Category: Reviews

Elsword Online

Elsword Online is a 2.5D, side-scrolling, anime-flavored fantasy MMORPG by KOG Games that leans heavily into fast, combo-driven brawler combat. Instead of a sprawling open world, it focuses on instanced runs, character progression, and mastering your kit across 50+ dungeons and multiple class paths per hero.

Publisher: KOG Games
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Arena (1v1/2v2/3v3/4v4)
Release Date: March 23, 2011 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Large roster with meaningful job paths. +Snappy combat and satisfying combo routes. +Strong soundtrack and overall presentation.
Cons: -Heavily influenced by the cash shop. -Ongoing balance quirks. -Frequent monetization pressure in progression.

Cloud Nine

Cloud Nine is a 3D fantasy MMORPG with a distinctly anime look, built around straightforward questing and a handful of light social systems. It is best remembered as Holic 2 in much of Asia, and as the follow-up to Holic Online, with three playable races, six base classes, and two rival nations that shape the game’s PvP boundaries and community identity.

Publisher: RedFox Games
Playerbase: Low
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: November 24, 2009
Shut Down Date: September 5, 2017
PvP: Faction Wars / Guild Battles
Pros: +Adorable monster designs. +Beginner-friendly systems. +Runs on very modest PCs. +Monster card collecting. +Pets, mounts, and monster transformation.
Cons: -English localization is inconsistent. -Simple presentation and combat depth. -Small population with limited ongoing support.

Rift

Rift is a 3D fantasy MMORPG set in the sprawling realm of Telara, built around classic questing, dungeons, and raids, but distinguished by large-scale public events and a flexible “mix-and-match” class system. Between its rift invasions, deep build crafting through souls, and a robust set of MMO side activities (including housing), it caters most to players who enjoy traditional theme park progression with plenty to do at endgame.

Publisher: Trion Worlds
Playerbase: Low
Type: F2P MMORPG
Release Date: March 1, 2011
PvP: Duels / Battlegrounds / PvP Servers
Pros: +Huge backlog of zones, dungeons, and activities. +Rifts and invasions add lively open-world events. +Very flexible class and build options via souls. +Cash shop feels largely reasonable for a F2P MMO.
Cons: -Race options are fairly limited. -Endgame tends to favor a smaller set of optimal builds. -Core combat, UI, and quest structure lean on familiar MMO conventions.

Scions of Fate

Scions of Fate is a 3D, anime-styled fantasy MMORPG with a bright, colorful presentation and an East Asian-inspired world. Also known as Yulgang in Asia, it centers heavily on community play, letting players band together in guild-like “Houses” and eventually pledge themselves to either Order or Chaos for faction-based conflict.

Publisher: Netgame
Playerbase: Low (in the West)
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Faction Wars
Release Date: November 13, 2006 (NA)
Pros: +Pets and mounts add long-term goals. +Straightforward onboarding and controls. +Satisfying skill-chain combo mechanic. +Runs on very modest hardware.
Cons: -Limited options when creating a character. -Core loop can feel grind-heavy. -Upgrading gear leans too much on the cash shop. -Aged interface and overall feel.

Shot Online

Shot Online pitches itself as a more authentic take on online golf, built as a persistent MMO where you level a golfer, take on quests, and compete across a sizeable lineup of courses. With over 21 courses and a mix of quick head-to-head play and scheduled events, it is a niche title that still caters to players who want golf mechanics to feel grounded rather than arcade-like.

Publisher: GamesCampus
Playerbase: Low
Type: Sports MMO
Release Date: November 30, 2004 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Convincing, simulation-leaning golf feel. +Plenty of courses to learn (21+). +Questing gives structure between rounds.
Cons: -Very small community. -Matches can run long, especially full rounds.

