This article is currently in its original German "vanilla" version. We're channeling our inner Mein-MMO and grinding hard on the English localization quest line!
The full English version will be unlocked soon. Thanks for your patience.
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 current expansion is called Midnight and was released in March 2026. This is the “normal” WoW, also known as “WoW Retail”.
- WoW Classic is a re-release of the base game and was released in August 2019
- In the meantime, there are different versions available in Classic: The original Classic version from 2006, the version with the expansion Mists of Pandaria Classic, and the anniversary variant “WoW Classic Fresh”, which is currently in the first expansion Burning Crusade. Optionally, you can also experience WoW Classic as a hardcore variant.
What content does WoW offer? World of Warcraft allows you to explore a vast world with a character and bring it to level 90 since Midnight. There is an enormous amount of content waiting for 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.
Starting at level 80, we return to the elven lands of Quel’Thalas to defend the Sunwell against Xal’atath’s assault. Along the way, we encounter not only many old acquaintances but also new allies – and a wealth of fresh gameplay systems like housing or the loot system. In addition, there is the new Devourer specialization for Demon Hunters and the Haranir as a new allied race.
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 expansions. This costs roughly $50 / €50 in the official shop.
All versions of WoW Classic are automatically included in the standard subscription.
Our conclusion on WoW in 2026: World of Warcraft remains the big theme park MMORPG that every competitor has to measure against. There are currently more different WoW versions than ever before. There is something for almost everyone. Furthermore, we might soon expect an extremely exciting announcement about the future of WoW at BlizzCon 2026. More on this here: Fans have desired WoW Classic Plus for years, and now the first lucky ones may see the fulfillment of this dream
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!
