MMOs and multiplayer games take place in many worlds with different settings: in fantasy worlds like World of Warcraft or in science fiction scenarios like in Destiny 2. We asked you which world you prefer as the background of an MMO. Here are your top 10.
Settings have an influence on our perception of games and contribute significantly to gameplay and the identity of an MMO. In a survey by MeinMMO, we asked you about your favorite settings and are now ranking the top 10 based on your responses.
This is how you voted: A total of 1967 readers participated in the survey, which ended on April 20. Each person could cast up to 2 votes, which is why the final result exceeds 100%.
5 settings did not make it into our top 10 list and have divided the places 11 to 15 among themselves. The distribution of votes was as follows:
- Rank 15: Superhero setting – 1.12%
- Rank 14: Wuxia setting – 1.73%
- Rank 13: Western – 2.49%
- Rank 12: Another answer – 2.64%
- Rank 11: Pirates – 3.36%
The 10 of your favorite settings have been ranked. Your number 1 is far ahead of all other settings with over 55%.
Rank 10: Steampunk
- For this setting, 3.41% (67) of the participants voted.
What are the features of the setting? Steampunk is relatively young compared to other settings. It first emerged in the 1980s and has developed into its own subculture over time.
Steampunk is all about steam. It unites modern or even futuristic ideas with the obsolete steam technology of the Victorian era, giving the setting a stylish retro look.
Thus, steam-powered airships, fancy vehicles, or even prosthetics that should not actually work could be trademarks of Steampunk. Other distinctive elements that frequently occur are the gear and metal look as well as the innovative spirit.
Examples from gaming: Development studios often draw on the setting “Steampunk.” The most well-known examples are games like Dishonored, Thief, or some Final Fantasy games.
In MMOs, however, it is thinner. There are no large and well-known MMOs in the Steampunk setting, and even Ascent: Infinite Realm has been redesigned. However, this does not mean that Steampunk is not represented in MMOs at all.
There are smaller MMOs like Black Gold Online and the yet-to-be-released Corepunk that utilize the setting for themselves. Most developers, however, only take specific elements from Steampunk and incorporate them into their games:
- In World of Warcraft, for example, there is the race of Gnomes, whose inventions and machines have strong Steampunk roots.
- In Guild Wars 2, there is the faction of sky pirates who use steampunk-like airships and drills.
- Tera also features various Steampunk elements such as dungeons, skins, and mounts.
Rank 9: Low Fantasy
- For this setting, 5.64% (111) of the participants voted.
What are the features of the setting? Like some other settings on our list, it is somewhat difficult to define low fantasy precisely. It can take place both in the past and in the present or future. The key aspect is that it contains only very minimal amounts of the supernatural.
- Thus, humans are often the dominant, mostly even the only race present in a low-fantasy setting.
- Magic is rare or non-existent.
- Magical and mythical creatures like dragons or demons are also rare.
However, there is too much supernatural for a realistic or historical setting. Additionally, the focus of conflicts in low fantasy is reduced. Stories tend to deal more with the survival of the protagonists than with a great world fire or another apocalyptic scenario.
Examples from gaming: Low fantasy appears regularly in gaming. Some of the best-known examples should be games like Thief or Valkyria Chronicles. Sometimes, however, small magical elements are smuggled into games that actually have a realistic setting, like in FarCry 3.
In the MMO sector, the Conan games are considered examples of the setting, whether it be the MMORPG Age of Conan or the survival game Conan Exiles. The amount of fantastic elements is not enough for “High Fantasy,” but definitely too much for a purely historical setting.
But games like Monster Hunter World can also be considered low fantasy. They contain almost no magic, but have creatures like the Elder Dragons, who can spit ice and generate lightning.
Rank 8: Cyberpunk
- For this setting, 6.05% (119) of the participants voted.
What are the features of the setting? Cyberpunk as a setting began its rise in the 60s and 70s of the last century. Although cyberpunk is considered a sub-genre of science fiction, such a setting has strong characteristics that distinguish it from SF.
Typically, the setting represents a dystopian, not-so-distant future in which crime and poverty are mixed with futuristic technology. It shows the dirty dark side of progress and often takes place in totally surveilled megacities.
Another central element in cyberpunk is the “cyberization” of the human body and its consequences. While it makes people stronger, faster, and more efficient, they give up part of their humanity in return.
Examples from gaming: There are big examples of games that utilize the cyberpunk setting. The most prominent in the single-player realm would certainly be the Deus Ex series, Shadowrun games, or the currently highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 from CD Projekt Red.
In the MMO sector, however, it is thinner. You will search in vain for big and well-known names here. Nevertheless, games like Neocron or Anarchy Online have their communities that have been playing them for years.
As is often the case with settings, multiplayer games use various elements that are characteristic of cyberpunk. In Destiny, the artificial intelligence Rasputin plays an important role, and the announced Watch Dogs Legions plays in a dystopian surveillance state.
Rank 7: Historical Setting
- For this setting, 6.76% (133) of the participants voted.
What are the features of the setting? The historical setting, also known as “Historical Fiction,” takes place in the past, often during a specific period, and adheres to the rules and norms of that period.
Although the Middle Ages are often taken for this, all periods up to the 20th century can apply. The general rule is that a setting is considered historical if the author does not originate from the same time period.
The historical setting is characterized by the frequent presence of major historical figures, even if they do not necessarily correspond to their historical originals 100%, since we only know them through historical accounts.
Examples from gaming: Developers in video games especially love to draw on such personalities and the historical setting. This happens, for example, in strategy games like Rise of Nations and Crusader Kings, or in RPGs like Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
We also find the setting in multiplayer games among strategy titles like Age of Empires or in most Total War games, where you fight for dominance. The models for the units in these games can be found in our history.
It is rarely found in MMORPGs: Gloria Victis serves as the only major example of a purely historical setting. Another title would be Conqueror’s Blade, which values a historical setting but is not a classic MMORPG.
In general, the medieval setting is not unpopular in MMORPGs, but at least a certain amount of the supernatural is always mixed in, which then makes it a low fantasy setting.
If you are looking for more historical RTS games, check out our list of the best strategy games with multiplayer for PC.
