Category: Reviews

APB Reloaded

APB Reloaded is a 3D open world MMO shooter set in the crime-soaked streets of San Paro, where players pick a side and live out an endless cops-versus-criminals power struggle. With clear GTA inspiration, the game leans heavily on urban chaos, gunfights, and vehicle play, then ties it all together with deep character and car customization that lets you stand out while you fight for control of the city.

Publisher: GamersFirst
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMO
Release Date: June 29, 2010
PvP: Open World / Team Missions
Pros: +Contemporary open-world theme. +Excellent character and vehicle customization depth. +Strong visual presentation. +Snappy missions with satisfying action.
Cons: -Matchmaking balance can feel uneven. -Free users are limited to renting many weapons. -Performance problems on client and server side. -Open-world design invites frequent griefing. -No true PvE offering.

League of Legends

League of Legends (LoL) is a competitive, fantasy-flavored MOBA built around fast decisions, team coordination, and deep champion mastery. Even years after launch, it remains a defining title for the genre, largely thanks to its enormous roster of champions (120+) and a constant flow of seasonal updates that keep the meta moving.

Publisher: Riot Games
Playerbase: High
Type: MOBA
Release Date: Oct 27, 2009
Pros: +Massive champion lineup (161+). +Established, high-profile esports ecosystem. +Generally strong balance for a live game. +Runes and Masteries add meaningful build variety. +Enjoyable whether you play casually or competitively.
Cons: -Many champions require unlocking (new releases can be expensive). -New players can run into smurfs and uneven matchmaking. -Chat culture can be hostile.

Jade Dynasty

Jade Dynasty is a 3D fantasy MMORPG with a wuxia influence, drawing heavily from Chinese mythology and the Zhu Xian setting. It mixes traditional questing and dungeon progression with social systems like marriage and master-apprentice bonds, plus large-scale guild conflict through fort battles.

Publisher: Arc Games
Playerbase: Low
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: June 15, 2009
Shutdown Date: June 5, 2018
PvP: Fort Battles / PvP Channels
Pros: +Distinct races and faction choices. +Attractive visuals, especially water and environments. +Plenty of events and side activities to rotate through. +Convenient features like auto-navigation.
Cons: -Questing can become formulaic. -Character creation has limited cosmetic range. -Automated grinding and offline progression reduce the sense of earned advancement.

Smite

Smite is a free-to-play 3D fantasy MOBA that puts you in control of legendary gods from world mythology and drops you into fast, team-based matches. Its biggest twist on the genre is perspective and control, instead of the classic top-down, click-to-move style, Smite plays from a third-person, over-the-shoulder camera with WASD movement, which makes fights feel closer to an action game than a traditional strategy-heavy MOBA.

Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios
Playerbase: High
Type: MOBA
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Pros: +A distinct third-person spin on the MOBA formula. +Healthy competitive ecosystem and ranked play. +Plenty of modes and a large roster of Gods. +Fair monetization with no pay-to-win power.
Cons: -Many Gods must be earned or purchased before you can use them. -Tough for new players to learn efficiently.

Tera

Tera: Rising is a 3D fantasy MMORPG best known for bringing a more hands-on, action-game approach to MMO combat. Instead of relying on tab targeting alone, you are expected to aim attacks, time blocks, and dodge enemy swings while questing through Arborea’s zones and tackling its dungeon bosses. With multiple races, a deep class roster, and flashy skill design, Tera delivered a distinct style of MMO moment-to-moment gameplay during its run.

Publisher: Krafton Blue Hole
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: May 1, 2012 (NA)
Shut Down Date: June 30, 2022
PvP: Duels / Battlegrounds / Open World
Pros: +Smooth visuals and responsive combat feel. +Guild conflicts with a political layer. +Skill-based targeting that keeps fights active. +Controller support.
Cons: -Questing can drag in the middle levels. -Crafting feels underdeveloped and unrewarding.

