You didn’t get an RTX 3080 or another fast graphics card and still want to play some cool MMORPGs? MeinMMO presents to you 8 MMORPGs on Steam that you can still easily play on older hardware.
The most important points at a glance:
- The article presents the best MMORPGs for weak PCs that have low requirements.
- In total, you will find 8 games on our list that we currently recommend and that you can start via Steam.
- We also explain why these games are still worth it today.
Furthermore, all games are generally free, so it’s worth taking a look at the featured games. You don’t have to spend money in any of the games presented.
How was the list created? We looked at MMORPG recommendations. We also checked which games have particularly low system requirements, so that they can run on rather weak systems. Many games were also tested on a weak device by us.
Albion Online
Genre: Open-World, Sandbox | Developer: Sandbox Interactive | Release Date: July 17, 2017 | Steam and official website
What is Albion Online? The world of Albion lures with many riches, fame, and honor. You can choose whether to confront dangers such as monsters and competing players or drive the country’s economy forward.
You operate your own farm to supply fellow players with resources, or you venture into dark dungeons to face the creatures there. PvP is an important part of Albion Online, especially expressed in guild wars.
What’s happening in the game right now? On March 18, 2021, Albion Online received a substantial update with “Call to Arms”. The game has strong player numbers and the new add-on is well received.
Who is the game suitable for? The MMORPG is aimed at all who love PvP, as this aspect is very important in the game. Not only in guild wars, but also in the open world when searching for resources.
Will it run on my PC? The game has extremely low requirements. It needs a processor with SSE2, meaning your CPU should be no older than 8 years. Nowadays, almost all computer systems have 4 GB of RAM.
How is the game rated? The game is rated “Mostly Positive” (78%) on Steam based on over 30,000 reviews. The enormous scope and the many possibilities available in the game are praised. Criticism mainly targets that the game is less accessible to new players and that weaker players can quickly be defeated by stronger ones.
The Lord of the Rings Online
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Standing Stone Games | Release: April 24, 2007 | Steam
What is The Lord of the Rings Online? The MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online transports you to the fantasy world of Middle-earth, where the novel trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien takes place.
Classically, you can expect a lot of quests and tactical battles against orcs, trolls, and other monsters. The contents are designed for groups, but at the beginning, you can cope well solo. Most of the content can also be unlocked for free, but requires quite a bit of grind.
What’s happening in the game right now? The developers have now completed the story of the books, but there are more adventures to tell. Just at the end of 2020, LoTRO received “War of the Three Peaks” a new DLC with new content and more content is said to be in preparation.
Who is the game suitable for? The game mainly appeals to fans of the novels. Experiencing Middle-earth is something special. Additionally, The Lord of the Rings Online is a very classic theme park MMORPG with a focus on story and quests. If you enjoy completing quests that tell interesting stories, you’ll find plenty of fun here.
Will it run on my PC? The game is soon 14 years old and thus doesn’t need a strong computer. With an Intel Pentium 4 or similar AMD processor, the minimum requirements are very low.
How is the game rated? The game is rated “Very Positive” (80%) on Steam based on over 12,000 reviews. The extent and strong community are praised. However, criticism mainly addresses the outdated graphics.
EverQuest (1+2)
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Daybreak Game Company | Release Date: 1999 (December 13, 2012) | Steam
What is EverQuest? EverQuest is considered the grandfather of modern MMORPGs and takes place on the fictional planet Norrath. At the center of the MMORPG are the gods, as they are responsible for many abilities in the game. There is accordingly much story to discover and experience.
What’s happening in the game right now? According to the publisher Daybreak’s official numbers, EverQuest still has a high player count today. Thus, EverQuest remains one of the more successful MMORPGs, which still has active players despite its old age. With Claws of Veeshan, the game received its 27th expansion on December 8, 2020.
Who is the game suitable for? If you are looking for an old classic of the genre or simply want to play an extensive MMORPG, you should take a look at EverQuest. Despite its age, the game still receives regular larger updates with new game content.
Will it run on my PC? Due to its age, the requirements are extremely low. You don’t need a modern processor and at least 2 GB of RAM, which should not be a problem for most PCs.
How is the game rated? The game is rated “Mostly Positive” (78%) on Steam based on over 1300 reviews.
Neverwinter
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Cryptic Studios, Perfect World | Release Date: April 30, 2013 | Steam
What is Neverwinter? In the MMORPG Neverwinter, you travel to the eponymous city and fight numerous threats. The game is based on the Dungeons & Dragons license. For your adventures, you create a hero and fight either alone or in groups against villains.
What’s happening in the game right now? In 2020, the expansion “Infernal Descent” was released, featuring plenty of new content like quests, new items, and dungeons. In early 2021, it also received a major update, which was heavily discussed in the community. Further content is also planned for the future.
Who is the game suitable for? If you are looking for an MMORPG that takes place in the setting of “Dungeons and Dragons” and offers plenty of content, then you should give Neverwinter a chance.
Will it run on my PC? Since the game is already several years old, the requirements are not very high. Your graphics card must support at least DirectX 10, meaning it should be from 2009 or newer. 2 GB of RAM should not be a problem for most computers.
How is the game rated? The game rated “Mostly Positive” (78%) on Steam based on over 30,000 reviews. The fast-paced and fun combat system is praised, while criticism is directed at the encouragement to invest money in the game.
Phantasy Star Online 2
Genre: MMO| Developer: SEGA | Release Date: 2012 | Steam
What is Phantasy Star Online 2: In this online RPG, elements of science fiction are mixed with fantasy. For a long time, the game was not available in the West. Now you can play PSO2 on Steam. The game is not a classic MMORPG, as there is no open world. Instead, you meet other players in large hubs where you start quests and missions. You can then complete these missions solo with NPCs or together with friends.
