a large role in the game, be it in just finding food to survive or conquering entire territories. Wurm Online is not a game for the faint of heart, but it certainly is a hardcore MMO.

A Tale in the Desert
Link: atitd.com
This game has been around for quite some time; I remember reading about it several years ago and it had already been released. It really hasn't generated that much hype or interest, probably because of A Tale in the Desert's unique game play focus, on crafting, trade and social interaction. Most MMOs sell themselves based on their combat systems, but AtitD chose not to take this well-worn path. Instead, players step into Ancient Egypt, working on group quests ("tests"), leveling up their "disciplines", participating in the government through a in-game system and various other events and challenges. It's an interesting concept, sure to please some dedicated MMO players looking for something truly new. The game is free to play for the first 24 hours, after which a subscription fee is required.