Black Desert
Developer: Pearl Abyss | Platform: PC | Release Date: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Model: Buy2Play | Combat System: Action Combat
What kind of game is this? In Black Desert you find a sandbox MMORPG that offers you many freedoms. You can follow a series of quests or simply grind mobs, hunt bosses in the latest expansion, or learn one of the crafting professions. There are 11 different disciplines available.
You can also build your own house, level endlessly, or join a guild and participate in PvP content. Thus, there are no limits to your playstyle.
Black Desert scores with a strong character editor and a wide selection of classes. The combat system is very dynamic and is praised by many for its combo potential.
The game initially launched in Korea, but in the West, we have caught up with the content on PC. However, the console versions differ significantly.
What does it do well in PvP? Black Desert offers a colorful array of PvP content. Once you reach level 50, PvP in the open world is automatically activated. You can fight against other players, especially if they are standing at your grind spot. However, PvP must be manually activated.
If you have disabled PvP and get attacked, the attacker receives negative karma, resulting in a loss of experience points or the hostility of guards and NPCs. In the Valencia region, you can even land in prison for bad actions.
The MMORPG also features caravan battles, the Conquest War, where you can engage in 300v300 battles to conquer outposts, and various battlegrounds. Since June 8, 2022, there are also arena PvP options to compete in 3v3 matches.
What does it do poorly in PvP? Players with a high level and strong gear have significant advantages in PvP. Additionally, performance issues occur during large Conquest Wars.
Can I have fun as a PvE player too? Yes, and Black Desert has placed increasingly more emphasis on this in recent years. The recently released expansion Land of the Morning Light brought numerous PvE content with it.
More about the PvE experience can be found here:
Honorable Mention – Warhammer Online
What kind of game is this? Warhammer Online launched in 2008 as an unofficial successor to Dark Age of Camelot but was discontinued in 2013 due to a low player base. There is now a private server named Return of Reckoning, set up by some fans.
There, you can engage in diverse PvP battles. You can either fight for massive fortresses or plunge into one of the battlegrounds. To get the best gear in Warhammer, you can’t avoid PvP.
Why is it only an honorable mention? The current version of Warhammer Online is strong in terms of PvP, but it is a private server. It could be discontinued at any time. Additionally, it is graphically and gameplay-wise outdated and does not receive significant content updates.
Warhammer Online is more for enthusiasts.
Which MMORPGs do you think we forgot in the list? Feel free to write it in the comments.
If you’re more into PvE, you should check out this article: The 5 best MMORPGs for PvE fans.