Atlantica Online

Atlantica Online blends MMO progression with party-based, turn-driven battles, wrapping it all in an alternate-history version of Earth where you roam familiar continents alongside mythic locations like Atlantis. It is a long-running title with years of updates behind it, and its strongest hook is still the same, tactical combat that rewards planning over twitch reactions.

Publisher: Valofe
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: Oct 30, 2008 (NA/EU)
PvP: Duels / Guild Wars / Arena
Pros: +Turn-based party combat that feels genuinely different. +Massive spread of weapon-based classes. +Crafting and trading have real purpose. +A lot of quests and recurring activities.
Cons: -Limited options in character appearance. -Many enemies reuse familiar models.

Path of Exile

Path of Exile is a 3D action RPG that deliberately channels the feel of older loot-driven classics while layering on modern, system-heavy design. Under its gritty presentation is a game built around deep character planning, an unusual bartering economy, and a skill system that lets you reshape how abilities behave rather than simply upgrading them on a linear track. If you miss the era when ARPGs expected you to learn, experiment, and occasionally fail, PoE is designed for exactly that audience.

Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
Playerbase: High
Type: ARPG
PvP: Duels / Arenas / CTF / Tournaments
Release Date: October 23, 2013
Pros: +Extremely flexible builds through passive tree and item setups. +New mechanics and seasonal content keep the meta moving. +Leagues for casual play, competition, and permadeath. +Shop is cosmetic, no power for sale.
Cons: -A demanding learning curve for new players. -Visuals and UI can feel old-fashioned.

Fiesta Online

Fiesta Online is a cel-shaded, anime-flavored fantasy MMORPG that has been running in the West since 2007. With a colorful presentation, lighthearted tone, and a classic quest-and-grind structure, it offers six classes to grow into, plus a lively set of social and side systems that help it stand out among older free-to-play MMOs.

Publisher: Gamigo
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: Nov, 7, 2007 (NA/EU)
PvP: Duels / Open PvP Zones / Guild Wars
Pros: +Large world with lots of zones and activities. +Strong player housing via Estates. +Entertaining Kingdom Quests. +Satisfying skill and stat growth.
Cons: -Cash shop can provide major power. -Leveling becomes extremely grindy after 70. -No built-in auction house.

Asda Global

Asda Global (formerly marketed as Asda 2) is a 3D, anime-styled fantasy MMORPG that continues on from the original Asda Story. You begin your adventure in Alpen, the central hub of the Asda Empire, then branch out into questing zones and PvP battlefields as you build a character from one of eight classes. Between its lighthearted presentation, extensive fashion and gear options, and a genuinely useful soulmate system, Asda Global leans heavily into the classic grind-and-upgrade loop that defined many free-to-play MMOs of its era.

Publisher: GamenGame
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: May 19, 2011 (NA/EU)
PvP: Duels / Faction Wars / Battlefields
Pros: +Solid spread of classes and roles. +Strong character and outfit customization. +Soulmate pairing provides real gameplay perks. +Deep gear upgrading and socketing.
Cons: -Progression can feel repetitive over time.

Marvel Heroes

Marvel Heroes was a 3D action RPG built around the Marvel Comics roster, essentially taking the loot-driven rhythm of Diablo and swapping in superheroes, supervillains, and a steady stream of iconic locations. You picked a hero, dove into instanced missions from shared social hubs, and chased better gear, new abilities, and additional characters to unlock. At its peak as Marvel Heroes 2015, it also leaned into group play with raids and repeatable endgame activities, even if some systems (especially character acquisition and cosmetics) could feel grind-heavy.

Publisher: Gazillion Entertainment
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Fire and Ice MOBA mode
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Shut Down Date: November 24, 2017
Pros: +Huge roster of heroes and villains to control. +Comic-inspired narrative with strong writing. +Raid-ready party content and cooperative endgame. +Extras like companions, crafting, and plenty of side systems.
Cons: -Few meaningful options for changing a hero’s look. -Combat loops can start to feel samey over time. -Earning additional characters can take substantial farming.