Category: Reviews

Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online (often shortened to STO) is a 3D sci-fi MMORPG that lets you step into the Star Trek universe as both a starship captain and an away-team leader. It leans heavily into narrative missions that echo the tone of the shows and films, then backs that up with instanced space battles, ground firefights, and a steady stream of progression systems to tinker with.

Publisher: Arc Games
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Duels / Factions
Release Date: Feb 2, 2010 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Robust Foundry tools for community missions. +Strong episodic storytelling. +Deep character creator. +Rewarding reputation progression. +Huge amount of things to do.
Cons: -UI and controls can feel dated and awkward. -Cash shop power can be hard to ignore.

Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 (TF2) is Valve’s long-running, class-based multiplayer shooter, known for its bold cartoon art direction, sharp silhouettes, and a sense of humor that never gets in the way of competitive play. Built on the legacy of the original Team Fortress mods for Quake and Half-Life, TF2 refines objective-focused team combat with nine distinct classes, clever map flow, and match-to-match chaos that still feels surprisingly readable once you learn the basics.

Publisher: Valve
Playerbase: High
Type: MMO
Release Date: Oct 9, 2007 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Tight class balance that rewards teamwork. +Strong map layouts built around objectives. +Distinctive, timeless art direction. +Huge amount of community content via Steam Workshop.
Cons: None. Team Fortress 2 is awesome.

Flyff Fly For Fun

Fly For Fun, usually shortened to Flyff, is a colorful 3D fantasy MMORPG set in Madrigal. You begin as a Vagrant on Flaris Island, learn the basics, complete your first job change, and before long you are riding a broom or board and navigating the world from the air, which remains the game’s signature hook.

Publisher: Gala Labs
Playerbase: Low
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Duels / Guild Siege / Arena / PvP Server
Release Date: December 25, 2005
Pros: +Playable across PC and mobile. +Runs extremely well on modest hardware. +Easy to learn and jump into. +Solid range of class paths. +Flying travel opens up early.
Cons: -Core loop becomes grind-heavy. -Questing is sparse, leveling leans on repetition. -Visuals, UI, and some systems feel dated.

Mu Online

Mu Online is a classic 3D fantasy hack-and-slash MMORPG that clearly takes cues from old-school action RPG design. It uses an isometric, top-down viewpoint and leans heavily into fast monster farming, gear hunting, and long-term character growth rather than cinematic storytelling or modern quest-driven leveling.

Publisher: Webzen
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Duels / Open World
Release Date: October 6, 2003 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Satisfying Diablo-like loop of killing and looting. +More than a decade of updates and systems to explore. +Extremely high level ceiling (1,100+). +Speed servers support rapid progression.
Cons: -No meaningful character appearance options. -Only three starter classes at the beginning. -Progression is grind-heavy and repetitive. -Questing is minimal. -No built-in auction house.

Dragon Oath

Dragon Oath is a 3D, martial arts themed MMORPG with a top-down viewpoint set in a romanticized Ancient China. It offers nine playable classes inspired by classic kung fu schools, a deep pet collecting and training loop, and a surprisingly large set of community focused systems like marriage and mentorship.

Publisher: ChangYou
Playerbase: Low
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Duels / Arenas / Open World
Release Date: Nov 5, 2009 (NA/EU)
Shut Down Date: 2016
Pros: +Robust pet collecting and training (250+ distinct pets). +Plenty of trade skills to level. +Community tools including marriage.
Cons: -Questing and combat can feel repetitive over time. -Localization quality is inconsistent. -Camera freedom is fairly restricted. -Western version lagged behind in updates.

Spirit Tales

Spirit Tales was a 3D, anime-flavored fantasy MMORPG built around chibi-styled heroes, bright zones, and a strong emphasis on looking adorable while adventuring. Beyond the usual questing and monster grinding, it leaned on two signature hooks, capturing creatures to use as pets and temporarily transforming into spirit animals for a burst of power. Released in Asia as Glory Destiny Online, it aimed for a straightforward, all-ages MMO experience with plenty of cosmetic variety.

Publisher: KoramGame
Playerbase: Low
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Duels / Twilight Arena
Release Date: May 10, 2012 (NA/EU)
Shut Down Date: June 25, 2015
Pros: +Bright, upbeat visuals with charming chibi characters. +Fun spirit transformations and a monster capture pet system. +Lots of costume and appearance options.
Cons: -Combat and questing can feel routine over time. -Small skill kits compared to many MMOs. -Low playerbase. -Content support slowed down.

While Spirit Tales has long since shut down, a relaunched version called Glory Destiny Reborn is available on Steam.

Ragnarok Online 2

Ragnarok Online 2 (RO2) is a 3D fantasy MMORPG that follows in the footsteps of the beloved 2004 classic Ragnarok Online. It returns players to Midgard with a strong dose of Norse-inspired flavor, and it borrows plenty of recognizable names for towns, monsters, and jobs. While the shift to full 3D and a more modern MMO structure makes it feel like a different kind of game than its predecessor, RO2 still aims to capture some of the original’s charm through familiar iconography and lighthearted adventure.

Publisher: Warpportal
Playerbase: Low
Type: MMORPG
PvP: Duels / Colosseum
Release Date: May 1, 2013 (NA/EU)
Pros: +Catchy soundtrack. +Solid spread of classes to start with. +Dungeons and raids are structured well. +Khara Quest board adds worthwhile goals.
Cons: -Gameplay loops can feel samey. -Limited PvP variety. -Build options are fairly narrow.

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.