Some MMOs used to be very popular 10 to 20 years ago. Today, they are almost forgotten, but you can still start and play them. We at MeinMMO present you 5 of them.
The MMORPG genre has changed significantly over the years. Many popular games are now looked back on with nostalgia, as for most players the graphics are too outdated and unfortunately, there are hardly any players left. In many MMORPGs that are considered “rather dead” today, it was quite different back then.
How did this list come about? To find out which MMORPGs were popular in the past, we looked at Google Trends for various games since 2004. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t look back any further, which is a pity, as some of the MMORPGs were released earlier.
Each of the games we listed is marked at the top with a color. The graph shows which MMORPGs were searched for most frequently back then:
In addition to the trends, we refer to research on the topic. It is clear that Ultima Online, Lineage, and EverQuest count among the classics. Then Metin2 and Aion appeared due to the trends. As the 6th MMORPG, Ragnarok is also interesting, which initially couldn’t be played in its original form but has made a return.
We are consciously focusing on games that were once great and are no longer so today. For example, RuneScape, which still enjoys great popularity today, is therefore excluded from the list. Furthermore, we have ensured that you can still play the MMORPGs today.
Lineage
Release: 1998
Focus of the MMORPG: Fantasy, PvE, PvP
Business Model: Free2Play
Developer: NCSoft
What kind of game is this? Lineage is a Korean MMORPG series. In the still playable version, you choose your character from 30 different classes and enter the world of Aden. In it, 3 kingdoms are at war with each other and you must try to restore peace.
In 2003, it received its sequel Lineage II, which became even more well-known than the original. There are also some mobile games related to Lineage. The original is only running in Korea now and received a remastered version in 2018. In the West, there has only been the sequel to Lineage since 2011.
For the future, the developers are planning the MMORPG Throne and Liberty, previously known as Lineage 3, Lineage Eternal, and Project TL.
EverQuest
Release: 1999
Focus of the MMORPG: Fantasy, PvE, Exploration
Business Model: Free2Play
Developer: Sony, Darkpaw Games
What kind of game is this? EverQuest is considered an absolute classic among MMORPGs. It takes place in the fantasy world of Norrath and lets you start in different cities depending on your class.
You choose from 16 classes and 16 races. Players are divided into the factions of “good” and “evil,” with corresponding races for the two factions as well as neutral races.
The focus of the game is on PvE, while PvP is only possible to a limited extent. In EverQuest, you would find a group or guild to team up with to conquer raids and slay bosses. Initially, there were 3 continents to explore, but more were added later.
Although EverQuest was considered more beginner-friendly than other MMORPGs of its time, it still posed uncomfortable challenges. For example, melee classes were only allowed to respawn in the city and had to walk back to their content, which took 30 to 60 minutes. Fast travel was hardly possible at the beginning of the game unless you accidentally found a portal master.
To this day, the MMORPG has a loyal player base, which, however, is no longer as large as it used to be. Since 2012, EverQuest has even been available on Steam.
The sequel EverQuest 2 was released in 2004. Also, until a few months ago, an MMORPG called EverQuest Next was in development. Unfortunately, it was canceled. However, we know that the mastermind behind EverQuest is currently working on a new MMORPG.
Aion
Release: 2008
Focus of the MMORPG: PvP
Business Model: Free2Play
Developer: NCSoft
What kind of game is this? In the MMORPG Aion, you choose between “light” and “dark.” You pick between the Elyos living on the light side of the fictional world of Atreia and the Asmodians on the dark side. Ultimately, you fight for your faction, facing off against other players.
Your character is selected from 6 classes, each having 12 specializations. Alongside PvP content, Aion offers some PvE options as well, the ability to fly, and item collection.
Since its release, the MMORPG has been regularly updated, despite a significant drop in player count. Since 2012, Aion has been available on Steam and is currently advertising a Halloween event.
For those who played Aion in the past and want to dive into complete nostalgia, they can soon play on one of the Aion classic servers. There, everything is back to what it was at release with patch 1.0.
Metin2
Release: 2005
Focus of the MMORPG: Fantasy, Grind, PvE
Business Model: Free2Play
Developer: WebZen/Ymir
What kind of game is this? In the Korean MMORPG Metin2, you choose your character from 5 classes; it was 4 in the past. Then you choose one of 3 kingdoms to fight for.
In Metin2, you not only slay monsters and occasionally other players, but you also farm metin stones from which you can obtain valuable rewards. Depending on your level, you are on different maps, farming the appropriate stones.
Leveling takes forever starting from level 30, later it’s hardly bearable. The grind for the best items is also frustrating. Nevertheless, Metin2 was among the most played MMORPGs for several years after its release in 2005.
Metin2 was also available on Steam, but in August it left the platform and is now only playable on its own client.
Ultima Online
Release: 1997
Focus of the MMORPG: Fantasy
Business Model: Free2Play with possible subscription
Developer: Electronic Arts
What kind of game is this? Ultima Online is considered by many to be the origin of all modern MMORPGs, although Meridian 59 is even older and also had an open world. In Ultima Online, you enter the sandbox world of Britannia. You traverse dungeons or sail on a heavy warship.
For your character, you can craft everything yourself, whether weapons or equipment. Additionally, every player can build and furnish their own house.
Until 2017, players had to pay for the MMORPG; then it received a Free2Play version with possible subscription.
It continues to receive updates even after 25 years, with a total of 10 expansions and numerous smaller patches. In 2020, the first new server in 15 years started. A mobile version of Ultima Online was also launched in the same year.
Ragnarok
Release: 2002
Focus of the MMORPG: Anime, PvE
Business Model: Free2Play
Developer: Gravity
What kind of game is this? Ragnarok is considered the classic of anime MMORPGs. It throws you into a cute, colorful world that you explore with your character.
The story revolves around the god Ymir no longer maintaining peace in the world of Ragnarok, leading to war. Monsters attack Rune-Midgard, and stories about mysterious demons arise. You, as the hero, must restore order to the unrest.
The original game and its successor Ragnarok 2 were, however, canceled in Europe in 2018 for data protection reasons. The rights have been sold, so Ragnarok is again officially playable.
Additionally, more and more games set in the Ragnarok universe are being released, most of them for mobile devices. In 2021 alone, 3 new ones were announced. Ragnarok Begins is the only one for PC and is expected to come to the West soon.
What do you think of our list? Which of the MMORPGs did you play in the past? Which of your favorites from back then are not on the list? Or are you more fans of World of Warcraft and RuneScape, which have had high player numbers since their release? Feel free to share it with us in the comments here on MeinMMO!
Currently, these MMORPGs are the most played:
The 10 MMORPGs with the most players on Steam in October 2022
