By 2019, dozens of MMORPGs are already on the market and many more are currently in development or are set to be released. This often raises the question: Which one should I play? One of the older, more developed ones or one of the new ones? MeinMMO attempts to answer this question and invites you to participate in the survey.
What is this overview for? Due to the increasing number of MMORPGs on the market, it is often difficult for fans of the genre to decide which one to play. There is a lot of choice and new MMORPGs are constantly appearing, although the trend is moving in a different direction.
Moreover, even new releases with expensive production do not always succeed. Big names are therefore not a clear indication of the quality of a game. Instead of opting for a new game, it might be worth choosing an old MMORPG, even as a newcomer.
With this article, we aim to help interested players decide which MMORPGs might be suitable for them. We do not focus directly on players, but rather want to make the general direction clearer: New, fresh MMORPG or an established successful title?
The old MMORPGs
Which ones are there? MMORPGs have been around for many years. Accordingly, the number of games that are still played despite their age is significant. Among the largest and most popular titles are:
Even truly old MMORPGs from the early days, such as Runescape, are still running and have players.
These are the advantages of old MMORPGs
- they usually have more content than new releases, as a lot has been added over the years
- Bugs and errors have been minimized through constant work
- they have been around for a long time, so they will likely continue to exist for a while
- fundamental changes are unlikely to occur. Most will remain as they are, and players can get used to it
- there are already many opinions about the games that can guide players
These are the disadvantages of old MMORPGs
- the worlds offer a lot to discover for newcomers, but due to their long existence, much is already known through news or reporting
- no innovative, new gameplay or mechanics, as the games have been around for so long
- without some form of catch-up mechanic, it will be difficult to enjoy the endgame or play with more experienced friends
Conclusion: Old MMORPGs may be best suited for complete newcomers to the genre who have little or no experience with MMORPGs but want to take a look at them. They will find fully developed games that do not deter due to an excessive number of bugs.
Additionally, they are offered large worlds to explore and discover with naive eyes. Players who grew up with MMORPGs like WoW Classic may often know many stories and worlds, making them “blind to the wonders” that the environment has to offer.
New and Upcoming MMORPGs
Which ones are there? Although the MMORPG genre seems to have little room for growth and is at best stagnating, there are still notable titles in development. These include:
Even in 2019, many new MMORPGs are coming to the market. Many of the newer MMORPGs are based on spiritual predecessors. However, they often also offer innovative new content that hasn’t existed in this form before, such as Crowfall, which can be “won” through its campaigns.
These are the advantages of new MMORPGs
- fresh, unused stories and scenarios in unknown worlds
- ambitious developers who want to bring their ideas to the player
- often innovative gameplay and new mechanics that bring new nuances to the MMORPG
- the opportunity to help shape the future of the game through feedback with the developers
- everyone starts anew, there are no “pros” yet
These are the disadvantages of new MMORPGs
- servers are often overcrowded at the beginning before a player base settles in
- hardly any MMORPG release goes without major bugs and errors that take some time to fix
- the future is uncertain. If not enough players are interested in the MMORPG, it may be shut down
Conclusion: MMORPG releases may be better playgrounds for veterans of the genre. They can already estimate whether they like what they see and decide if they want to play the MMORPG long-term.
Additionally, they are better able to recognize the differences from other MMORPGs and can provide critical feedback and reviews that help developers with troubleshooting and improvement, assisting fans in their decision-making.
Important Points: Community and Economy
Two points that should be addressed separately are the communities and the economy of new and old MMORPGs. Both are important for enjoyment and long-term motivation but may not be immediately visible at first glance.
The community in old MMORPGs is usually well-established. Players know each other and the game. As a newcomer, it can be difficult to find connections – but there are definitely players available. In new MMORPGs, communities have to find each other first, making new acquaintances potentially easier to forge.
The economy in games, meaning the availability of items and currency, is often player-driven. In new MMORPGs, you have the opportunity to get involved and help develop the economy.
You can create economic foundations for the course of the game. In old MMORPGs, you often need some form of “kickstart” since you may lack gold or silver to participate.
Now it’s your turn: Play immediately or wait?
Now it’s your turn. Do you prefer to play MMORPGs right at release? Do you wait a few months until the bugs are fixed and development is foreseeable? Or do you even wait until new content has been added?
Comment below how you voted and what your reasons are.
Do you prefer trying out new MMORPGs for free?
