Top Sci-Fi MMORPGs

Most Massively Multi Player Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) are set in Tolkien-style, fantasy lands with dwarves, elves, goblins and wizards. Tired of this genre? Try out the best Sci-Fi MMORPGs for a change of pace, with capital ships, plasma guns and alien swarms replacing the overdone fantasy worlds. Here are three of my top picks for sci-fi MMORPGs.

Eve Online
Eve Online is perhaps the most famous sci-fi MMORPG available online today. Featuring a persistent game server, thousands of players and an awesome backstory, Eve Online continues to define the sci-fi online genre. Players take the role of pilots of fantastic futuristic spaceships, in a gigantic universe filled with treachery, valor and power. Eve Online is a classic "sandbox" MMO, allowing players to basically run the world and change the destiny of the game. Massive clans and guilds control different sectors in Eve, with constant battle going on to control these regions. Alliances shift and change dramatically, causing the galactic control maps to differ often. Players don't have to join a clan and may just operate solo, working as a dastardly pirate, bounty hunter, or hardworking miner. Eve is a game that does require a significant time investment and has a fairly steep learning curve. However, the community is helpful so be sure to take advantage of the main Eve Online forum. Eve Online is really a unique MMORPG, with a fantastic community, great graphics and excellent gameplay.
Also, be sure to be on the lookout for Dusk, the newest project from CCP (creators of Eve Online), an online FPS that will be linked to the Eve world, allowing players to take the battle to the planet's surface in first person shooter style.

Air Rivals
Air Rivals offers a fast-paced, action game of sci-fi fighter pilot combat. Unlike the other two MMOs covered here, Air Rivals is free to play, with optional microtransactions funding the game. Air Rivals features two dueling factions, fighting for control of the different game maps, often cumulating in epic mothership battles. There are several classes to choose from and loads of different upgrades to add to your space ship. Dog fights are really fast paced and fun in this action space sim, much faster paced than Even Online. Expect a fairly heavy grind time against NPC enemies before your ship will be capable of dealing with the intensive PvP action. My suggestion is to find a great ambient soundtrack and relax as you smash your wave through hordes of AI enemies, working to level up your "gear" for PvP action at later levels. System requirements are fairly low, especially when compared to Eve Online and Global Agenda.

Global Agenda
Global Agenda offers fast-paced, first person shooter action in this hybrid FPS/RPG MMO. It is one of the newest MMORPGs on the market, especially in the sci-fi MMORPG realm. Players choose different factions to join, select from different specialized classes to play as, and jump into a futuristic battlefield against other online opponents.