#Finest MMOs to play in 2025 – Destructoid

It’s arduous to consider that we’ve crossed over into 2025, and it’s now formally nearer to 2030 than 2020, however right here we’re. MMOs are nonetheless dominating the gaming house, and so they’re an unimaginable technique to meet associates, have enjoyable, and work in the direction of objectives with out an excessive amount of stress. 

There are numerous MMOs on the market, and it may be arduous to decipher which of them are nonetheless price enjoying. New titles are launched on a regular basis, and so they both rapidly construct up a stable participant base or they fade into obscurity with just a few cult followers. In fact, MMOs, by definition, are “massively multiplayer”, so participant numbers positively depend in the case of deciding what to play. 

Listed here are 10 MMOs which can be price enjoying in 2025. 

World of Warcraft

It’s nearly staggering that World of Warcraft is now over 20 years previous, but it surely’s been an absolute behemoth within the MMO sphere because it was launched again in 2004, and it reveals no indicators of slowing down. It’s had ten main updates within the final 20 years, with one launched each two years and the final one in 2024. 

Though there isn’t prone to be something main added in 2025 in keeping with this schedule, there may be by no means a scarcity of issues to do or courses to check out new characters, making World of Warcraft an absolute should for any MMO fan. 

A decade youthful than World of Warcraft however now an absolute mainstay within the style, Elder Scrolls On-line takes every part beloved from the in-game universe that introduced us Oblivion and Skyrim with an MMO twist. Design and tweak your character to your personal style after which set out into Tamriel. 

Previous to 2025, Elder Scrolls On-line obtained annual chapter releases, however that is set to alter. ZeniMax On-line Studios introduced in December 2024 that they’d be making the shift in the direction of seasonal updates, so there’s a lot to stay up for within the coming months and an entire world of content material to atone for within the meantime. 

Brighter Shores

Brighter Shores is likely one of the extra lately launched titles on this checklist and maybe probably the most dangerous addition as nicely. In response to SteamDB, the very best complete variety of gamers to ever have been concurrently enjoying is barely 21,272, however I don’t assume that ought to be held in opposition to creator Andrew Gower of RuneScape fame. 

For a begin, it’s free to play (as much as a sure level in the primary story) and whereas the graphics are actually dated by in the present day’s requirements, they’re positively interesting to those that performed RuneScape beforehand and desire a new problem. You’ve obtained nothing to lose by giving it a attempt, and with extremely low system necessities, you don’t even want a very high-end setup to play. Simply be ready for a grind, as nothing comes straightforward in Brighter Shores.

Path of Exile 2

As probably the most lately launched title on this checklist, Path Of Exile 2 has rapidly develop into one of many most-played video games on Steam alone and reaches roughly 300,000 gamers per day with out taking into consideration those that are on totally different platforms. It’s nonetheless in early entry, with new options, courses, and updates deliberate within the coming months, so there’s loads to stay up for. 

There’s additionally loads to at present do. At first look, development by the sport and evolution of your character appears akin to learning for a college thesis, but it surely’s straightforward to get the hold of issues, and as you discover Wraeclast, you’ll discover loads to fall in love with. 

Remaining Fantasy XIV

Remaining Fantasy XIV turns 12 years previous in 2025 when you measure from the second Naoki Yoshida took over growth and remodeled the faltering MMO into A Realm Reborn. It’s been a stable fixed within the style ever since and nonetheless pulls in round 200,000 gamers a day, even within the downtime between content material updates. 

Admittedly, I could also be biased in the case of this, because it’s positively my most-played MMO title, and I’ve 9,000 hours sunk into it. However Eorzea is full of issues to expertise and folks to fulfill, each NPCs and different gamers, who by no means fail to make it price your time. Plus, with the latest replace to the free trial, now you can play from the start of A Realm Reborn to the top of Stormblood with out spending a penny. That’s numerous content material and positively nothing to complain about. 

Dune: Awakening

One in every of solely two titles on this checklist that haven’t truly been launched but, Dune: Awakening is certainly an MMO to control in 2025. The motion takes place on what’s described as “probably the most harmful planet within the universe,” and when you’ve ever a lot as heard of Dune, you then’ll completely consider that description to be true. 

Though there are restricted particulars obtainable in regards to the sport and no set launch date apart from “2025”, Dune: Awakening reveals numerous promise and potential. Character creation appears to be full of element, development appears simply sophisticated sufficient to maintain it attention-grabbing, and there’s even a base-building component, letting you create a protected oasis away from the specter of Sandworms. Hopefully. 

Throne and Liberty

Throne and Liberty was developed and revealed by NCSoft and launched by Amazon Video games into early entry at totally different instances by 2023 and 2024, relying in your location. It reached North America and Europe in October 2024 and rapidly attracted an enormous variety of gamers to the world of Solisium.

There are a considerable amount of microtransactions in Throne and Liberty, however attempt to not let that put you off. They’re not strictly mandatory, though they do positively present an edge, so you may get by content material with out spending a penny as a result of the preliminary sport itself is free at a primary stage. There are surprisingly cute parts, such because the Amitoi, and the world of Solisium is past gorgeous.

Chrono Odyssey

Korean MMO Chrono Odyssey is caught with a “to be introduced” tag on Steam in the case of a launch date, but it surely’s supposedly coming sooner or later in 2025, and it’s positively price watching. With a deal with time manipulation, there’s positively one thing that stands out about Chrono Odyssey, one thing that makes it simply totally different sufficient from anything on this checklist. 

Set to incorporate quite a lot of totally different biomes to discover, all of which is able to change in keeping with the seasons or time of day, which means there’s no scarcity of issues to get excited over. We’re promised six courses to check out, a number of weapons to familiarize yourself with, and “intensive customization” to stay up for. There will probably be some microtransactions, however they received’t be essential to win.

Albion On-line

Albion On-line is a free-to-play MMO that’s continually receiving updates, together with the Rogue Frontier replace that’s set to drop quickly with an entire new vary of content material centered on the theme of Smugglers. There’s all the time one thing to do in Albion and all the time one thing to attend for, making it excellent for anybody who loves the MMO style. 

Set on this planet of Arthurian legend, there aren’t any courses in Albion On-line. As an alternative, the weapon and kit you equip outline how one can struggle and earn Fame to extend your abilities. All gadgets are made by gamers, with a totally player-driven financial system, so you may simply thrive when you’ve got the abilities. The map is totally enormous, and also you’ll have the chance to enter PVP zones as you discover when you’re courageous sufficient. 

The Lord of the Rings On-line

I’m a sucker for the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien, however you don’t essentially need to be to get pleasure from Lord of the Rings On-line, though you’ll probably get extra enjoyment out of the unimaginable recreation of Center-Earth when you’re on the identical web page as me. 

The MMO remains to be being up to date and continually evolving regardless of first being launched means again in 2007, and there’s a roadmap of updates for the months of 2025, so there’s extra content material on the way in which. You may craft, struggle, and discover Center-Earth to your coronary heart’s content material, and there are twelve courses to select from, relying on which of the eight races you select to play as.