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There is a vast selection of great MMOs and MMORPGs out there, each offering something unique compared to its rivals. That’s why we’ve handpicked the top 10 online multiplayer games we recommend playing. While the majority are available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, we’ve also included mobile titles for iOS and Android.
What kind of games are these? The selected games vary significantly from one another. Some are classic MMORPGs, while others are MMO shooters or Battle Royales. The order of the best MMOs and MMORPGs has been chosen at random.
What were the selection criteria? We have selected games that:
- Focus primarily on multiplayer and online gameplay.
- Are still actively being developed.
- Remain relevant, as shown by the interest from our MeinMMO readers.
- Are played by members of our editorial team.
For every MMO and MMORPG, you will find not only a description but also an assessment of why the game is still worth playing in 2026 and where its weaknesses lie.
World of Warcraft – MMORPG
Genre: MMORPG | Entwickler: Blizzard Entertainment | Plattform: PC | Release-Datum: November 23, 2004 | Modell: Pay2Play
What to expect in WoW
What is WoW? World of Warcraft is the most well-known MMORPG in Europe and North America. To date, Blizzard has released 10 expansions for WoW. The game caters to solo players who want to experience the story, as well as fans of dungeons and raids, which are the focus of regular content updates.
WoW features a stylized “comic” art style that has been polished and updated throughout the various expansions. Nevertheless, its age shows in certain areas—after all, WoW is now 21 years old. When it comes to the combat system, the game relies on classic tab-targeting.
WoW currently offers two main versions:
- The War Within: This is the current expansion, released in August 2024. This is the “standard” WoW experience, also commonly known as “WoW Retail.”
- WoW Classic: A relaunch of the original game that debuted in August 2019. Since then, Classic players have been able to choose from four different versions: the 2004 Vanilla version, the version featuring the Mists of Pandaria Classic expansion, the Season of Discovery (essentially a “Classic+”), and the anniversary variant “WoW Classic Fresh.”
What content does WoW offer? World of Warcraft allows you to explore a massive world with your character and – since The War Within – level them up to level 80. A vast amount of content awaits you:
- Countless quests and storylines
- A wide variety of zones
- Dozens of dungeons and raids
- Various PvP activities
With Shadowlands, the second-to-last expansion, the leveling process underwent several major adjustments. As a new player, you start in a completely revamped starting zone and can then choose which expansion you want to play through to level up.
Once you reach level 70, you head to Khaz Algar to experience the latest content. A major highlight is Delves, which can be tackled solo or with friends. Additionally, the Earthen allied race has been introduced, along with Warbands, which offer a lot of account-wide convenience. Alongside these highlights, the current expansion provides new zones, dungeons, raids, and, of course, entirely new story content.
How much does WoW cost? You can play World of Warcraft for free up to level 20. After that, a monthly subscription of approximately $15 / £11 / €13 is required.
Furthermore, for the Retail version, you need to purchase the current base version of the game, which already includes all previous expansions (and Midnight). This costs roughly $50 / €50 in the official shop.
All versions of WoW Classic are automatically included in the standard subscription.
MeinMMO Verdict: A highlight among MMORPGs even after 20 years
Who is the author? Cortyn has been playing World of Warcraft almost since its release, starting back with the Ahn’Qiraj patch. Cortyn has been covering the MMORPG for MeinMMO since 2013.
Why is it worth playing in 2026? Even after many years on the market, World of Warcraft remains a rock-solid MMORPG that excels primarily in one area: the sheer volume of things to do.
It has been a while since the release of The War Within, and numerous patches have been deployed. The expansion received praise from all sides, and Blizzard’s MMORPG seems to be back on the right track. The days of “mandatory chores” are over, and players can finally choose freely what they want to do. The Mythic+ system has been revamped and now features more enjoyable affixes and better balancing.
The War Within is now nearly complete. In Delves, you can hunt for powerful gear alongside NPCs while experiencing the beginning of the Worldsoul Saga and uncovering the mystery of the enigmatic Xal’atath.
Combined with the profession overhaul and the “new” old talent system, WoW is worth a look for both veterans and newcomers alike. WoW delivered on its 2023 promise to release six content patches—and many updates were, or are, on the schedule for 2025 and 2026, leading up to the launch of the next expansion, Midnight.
What are the issues with World of Warcraft? World of Warcraft lost a lot of trust with the Shadowlands expansion. Many players walked away during that time and moved on to other MMORPGs. Blizzard now faces the challenge of winning these veteran fans back. Although Dragonflight and The War Within have made great strides in doing so, many remain skeptical.
Blizzard has hired 100 new developers to provide WoW with content much faster in the future and to respond more effectively to player feedback. These additional staff members are now helping to implement the Worldsoul Saga, which consists of The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan.
Furthermore, WoW can be overwhelming for those who prefer a clear, linear path. The sheer variety of options can be daunting for newcomers. Starting WoW fresh with The War Within—is it worth it?
