Two MMORPGs currently dominate the genre: Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft. The former is a tale of gaming’s ability to reinvigorate, whereas the latter is the go-to example of an MMORPG’s possible impact on the wider culture and industry. Alongside these subscription-based games remains an ocean of free MMORPG content, littered with colorful communities and impressive mechanical depth. Below Twinfinite lists 5 of the best free MMORPG games on the market today. Top 5 Best Free MMORPGs You Can Play Right Now Guild Wars 2 Touted as the “World of Warcraft killer” when it launched in August 2012, Guild Wars 2 got off to a strong start in the MMORPG market before suffering a blip in numbers mid-way through its current lifespan. Some excellent expansion content, combined with ArenaNet’s commitment to the property, has led to a healthy pool of players, with the game finding its feet again. In fact, it’s right up with the most popular MMORPGs by total active users. The title has never had a subscription model in place, instead opting for a one-time purchase deal, combined with a cash shop for aesthetic items. In 2015, the base game became free for all to enjoy, opening up a major part of its world at no cost. Subsequent expansions and additions require payment, but there is still plenty to play with for free. Boasting a Metacritic score of 90, the game is one of the most critically well-received MMORPG games ever. Be sure to check out a few YouTube guides and browse the wiki, however, as six years in, the community has gotten pretty hardcore.

Top 5 Best Free MMORPGs You Can Play Right Now Star Wars: The Old Republic Oh, what could have been. The overriding sense of lost potential permeates The Old Republic to this day. Lingering questions as to why BioWare attempted or was perhaps persuaded to make an MMORPG instead of a mainline sequel to Knights of the Old Republic still go unanswered, yet there is still a lot to dig into with The Old Republic. The end game content is not the greatest, but its quest design, leveling, and cohesive Star Wars style delight. Story-wise, the title takes place 300 years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic 2. Despite being an MMORPG, the game featured a morality system, which remains unique in the market. Each class, which fall into classic Star Wars roles such as Jedi, Sith, and Bounty Hunter, feature their own story, moral choices, and companions. In terms of active sci-fi MMORPGs, The Old Republic stands as the best option still, EVE notwithstanding. Calling it free-to-play may be a stretch, but the game can be enjoyed free up to level 65, containing eight well-written main storylines. A lot of the game is locked behind a purchase fee, however, but there is still plenty there for little to no cost. BioWare still supports MMORPGs, with a future roadmap detailed as recently as this month.

Top 5 Best Free MMORPGs You Can Play Right Now Blade & Soul Originally launched in the East in 2012, Blade & Souls made its way to the West in 2016. Understanding what is going on the game is a little difficult, but, generally, the movement and combat are excellent for an MMORPG title. The movement feels really smooth and instancing and sharding is dealt with in an intricate, implicit way. Particular highlights include the transition between combat and navigation, each having a distinctly Eastern sense of power and speed. Advertised as a “martial arts Korean MMORPG,” Blade & Soul’s major appeal is its combat, which, compared to its competitors, feels super fast. Containing four races and ten classes, the MMORPG has plenty there for players to enjoy. The major stumbling block for players will likely be the art style, but underneath that is a systems-driven MMORPG that deserves some credit.

Top 5 Best Free MMORPGs You Can Play Right Now RIFT RIFT got off to a strong start when it launched in 2011, centering its PvE play around random rifts in the open-world that spawn powerful world bosses, facilitating sudden group play. That system is still as invigorating as ever, but Rift’s other strengths have evolved to become something equally as impressive. Since committing to free-to-play since 2013, the game still has a totally no cost model. Even the game’s most recent expansion is fully free, introducing some titanically-sized new bosses, an excellent raid, and refining the MMORPG’s idiosyncrasies. MMORPGs shine best during moments of random co-operation, capturing echoes of the sense of camaraderie seen in older titles such as vanilla World of Warcraft or Everquest. RIFT almost fills that classic World of Warcraft hole, so if Battle for Azeroth isn’t tickling your fancy, then give RIFT a go.