The Most Anticipated MMOs in 2013

Are you a fan of the massive online experience? This will be a good year for you.

Never got into the MMO scene? You may find yourself there this year.

MMOs in 2013 have two things going for them: unique experiences trying to change the genre and one game in particular that may bring new players to the genre for the first time. Either way, gamers have a lot to look forward to this year and we’ve picked seven titles that are highlighting our watch list.

Whether you’re into fantasy, sci-fi, Dungeons & Dragons, or comic book heroes, MMOs in 2013 have a lot to offer so let’s delve right into it. These are our most anticipated MMOs in 2013.

ArcheAge

This is one of the more ambitious titles of the bunch here. ArcheAge won’t be breaking the mold in terms of combat but it is bringing a lot to the table. First off, one of the bigger aspects to the game is home and castle construction. You’ll be able to have a family, live in a house that you built, decorate it, and even tend your own garden. You’ll be able to display your finely crafted armors in your living room or cultivate food outback. Castle, on the other hand, are massive creations that can be used in Siege battles against other players. You’ll have to protect what you own in ArcheAge.

Aside from the interesting housing and PvP scenarios, ArcheAge allows you to create your own class, as well. There are four races and over 120 class combinations as you take up to 3 different classes and combine them to mix your own favored gameplay path. Class selections include your baseline warrior, a mage, warlock, ranger, rogue, and priest. Combining the classes gives you access to some cool abilities that take advantage of the mixture of weapons and magics.

ArcheAge is in open beta right now in Korea but no details concerning pay model, release, or a beta have been made for the Western version. There’s an absolutely beautiful website you can visit at this link, though.

The Elder Scrolls Online

We’ve talked about The Elder Scrolls Online before and even nominated it as one of the most anticipated games of 2013. ESO is doing a lot right by their fans and plenty of right by the MMO folks looking for a brand new and lush world to play in. This is the game I was talking about where we might see a flood of brand new MMO players. If there’s one game this year that has a chance to take the world by storm on name alone, it’s going to be The Elder Scrolls Online.

From what we’ve all read and seen of the game, nearly everything you’d expect from an Elder Scrolls game will be intact while the experience translates to online. Being able to traverse Tamriel like never before is nearly enough for me to lay down my money now. I am anxiously awaiting to play ESO and have high hopes for it thanks to the extensive lore within the Elder Scrolls world and the unique play style and environments we’ve come to expect from Bethesda’s fantasy series.

The Elder Scrolls Online has beta sign ups going on right now over at their official site and with previews lighting up readers hopes and dreams, here at Leviathyn we can’t wait to get in on some of that action.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Throw out everything you knew about Final Fantasy XIV and don’t let the horrid launch and player stories run you away. A Realm Reborn is not the game you heard about or played before. Final Fantasy XIV’s re-launch is nothing short of amazing when you look at how much Square-Enix and new producer Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) have poured into this game. A Realm Reborn is looking gorgeous and ready to be the game we all hoped it would be.

With tons of developer and producer blogs coming out keeping players afloat of all the internal happenings and beta testing well under way, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is looking to be a fantastic adventure. What remains to be seen is if players give the game a second chance or if gamers forget about the horror stories they once heard. This is not the same game that was associated with said stories but marketing is going to need to be historic for this re-release.

If you’re interested in seeing what A Realm Reborn is all about then check out my post about it and then head over to the official site to sign up for the beta.

Marvel Heroes

Ready to venture into the Marvel Universe with a Diablo-style MMO? Gazillion Entertainment will be opening the doors to that kind of adventure in June. Although beta testing has been furiously going on, there’s a strict NDA in place which does not allow me to tell you my thoughts on the game. What I can do, however, is tell you that if you’re a fan of Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Deadpool, Cable, and the Guardians of the Galaxy then you’re in a treat. It also helps if you’re into the gameplay of Diablo.

Marvel Heroes sets you in the world of our favorite heroes as you fight against crooks, aliens, evil scientists, cultists, and more on your way to hunt down familiar super villains such as Electro, Doctor Doom, and many others.

The best part about Marvel Heroes is that you’ll have a free access to being playing as the base game is free-to-play. You’ll have access to Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Daredevil, The Thing, and Storm for free while other heroes and costumes can be either bought from the store or found as rare drops from bosses. Nearly everything can be unlocked during your travels and missions but there are some exclusive things you can only find in one of the three types of Founders packs.

If you’re a comic book fan or just a sucker for loot-fests and Diablo clones then head over to the official site, sign up for the beta, and take a look at the Founders packs. Excelsior!

Neverwinter

Thanks to no NDA being in my way, I was able to type up a large analysis of this game after my experiences in the beta. You can find that here. Aside from that, let me tell you, if you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons or high fantasy in general then you’re going to find a ton to like in Neverwinter. Being a somewhat recent addition to the dice rolling, tabletop legend, I found myself immersed in the world that was given to me in Neverwinter. From creating my character, picking his origin, selecting the Devout Cleric as my class, and then using iconic abilities as I cleaved my way from level to level was just awesome.

Being a free-to-play game, there are optional Founder’s pack that you could buy into but without any of them you’re still going to find a lot to enjoy about Neverwinter. This game is aimed at the D&D player base but can be enjoyed by non-D20 rollers. If you’re looking for a high-fantasy adventure in which you traverse lands and cities gaining reputation and power then strap yourself into The Forgotten Realms as you find yourself in Neverwinter, Baldur’s Gate, and even the Underdark.

Head over to the official site, sign up for the beta, and check out the Founder’s packs. There’s even an in-game D20 you can click on for powerful abilities. I mean… come on! That’s too cool.

Phantasy Star Online 2

I have a confession to make: Phantasy Star Online Ep. 1 & 2 for the Gamecube is my favorite game of all time. I can’t even begin to count how many hours of my life I sunk into that game. It was 3D Diablo goodness in the best form (sorry Hellgate: London). When Sega decided to finally bring out PSO2, I was ecstatic. When I heard it was online-only in an MMO-like style, I was a bit hesitant. However, after rummaging through the Japanese beta tests I found myself reveling in the old school, yet fresh feeling online sequel.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is an action RPG in every way but thanks to the online nature and party-driven experiences, you’ll find a massive adventure in a beautiful and well done game. PSO2’s controls are superb and character customization is insane.

Sega is looking to bring this to the west this year and while there is no beta sign-ups yet for English speaking audiences (or any other audiences other than Japanese), you can find the official site here with links to status updates.

Wildstar

Whenever an MMO comes out with something new and fresh, there’s always another game that comes along to do it better. DC Universe Online brought out a more action-based combat system that featured tons of movement. TERA then came along and made that better. The free-form combat style really felt nice there. Then we have the upcoming Wildstar which has taken this free-form system and mastered it. Wildstar is a highly interactive MMO set on a newly discovered world that is full of hidden wonders and tech from an ancient race that went extinct for unknown reasons.

Factions have begun to settle the world and you join up with them to either combat the wilds as a Soldier, search high and low for wonders as an Explorer, study the fantastic new elements as a Scientist, or build up this new world as a Settler. All four paths have their own types of quests and roles in the world of Wildstar and as you make your way through the zones you’ll begin to uncover some of the more vibrant and unique gameplay systems found in an MMO.

There are six classes in the game with four currently known to us: the Warrior, the Spellslinger, the Stalker, and the Esper. Combining classes and paths will let you pick how you want to play. You can focus on melee combat with the Warrior but excel as an Explorer. You can sling spells and be fierce on the battlefield as a Soldier.

Wildstar is looking to be one hell of a game and you can follow the development and sign up for the beta on the official site. You can even check out this video which really shows off gameplay of the four classes and gives you a great glimpse into the world of Wildstar.

MMOs in 2013 are looking spectacular with heavy hitters like The Elder Scrolls Online and Wildstar being backed up by free-to-play entries with huge licenses such as Marvel Heroes and Neverwinter. No mater what you niche may be, you should be able to find something that excites you with the MMOs in 2013.



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