Every year, Steam gives developers the opportunity to showcase demo versions of their upcoming titles during the Steam Next Fest and actively farm players’ wishlists. That’s exactly what’s happening right now, and among these are also 13 MMORPGs.
If you filter by MMORPG in all languages at the Steam Next Fest, you will find a total of 13 results. However, when scrolling through the titles, the big names are missing: Neither Aion 2, nor the promised ArcheAge: Chronicles, nor Chrono Odyssey are playable, not to mention Guild Wars 3. Instead, there are idle games, a clone of Albion Online, and 2D MMORPGs from indie developers.
But before you dive back into your favorite MMORPG this week, you should at least try one of the 13 new MMORPGs, as that one has real potential.
Embers of the Uncrowned could become the new Lost Ark
What kind of MMORPG is this? Embers of the Uncrowned describes itself as an isometric dark-fantasy MMORPG. What the developers mean by this is a mix of Lost Ark and a dark game world that combines horror elements with scantily clad characters, as shown in the trailer.
No wonder: The new MMORPG comes from Nexon itself and is therefore developed by a high-profile studio. The gameplay is not only inspired by Lost Ark.
Especially in boss fights, it will become tricky, akin to the mega-hit from Amazon Games, but the flashy effects and the combination of abilities in the game remind more of the endgame of Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2.
At the same time, the title is not a single-player game, and you can only defeat the mightiest bosses in the game through teamwork.
The own city is the center of the gameplay
A feature of Embers of the Uncrowned is the own city. Instead of typical MMORPG elements like crafting, farming, or housing, everything revolves around making your house more glorious and powerful. The better you are at it, the more your settlement grows into a city.
This has extreme advantages, as with the new faces that join you, you gain more skills, items, and access to new elements like equipment upgrades in the game. The gameplay loop looks something like this:
Defeat enemies and complete tasks -> Loot & Level up -> Expand settlement -> Improve skills and equipment -> Enemies…
More beta than demo
In the demo that runs until June 22 at 7 PM on Steam, it’s actually more of a beta than just a simple demo version. Instead of just a few levels, you can really dive into the MMORPG and try out the three available classes so far.
- Phantom Blade: Wields a phantom longsword and defeats enemies with rapid swordsmanship.
- Executioner: Wields a massive axe and obliterates enemies with heavy blows.
- Stormcaller: The mage who combines the elements of wind and lightning to obliterate enemies with elemental magic.
The skill trees of the classes are also intended to allow extensive customization, enabling you to individualize your classes.
In addition to the classes, there are companions that you recruit in the game, who then fight alongside you as worthy allies. The right choice is crucial because your abilities and those of your companion can synergize to become even more powerful.
Lost Ark or not?
What does MeinMMO expert Cedric Holmeier think about Embers of the Uncrowned? As an Asia MMORPG expert for MeinMMO, I have had Embers of the Uncrowned on my radar for some time. With the prominent game studio Nexon backing it, the title certainly has the chance to dethrone Lost Ark.
The retreat from Amazon Games has opened a gap that Embers of the Uncrowned could fill. The focus on Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 seems sensible, as MMORPG players love characters that deal powerful blows to their enemies.
At the same time, Nexon must also tackle Lost Ark’s biggest problem: the grind. Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 are inherently games that revolve around grinding, whereas the modern MMORPG aims to provide players with as much fun as possible in a short amount of time.
The monetization is still unclear, but the developers are already advertising with lavish skins on the Steam page. It can already be inferred that outfits will play a significant role in financing.
The test of Embers of the Uncrowned only runs until June 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM. There’s enough time to check out the MMORPG and determine whether it could be the next Lost Ark. Have you tried the MMORPG yet? If YES, feel free to let us know in the comments what you think of it and what still needs to be done before the full release. Also, let us know here which MMORPG you are most looking forward to: Choose the MMORPG of the future that you are most excited about!
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