In November 2018, WildStar was discontinued. Today, many long for the MMORPG because it brought some innovations and broke out of the typical fantasy setting. In this list, we have gathered alternatives for those who greatly miss WildStar.
What made WildStar so interesting? The MMORPG took a hardcore approach and offered large, challenging raids. To master these, one had to play with a fixed group. It also relied on an action-packed combat system, where players had to actively dodge telegraphs and constantly stay in motion.
Another highlight was the extensive housing system, which is still considered one of the best ever. With its sci-fi setting, it also broke out of the typical settings of WoW, ESO, and co.
The popularity of WildStar was demonstrated by a survey from us. There, over 34% of our readers wanted the MMORPG back.
What do the alternatives look like? There is currently no MMORPG that is exactly like WildStar. However, some games manage to offer a few of the unique features. We present these games to you.
Guild Wars 2 – For the combat system and jumping puzzles
Developer: ArenaNet | Platform: PC | Release Date: August 26, 2012 | Model: Buy2Play
Why is it an alternative? Guild Wars 2 features an action-packed combat system with dodge rolls and telegraphs. Especially when using the integrated action camera, where you have to aim precisely at the enemies, it comes closest to what WildStar offered.
In Guild Wars 2, you follow a storyline that occasionally brings interesting twists and can also complete dungeons and raids in a group. Both MMORPGs also rely on small jumping puzzles that occur even more frequently in GW2.
Where does the comparison falter? The setting differs significantly. Guild Wars 2 is a fantasy MMORPG and the humor of the story does not reach the level of WildStar.
Moreover, the group content is nowhere near as challenging as in the discontinued MMORPG. You will also have to forgo the much-loved housing. The game from ArenaNet only offers a guild hall for decoration.
What else does Guild Wars 2 offer? With three expansions and numerous story updates in between, the MMORPG offers dozens of areas, hundreds of hours of story, and a wide selection of instances, world events, and achievements.
The special thing is that the max level of 80 has remained the same since its release and the gear level has not been increased since 2012. So you don’t have to grind for long to catch up with other players. If you want, you can also dive into arena PvP or large server vs server battles.
New story episodes and the return of annual events are planned for 2023. In addition, the developers are already working on the fourth expansion.
Final Fantasy XIV – For the raids and housing
Developer: Square Enix | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Mac | Release Date: December 20, 2011 | Model: Pay2Play
Why is it an alternative? Final Fantasy XIV offers one of the best housing systems of all active MMORPGs. Additionally, it focuses on challenging dungeons and raids in the endgame, which could appeal to hardcore players of WildStar.
WildStar featured the Aurin and Chua, two cute playable races reminiscent of the Lalafell. In terms of story and setting, FFXIV at least includes a few sci-fi elements.
Where does the comparison falter? Final Fantasy XIV uses tab targeting in its combat system. Thus, it is not as dynamic and active as WildStar, which was a core element of the discontinued MMORPG.
What else does Final Fantasy XIV offer? The highlights of the game are the huge game world, the strong focus on the story, and the in-depth crafting system. No wonder Final Fantasy XIV is currently one of the most successful MMORPGs.
With now four expansions and regular updates, the game has reached a scope that can keep you engaged for hundreds to thousands of hours.
However, the entry is a bit sluggish, and one has to deal with the JRPG setting. More about FFXIV in 2023 can be found here:
Final Fantasy XIV: How the MMORPG continues in 2023 – Info and expectations
Star Wars: The Old Republic – For the feel
Developer: BioWare | Platform: PC | Release Date: August 26, 2012 | Model: Free2Play
Why is it an alternative? If you enjoyed being a solo player in WildStar, you can at least somewhat recreate the gameplay feeling by playing as a smuggler with the gunslinger class. Just get a cowboy hat for the look!
Thanks to the sci-fi setting and the good storytelling of SWTOR, you at least get a bit of the feeling of being back in WildStar. Additionally, it offers a decent housing system.
Where does the comparison falter? SWTOR relies on tab targeting and a rather relaxed combat system. This significantly differentiates it from the gameplay of WildStar. While there are also some dungeons and raids here, their difficulty level does not match that of the discontinued MMORPG.
What else does SWTOR offer? One of the special features of the MMORPG is its storytelling. You constantly have the opportunity to make your own decisions, flirt with NPCs, kill them or show mercy. Particularly the initial class stories showcase Bioware’s strength.
Since its release in 2011, several expansions, dozens of new areas, dungeons, and raids have been introduced to the game. There is no shortage of content, especially for newcomers. However, for some veterans, new content is now coming too slowly.
The latest expansion, Legacy of the Sith, was released in spring 2022. It did some things well, but many things not:
SWTOR does 3 things really well with Legacy of the Sith – But that’s far too little for an expansion
Smite – For the combat system, but without RPG
Developer: Hi-Rez Studios | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Release Date: March 25, 2014 | Model: Free2Play
Why is it an alternative? It may sound crazy at first, but the MOBA Smite offers a combat system that is reminiscent of WildStar. It focuses on a lot of action, you have to actively dodge, and there are telegraphs. If you enjoyed PvP in WildStar, Smite is likely the best alternative.
Where does the comparison falter? Smite is not an MMORPG. Accordingly, there are no classic quests, no story to follow, no housing, and no endgame raids.
What else does Smite offer? Essentially, Smite is a MOBA like LoL or DOTA and is played in “short” rounds. However, it uses a third-person perspective rather than the classic isometric point of view. In the game, you take on the role of gods who have their own abilities and mechanics. Some gods are tanks, others are supporters, and others deal a lot of damage.
The goal is to defeat the opposing titan. This requires strategy and teamwork. Because Smite is a PvP game, where you fight with four other players against a rival team of 5 players.
Smite receives regular updates and offers a ranking system. If you enjoy PvP, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.
Nexus Forever – The private server project
Why is it an alternative? Nexus Forever is a fan project that attempts to restore the old state of WildStar before its closure. However, Nexus Forever only provides the raw data. These can be used to set up your own private server.
The problem is, however, that development is progressing very slowly. The last update was in October 2021. Additionally, a WildStar client is required, which they do not offer for download. All information about the project can be found on the associated Discord server.
What is currently possible? If you have the client and use Nexus Forever, you can host WildStar yourself. There, you can create a character and choose from all races and classes. However, not all class mechanics work.
In the starting areas, there are also quests and the first story content. However, not all quests work as intended, and the further you progress, the less is fully programmed. Dungeons, raids, PvP, and mini-games are also not yet available.
Accordingly, the Nexus Forever project is still not a real alternative for WildStar fans.
How do you remember WildStar? Which alternative have you switched to? And should there be private servers for the MMORPG? Feel free to write it in the comments.
If you are looking for completely new MMORPGs, you can find a list of current games in development here:
