Do you have a strong desire to kill 100 hours of your life playing video games? We’ve all been there, and no other genre in gaming can scratch the itch quite like the MMORPG. From World of Warcraft to Elder Scrolls Online, the MMO genre reaches worlds far and wide, with countless hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of adventure awaiting you. Here are five of the best MMOs to lose 100 hours or more in!
World of Warcraft
While many will argue that, today, World of Warcraft is a shell of its once commanding presence in the MMORPG space, you’d be hard-pressed to claim that it doesn’t include a metric ton of content to play through.
You have over a decade’s worth of expansions to sift through, countless classes and races to enjoy, too many mounts to count that you may quest for and collect, and more guilds than you can shake a mage’s wand at!
Despite the shortcomings in recent years, and the significant drop in subscribers, World of Warcraft remains one of the biggest MMORPGs on the market. There are many millions of people playing, so you’re sure to find a group for raids, dungeons, mount collecting, leveling, or for social aspects, like roleplay.
The downside, as always, is the monthly cost. You have to pay for expansions and pay a monthly sub to enjoy the game.
The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online remains one of the most played MMORPGs on the market today. And despite its popularity, it does have some issues. The studio’s most recent content drops have been somewhat lackluster, its expansions need more, and the reliance on the in-game store, especially the overall costs of each item, has become a pain point for most players in the community.
Despite these issues, ESO already features many thousands of hours of content to explore. You have numerous landmasses and regions to adventure throughout, alongside housing, crafting, transmog collection, guilds to join, and so much more.
Furthermore, something everyone loves, is that every NPC in the game is fully voiced. You don’t have to sit and read countless paragraphs of text because high-quality voice actors will draw you into the story with ease.
As my second long-term MMORPG, Elder Scrolls Online holds a special place in my heart, and likely always will. Sure, the combat could use a revamp, but the sheer amount of content available today will keep you busy for a long, long time.
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is a staple in the MMORPG scene. It’s often mentioned alongside some of the best, like Elder Scrolls Online and World of Warcraft, and for good reason, too. The only downside, however, is that the development studio, ArenaNet, doesn’t market the game very well. It only recently released on Steam, and you almost never see trailers or previews of the game go live. But word of mouth works wonders for this one.
This MMORPG is somewhat different. You’re rewarded for genuinely exploring the game’s massive world, with plenty of NPCs to help and quests to complete. You’ll pick apples for pie, clear out a quarry, stop bandits from harassing travelers on the road, and so much more.
Plus, Guild Wars 2 features one of the best mount systems in the genre. It doesn’t offer a ton of variety in those mounts, like World of Warcraft, but each mount serves a specific purpose, like jumping over gaps or treading water.
Furthermore, GW2 enjoys one of the friendliest and most welcoming communities, just like the next game on our list. Everyone simply wants to enjoy the thousands of hours of content available.
Final Fantasy XIV
On a list of popular MMORPGs, it’s impossible not to list Final Fantasy XIV. It has become an absolute juggernaut—one of the best MMOs—in the scene. As a top MMORPG, it’s no surprise to anyone that the latest and greatest Final Fantasy MMORPG features hundreds, if not thousands, of hours worth of gameplay to enjoy.
You have exceptional character customization, an overwhelming amount of cosmetic options, beautifully realized areas to explore, what is often considered one of the best stories in MMORPGs of all time, and a cast of characters worth remembering.
But that’s all the staples of a single-player RPG, too. What about the multiplayer aspect? You can complete high-level dungeons and bosses with others, work the market with crafting and job skills, hang out in city centers with countless other players, and join guilds to meet new friends.
New World
Yeah, this entry will receive plenty of hate from the community. New World is the newest MMORPG on this list, and it’s also one that plenty dislike. When it first launched, New World was an absolute mess. It didn’t know what type of MMO it wanted to become, and a lot of content was lackluster; not to mention the technical issues, like the game engine which was not meant for MMORPGs.
But after a year and a half since its release, the team at Amazon Games has made significant strides. In fact, recent reviews on Steam indicate most folks are growing quite happy with the overall direction. It has a ‘Mostly Positive’ rating now.
With the introduction of Brimstone Sands, a handful of new weapons, dungeons, and a total revamp of the main story questline and new player experience, New World is in an excellent place. Now, however, they need to look forward to the future, and a paid expansion is the most likely solution.
What is your favorite MMORPG currently? Let us know in the comments below!