What’s happening in the game right now? The launch on PC at the end of 2020 was buggy and a small disaster, but the developers have since fixed the problems. You can now enjoy the game without issues.
Who is the game suitable for? If you are tired of much fantasy and are looking for some variety, you should check out Phantasy Star Online 2. You can try out various classes and diversify your character with skills and cosmetic items.
Will it run on my PC? With a dual-core processor, you can already enter the world of Phantasy Star Online 2. 2 GB of RAM should pose no barrier either, as Windows 10 requires at least 4 GB RAM.
How is the game rated? The game has received a “Very Positive” (84%) rating on Steam based on over 9,000 reviews. The unique combat system and comparatively low grind are praised. However, there is criticism regarding the user interface, which is outdated.
RuneScape (Old School)
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: Jagex | Release Date: February 22, 2013 | Steam
What is RuneScape? RuneScape is certainly one of the most well-known and oldest MMORPGs. It is considered one of the founding fathers of the modern MMORPG genre. As in any MMORPG, you improve your hero, enhance your skills, and upgrade your equipment. Crafting is a particularly important factor due to essential items. Group play also plays a significant role in RuneScape.
The game offers everything that an interesting MMORPG needs: an extensive character editor, a crafting system, and exciting battles from an isometric perspective.
What’s happening in the game right now? Even though the game just appeared on Steam at the end of 2020, it enjoys great popularity and has a strong community. Just recently, RuneScape also got a new boss to make fishing more exciting.
Who is the game suitable for? If you are looking for a classic that is still playable today, take a look at RuneScape. The game offers plenty of gameplay to this day and captivates many players in front of their screens, even though the game seems a bit outdated. Thanks to regular content updates, you’ll still be busy for months. However, you should also note that the game is more aimed at group players than solo players.
Will it run on my PC? Thanks to its age, you can also play the game on older systems. The developers have also adjusted and improved the graphics over time, but the system requirements remain low.
How is the game rated? The game is rated “Very Positive” (89%) based on over 12,000 reviews. The strong social aspect and the fair game system, which almost completely dispenses with pay systems, are praised.
Star Wars – The Old Republic
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: BioWare | Release Date: December 20, 2011 | Steam
What is Star Wars – The Old Republic? The MMORPG by BioWare places strong emphasis on the story. Like in other BioWare games, you must make decisions within quests that have long-term consequences. The game is fully voiced and offers a wealth of content. You can experience an exciting story solo. Alternatively, you can dive into PvP battles or engage in space battles.
Many of the game’s contents can also be enjoyed for free. However, the major expansions are available only for a fee and cannot be unlocked using in-game currency. There are also some restrictions for pure free-to-play players. For instance, you can only complete a limited number of instances or PvP battles each week.
What’s happening in the game right now? At the end of 2020, SWTOR launched on Steam and saw a significant increase in players. In September 2020, the most recent update 6.2 – Echoes of Vengeance was released, continuing the story. This year, SWTOR is also set to receive a season pass with many cosmetic rewards and a new flashpoint (dungeon).
Who is the game suitable for? If you are a Star Wars fan looking for an engaging MMORPG with an exciting story and lots of solo content, then you should give SWTOR a chance. Graphically, the game still looks good today, and it continues to be updated with major updates. However, note that specific content is still paid.
Will it run on my PC? The game will turn 10 this year and has reasonable system requirements. A dual-core processor is a must; a quad-core is naturally better. 3 GB of RAM should be standard for most PCs these days. The Old Republic also runs smoothly on processors with integrated graphics.
How is the game rated? The game is rated “Very Positive” (90%) based on over 23,000 reviews. The exciting story and atmosphere of the game are praised, but some criticize that some content is behind a paywall. Thus, pure free-to-play players face some restrictions.
Tree of Savior
Genre: MMORPG | Developer: IMC Games | Release Date: March 28, 2016 | Steam
What is Tree of Savior? The Korean MMORPG is developed by some of the creators of Ragnarok Online and is also fundamentally oriented towards this game. You get an MMORPG with cute graphics and many PvE contents. PvP is only represented in specific arenas.
You level your character up to 450 and collect plenty of equipment or upgrades. Additionally, you can unlock advanced classes. As is common in such Asian games, you should not be opposed to grinding, as you will have to repeat many tasks to progress.
What’s happening in the game right now? Tree of Savior still receives regular updates from the developers, and a spring event is starting soon. According to SteamCharts (via SteamCharts.com), an average of 1500 to 2000 players are online.
In summer 2020, Tree of Savior received a substantial update with fresh endgame content. In addition, there are regular new quests and world bosses, and the level cap is also increased. Much content is achievable even as a solo player.
Who is the game suitable for? If you’re looking for a colorful and chaotic MMORPG that focuses on PvE and don’t mind hard grinding, then you should check out Tree of Savior.
Will it run on my PC? In general, you don’t need a strong computer to play Tree of Savior. There are two small hurdles: first, the game requires at least 8 GB of RAM, and players with very old systems could have problems. Additionally, the game requires more than 30 GB of storage space on your hard drive.
How is the game rated? The game is rated “Mixed” (58%) based on over 9,000 reviews. The pretty graphics and interesting content are praised. However, the game is mainly criticized for the poor balancing of classes. Additionally, there are some pay-to-play barriers.
We at MeinMMO also count Tree of Savior among the best MMORPGs released in the last 5 years.
