Best MMOs to play in 2025

It’s hard to believe that we’ve crossed over into 2025, and it’s 🔯now officially closer to 2030 than 2020, but here we are. MMOs are still dominating the gaming space, and they’re an incredible way to meet friends, have fun, and work towards goals without too much pressure. 

There are a lot of MMOs out there, and it can be hard to decipher which ones are still worth playing. New titles are released ඣall the time, and they either quickly build up a solid player base or they fade into obscurity with a few cult followe🤡rs. Of course, MMOs, by definition, are “massively multiplayer”, so player numbers definitely count when it comes to deciding what to play. 

Here are 10 MMO✤s that a🐟re worth playing in 2025. 

World of Warcraft

It’s almost staggering that iꦛs now over 20 years old, but it’s been an absolute behemoth in the MMO sphere since it was releaꦇsed back in 2004, and it shows no signs of slowing down. It’s had ten major updates in the last two decades, with one released every two years and the last one in 2024. 

Although there isn’t likely to be anything major added in 2025 according to this schedule, there is never a shortage of things to do or classes to try out new characters, making World of Warcraft an absolute must for any MMO fan. 

The Elder Scrolls Online

A decade younger than World of Warcraft but now an absolute mainstay in the genre, Elder Scrolls Online takes everything beloved from the in-game universe that brought us Oblivion and Skyrim w꧅ith an MMO twist. Design and tweak your character to your own taste and then set out into Tamriel. 

Prior to 2025, received annual chapter releases, but this is 🍒set to change. ZeniMax Online Studios announced in December 2024 that they would be making the shift towards seasonal updates, so there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming months and a whole world of content to catch up on in the meantime. 

Brighter Shores

is one of the more recently released titles on this list and perhaps the most risky addition as well. According to SteamDB, the highest total number of players to ever have been concurrently playing is only 21,272, but I don’t think that should be held against creator Andrew Gower of RuneScape fame. 

For a start, it’s free to play (up to a certain point in the main story) and while the graphics are certainly dated by today’s standards, they’re definitely appealing to those who played RuneScape previously and want a new challenge. You’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a try, and with incredibly low system requirements, you don’t even need a particularly high-end setup to play. Just be prepared for a grind, as nothing comes easy in Brighter Shores.

Path of Exile 2

As the most recently released title on this list, has quickly become one of the most-played games on Steam alone and reaches approximately 300,000 players per day without taking into acco🌄unt those who are on different platforms. It’s still in early access,🙈 with new features, classes, and updates planned in the coming months, so there’s a lot to look forward to. 

There’s also a lot to currently do. At first glance, progression through the game and evolution of your character looks akin to studying for a𝓡 university thesis, but it’s easy to getꦛ the hang of things, and as you explore Wraeclast, you’ll find a lot to fall in love with. 

Final Fantasy XIV

turns 12 years old in 2025 if you measure from the moment Naoki Yoshida took over developmeไnt and transformed the faltering MMO into A Realm Reborn. It’s been a solid constant in the genre ever since and still pulls in around 200,000 players a day, even in the dow𒁃ntime between content updates. 

Admittedly, I may be biased when it comes to this, as it’s definitely my most-played MMO title, and I have 9,000 hours sunk into it. But Eorzea is filled with things to experience and people to meet, both NPCs and other players, who never fail to make it w✅orth your time. Plus, with the recent update to the free trial, you can now play from the beginning of A Realm Reborn to the end of Stormblood without spending a penny. That’s a lot of content and certainly nothing to complain about. 

Dune: Awakening

One of only two titles on this list that haven’t actually been released yet,  is definitely an MMO to keep an eye on in 202𝔉5. The action takes place on w𝓀hat’s described as “the most dangerous planet in the universe,” and if you’ve ever so much as heard of Dune, then you’ll absolutely believe that description to be true. 

Although there are limited details available about the game and no set release date other than “2025”, Dune: Awakening shows a lot of promise and potential. Character creation looks to be filled with detail, progression looks just complicated enough to keep it interesting, and there’s even a bas𒊎e-building element, letting you create a safe oasis away from the threat of Sandworms. Hopefully. 

Throne and Liberty

was developed and published by NCSoft and released through Amazon Games into early access at🌊 different times through 2023 and 2024, depending on your location. It reached North America and Europe in October 2024 and quickly attracted a huge number of players to the world of Solisium.

There are a large amount of microtransactions in Throne and Liberty, but try not to let that pu♋t you off. They’re not strictly nec🌄essary, although they do definitely provide an edge, so you can get through content without spending a penny because the initial game itself is free at a basic level. There are surprisingly cute elements, such as the Amitoi, and the world of Solisium is beyond stunning.

Chrono Odyssey

Korean MMO is stuck with a “to be announced” tag on Steam when it comes to a release date, but it’s supposedly coming at some point in 2025, and it’s definitely worth watching. With a focus on time manipulation, there’s definitely something that stands out about Chrono Odyssey, something that makes it just dif♛ferent enough from anything else on this list. 

Set to include a variety of different biomes to explore, all of which will change according to the seasons or time of day, meaning there’s no shortagಌe of things to get excited over. We’re promised six classes to try out, mult🐎iple weapons to get to grips with, and “extensive customization” to look forward to. There will be some microtransactions, but they won’t be necessary to win.

Albion Online

is a free-to-play MMO that is constantly receiving updates, including the Rogue Front♏ier update that’s set to drop soon with a whole new range of content centered on the theme of Smugglers. There’s always something to do in Albion and always something to wait for, making it perfect for anyone who loves the MMO genre. 

Set in the world of Arthurian legend, there aren’t any classes in Albion Online. Instead, the weapon and gear you equip define how you can fight and earn Fame to increase your skills. All items are made by players, with a completely player-driven economy, so you can easily thrive if you have the skills. Th𝔉e map is absolutely huge, and you’ll have the opportꦰunity to enter PVP zones as you explore if you’re brave enough. 

The Lord of the Rings Online

I’m a sucker for the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien, but you don’t necessarily have to be to enjoy , although you’ll likely ge♐t more enjoyꦿment out of the incredible recreation of Middle-Earth if you’re on the same page as me. 

The MMO is still being updated and constantly evolving despite first being released way back in 2007, and there’s a roadmap of updates for the months of 202💟5, so there’s more content on the way. You can craft, fight, and explore Middle-Earth to your heart’s content, and there are twelve classes to choose from, depending on which of the eight races you choose to play ♓as.