“We didn’t realize how good we had it from 2013 to 2015” – in a recent discussion, part of the MMORPG community looks back at what are likely the last truly great years of the genre.
Why specifically 2013 to 2015? These 3 years represent the transition from the peak of MMORPGs, which was initiated by World of Warcraft in 2004/2005, into the subsequent drought period that has basically lasted until today. Especially in 2013 and 2014, several MMORPG heavyweights were released that remain relevant to this day – here are the major releases from those two years:
- Neverwinter (June 20, 2013)
- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (August 27, 2013)
- The Elder Scrolls Online (April 4, 2014)
- WildStar (June 3, 2014)
- ArcheAge (Western release: September 16, 2014)
From 2015 onwards, the number of major MMORPG releases from the West drastically declined. We have also explored this phase in detail in our history of MMORPGs.
Exciting MMORPGs with clear weaknesses
The community remembers: In a recent discussion on Reddit, MMORPG fan supligeN1 reflects on three games from this time that no longer play a role today, but in hindsight – in his opinion – deserved more love.
These are ArcheAge, WildStar, and Tera (which was actually released here in May 2012). His thesis: “We didn’t know how good we had it from 2013 to 2015”. Or put another way: After all those drought years, many genre fans today would sacrifice tons of gnomes for a WildStar, ArcheAge, or Tera.
His nostalgic view of the trio resonates widely, as evidenced by over 920 thumbs up within just a few hours.
- Bored_Acolyte_44 remembers: “It’s very unfortunate that everyone just yawned at these offerings and instead went back to playing WoW.”
- o5mfiHTNsH748KVq sees it differently: “Nobody yawned at ArcheAge, Tera, or WildStar. These games were all extremely popular, but the developers or publishers shot themselves in the foot for various reasons.”
- UncomfyPerspective reflects on Tera: “Tera was amazing, but back then no PC could handle how poorly optimized the game was at endgame, and eventually they switched to free-to-play and sold out.”
- diether22 is sure: “The combat system from Tera would still be among the best the genre has to offer today.”
- Im_a_Geblin misses ArcheAge: “What I particularly liked was how social the game was: There were technically 2.5 factions, but you could still kill guilds under the same faction banner that you were at odds with – that led to some epic moments and villain story arcs. I loved the fishing, boats, and vehicles. I still fondly remember the ‘illegal’ Thunderstruck wood farms.”
However, various comments also make it clear why these three games no longer play a role today. WildStar, in particular, receives a lot of flak.
- Tomigotchi sums it up succinctly: “WildStar is the most overrated MMORPG of all time.”
- Optimal_Whiner elaborates: “The people who pretend WildStar was good are like MMO hipsters. They just want to act as if they experienced something cool that you can’t. Well, I played it, and it just wasn’t good.”
- For Gaidax, it’s clear: “WildStar was the beginning of the end. At that time, the blinded developers, who had too much money from the corporations behind them, completely went off the rails, fueled by a loud minority of aspiring hardcore MMO players who convinced them that poor comfort and boring design was exactly what people wanted in their theme park MMOs.”
- Niceromancer has another game in focus: “ArcheAge was full of bots and exploits and had blatant Pay2Win shops.”
- Ripped_Alleles looks at game number 3: “I loved Tera, but the game ruined itself by lowering the difficulty and simplifying content that was previously intended for groups. I can’t comment on WildStar. But Tera dug its own grave.”
How does MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz evaluate these years? The two games from those 3 years that made it had to do so with enormous effort and extensive adjustments. I am, of course, referring to Elder Scrolls Online and Final Fantasy XIV.
Very few publishers and developers can or want to make such investments after the launch. WildStar did not have that luck. The foundation for a fun online RPG was there from my perspective. Today, I would even be thrilled about such an MMORPG from the West. Or about a year with such many exciting releases like 2013 or 2014. In that regard, supligeN1 is definitely right.
As for ArcheAge … I actually find the focus of ArcheAge Chronicles on story and PvE content more interesting than the sandbox player experience of that time.
And Tera … I love the game’s powerful combat system, but the multitude of repetitive kill quests quickly bored me. The good news: apparently, a second part is supposed to come. Maybe that one will capture the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses. Then I would definitely want to play a continuation of the MMORPG: Yay, TERA 2 is really being developed, and it makes me think of the past right away
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