Tera Shut Down on June 30, 2022

DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online is a 3D superhero MMORPG built around the DC multiverse, letting you craft an original hero or villain and step into familiar streets like Gotham City and Metropolis. It blends action-driven combat with MMO progression, and it frequently puts you in the orbit of famous faces such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, and the Joker, whether you are fighting beside them or cleaning up the chaos they leave behind.

Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: January 11, 2011
PvP: Arenas / Open World (optional)
Pros: +Strong character creation with plenty of visual variety. +A famous universe brought to life with recognizable characters, solid voice work, and story presentation. +Responsive action combat that feels good moment to moment.
Cons: -Many story arcs and activities are locked behind paid DLC. -Mission structure can feel lengthy and repetitive over time. -Low level cap.

Champions Online

Champions Online is a 3D superhero MMORPG with a comic-book presentation, built around the fantasy of designing your own costumed hero and taking that character through open zones, missions, and instanced content. Its cel-shaded look helps it stand out from more grounded MMOs, and the game leans hard into classic heroics, from stopping street crime in Millennium City to throwing down with monsters, aliens, and supervillain factions, plus the occasional duel with other players.

Publisher: Arc Games
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: September 1, 2009
PvP: Arenas / Duels
Pros: +Excellent costume and hero creator depth. +Huge set of powers (Archetypes) with lots of build variety. +Tutorial does a good job without being mandatory.
Cons: -Chasing certain gear and unlocks can feel grind-heavy. -A lot of desirable options are gated behind Gold membership (subscription.) -Controls can feel clunky at times.

Blade and Soul

Blade & Soul is a 3D fantasy action MMORPG built around wuxia style martial arts and real-time, combo-focused fighting. Instead of relying purely on cooldown rotations, you are encouraged to react, time counters, and link abilities together to keep pressure on enemies. It pairs that kinetic combat with stylized zones and striking character designs that lean heavily into its signature art direction.

Publisher: NCsoft
Playerbase: High
Type: Action MMORPG
Release Date: January 19, 2016 (NA/EU)
PvP: Open World / Arenas / Battlegrounds
Pros: +Fast, combo-driven combat that feels responsive. +Story delivery is steady and easy to follow. +Stylish characters and scenic zones. +Clean UI that is simple to learn.
Cons: -Getting around can feel sluggish. -Combat depth creates a tougher learning curve for newcomers.

Forsaken World

Forsaken World is a 3D fantasy MMORPG set in the world of Eyrda, built around traditional questing, instanced dungeons, and a healthy dose of PvP. With 6 races and 9 classes available, it leans into variety, and it remains notable for offering Vampires as a playable class, which is still uncommon in the genre.

Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: June 14, 2011 (NA/EU)
Shut Down: November 30, 2022
PvP: Duels / Arenas / Guild Battles
Pros: +Wide selection of races and classes. +Clean, feature-rich UI. +Strong character creator options. +Lots of occupations and side systems.
Cons: -Cash shop advantages can affect competitive play. -PvE leveling is generally very forgiving and rarely demanding.

Forsaken World Shut Down on November 30, 2022

Neverwinter

Neverwinter is a free-to-play 3D action MMORPG that drops players into the Forgotten Realms, using Dungeons and Dragons as its foundation. Rather than relying on tab-targeting, it leans into a more active combat style where you line up attacks, watch enemy windups, and dodge danger zones. Between recognizable DandD locations, a campaign-forward quest flow, and a strong emphasis on instanced content, it aims to feel like a playable tabletop adventure, just with a hotbar and real-time movement.

Publisher: Arc Games
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: June 20, 2013
PvP: Arenas
Pros: +High-quality voice work and presentation. +Questing that prioritizes narrative. +Responsive, action-focused fighting. +Foundry tools add a steady stream of community content.
Cons: -Some store purchases feel close to quality-of-life necessities (bag space). -Arena matchmaking can feel lopsided. -Certain features and content are gated behind spending.