European Free to Play MMORPGs and MMOs

Earlier in the month we took a look at ten American developed free to play MMOs and MMORPGs, so its only fitting that we give Europe the same treatment. Its worth repeating that the vast majority of free to play MMORPGs still come out of Asia, but Western studios have been getting more involved in the f2p genre. European studios are behind some of the best known browser based games including Runescape, Dark Orbit, and Tribal Wars, but this list won’t include any browser games. Instead, lets take a look at some of the best client games developed by European studios.

World of Tanks

World of Tanks is a free to play MMO shooter that was inspired by the tank based gameplay in Battlefield 1942. The game was developed by Wargaming.net, a studio based in London but with development centers in Belarus. WoT is set during WW2, and allows players to control over 150 armored vehicles from the America, German, and Russian factions. Battles take place on large maps and support dozens of players on each side. Team work is as important as individual skill. Unlike a typical MMO shooter, World of Tank also has an in-depth progression system. Players can advance through the tech tree of their chosen faction and unlock new skills and vehicles along the way. WoT is easy to learn, but difficult to master.

BattleForge

BattleForge may be operated by Electronic Arts now, but it was originally developed by Phenomic Game Development which is a studio headquartered in Germany. EA bought Phenomic in 2006 and has kept BattleForge operational. BattleForge is one of the first MMORTS games, but it also mixes elements of the TCG (trading card game) genre. Like many traditional RTS games, BattleForge has single-player campaigns with detailed story sequences. The MMO factor allows for co-op campaign maps, and makes it easy to find competitive matches. The game only supports up to four players per match, but the ability to mix and match cards allows for a vast number of deck possibilities.

Empire of Sports

Despite being in a ‘preview’ phase for years now, Empire of Sports is a comprehensive sports MMO that allows players to participate in a variety of different sporting events. Play tennis, basketball, soccer, go skiing, bob-sleighing, or enjoy one of the many track & field activities. The graphics are nice, and there are persistent-world cities where players can hang out. The game is developed by the French studio F4, and was first introduced in 2007. Unfortunately, it really hasn’t caught on since then. Free to play sports MMOs haven’t fared well in the West, fans still seem to prefer console games. This is bound to change in the years ahead, and hopefully Empire of Sports will be well positioned to benefit from that swing.

Anarchy Online

Funcom is better known for the subscription based Age of Conan nowadays, but the Norwegian studio was one of the first to get in on the MMORPG scene following the success of games like UO & EQ. Anarchy Online was released in 2001, and was the first Sci-Fi themed MMORPG. The game requires a monthly subscription to gain access to all its features, but allows free players to enjoy much of the game without obtrusive restrictions. Anarchy Online is been continuously updated since its launch earlier in the century. It can’t compete with newer titles in terms of graphics, but has an established player base and gameplay that combines familiar MMORPG elements with a futuristic setting.

Planet Calypso

Planet Calypso is part of the virtual Entropia Universe developed by the Swedish studio MindArk. It has a sci-fi theme, but the most interesting aspect is its open economy and world. Players can purchase in-game cash and convert it back into dollars at a fixed exchange rate. Whats more, its possible to purchase land in the game and develop it. The social and economic dimensions are similar to Second Life, but Planet Calypso also has combat and other traditional MMORPG elements like quests. There are 150 categories of skills which means character development is very detailed, but also that Planet Calypso has a steep learning curve. If you get bored, there are several other worlds to explore in the Entropia Universe, with many others currently in development.

Battlefield Heroes

Another Electronic Arts game, Battlefield Heroes was developed by DICE (aka Digital Illusions CE) which is a Swedish studio. EA bought DICE back in 2004 and in 2009 they launched the first free to play game in the Battlefield series. Battlefield Heroes is a third-person shooter with cartoony graphics. This is in stark contrast to the realistic, FPS style found in the retail Battlefield games. Heroes has many features that veterans of the franchise have come to expect including the ability to play as very different classes, and the ability to drive varied vehicles like jeeps, airplanes, and tanks. Battlefield Heroes is one of the better free to play shooters, but in an effort to streamline the gameplay process they’ve eliminated the lobby system. This leaves a simple match-finding feature that makes it difficult to join specific games.

Allods Online

Hosted in the US by gPotato, Allods Online is developed by a Russian studio called Astrum Nival. The game has an art style similar to World of Warcraft, but with an original setting that mixes fantasy, sci-fi, and steampunk elements. Ride air ships, fight with rifles, bows, and swords. Allods Online stands out in the free to play field with its high quality graphics, and steady progression. There are always quests to do, instanced dungeons to clear, and new regions to explore. While some users have complained about its cash shop, the fact remains that nearly everything in Allods can be enjoyed for free. Its a breath of fresh air, but thanks to a  familiar interface the learning curve is short.

There you have it. Seven of the best free to play European MMOs and MMORPGs. There are dozens more out there, and if there’s one you feel deserves to be on the list please let me know in the comments section below. Which of these games is your favorite, and if you’re from Europe please share your thoughts on the European MMORPG market!

By, Erhan Altay