The 10 Best Games Like Runescape

What are the best games like Runescape?

Runescape has been around since 2001, and in that time, it has undergone a lot of changes.

Old School Runescape was even launched in 2013 to keep retro magic alive.

However, if you’re a Runescape fan in the mood for something a bit different, we’ve got some games lined up for you!

The 10 Best Games Like Runescape

To create this list, we looked at numerous games and how closely they relate to the gameplay and themes of Runescape.

This has allowed us to find a variety of games with similar elements but unique stories that offer a new experience.

So, without further ado, here’s our list of the 10 best games like Runescape:

10. Wakfu

Kicking off our list, we have Wakfu, a turn-based MMORPG genre released in 2012 as a follow-up to the MMO Dofus.

Set 1000 years after the events in Dofus, this game combines elements of the former game’s tactical turn-based combat with role-playing.

Outside of combat, players have to manage governmental affairs, such as organizing the military and different elections.

However, players also need to maintain resource levels by planting crops, hunting animals, or simply taking what they want from others.

What really makes this game stand out, though, are the 18 classes you can choose to play as, each with 25 unique abilities.

The main story revolves around defeating an ogre named Ogrest, although things aren’t as straightforward as they seem.

While this MMORPG is lesser-known than some, it excels in terms of story, combat, and exploration, providing players with a diverse world to play in.

It also boasts a great sense of humor, with many hilarious moments that Runescape fans are sure to enjoy!

9. Ultima Online

Ultima Online is even older than Runescape, but it is still going strong today with the release of Kingdom Reborn in 2007.

First released in 1997, Ultima Online is known for its expansive PvP combat and frequent updates and expansions.

If you spent most of the early noughties playing Runescape, this MMORPG probably flew under your radar, but it’s definitely worth a look.

Free to play, with Kingdom Reborn, Ultima Online received a new game engine complete with updated visuals.

While it still has a classic MMO appearance, this update served to make things crisper and more vivid.

In this game, players start off on a single world, with each expansion pack adding more worlds to explore.

What makes this game so special is the incredible amount of freedom it provides to its players.

It is very much a do-whatever-you-want type of game, and this even includes player killing.

If you’re killed by another player, you don’t get your stuff back; instead, your murderer can do with it what they please.

Of course, you’ll always be safe inside your home. Well, unless the player after you is a skilled mage, then your odds aren’t as good.

Best of all, there is a new server titled New Legacy, which is set to be released in the summer of 2023, so players have that to look forward to as well!

8. Black Desert Online

Black Desert Online is arguably one of the best sandbox games in the MMO genre, and it was first released in Korea in 2014.

Fortunately, it was later released in 2016 in North America before being ported to the PS4 and Xbox One in 2019.

An action-based MMORPG, Black Desert Online has real-time combat and aiming similar to most third-person shooters.

While PvP siege events and castle battles are a huge part of the game, players can also trade, farm, and fish.

The world itself is extremely dynamic, with a worldwide weather system that includes events like typhoons.

Localized weather also exists, with things like fog covering parts of the landscape and impacting gameplay.

Different content will also be available depending on the time of day, and many NPCs head home for the night.

The game’s main story is centered around a conflict between two nations, which players will have to navigate through.

There are 26 classes to choose from when starting, allowing for a lot of variety among players.

If you need an alternative to Runescape, Black Desert Online is a game you definitely should check out!

7. Project: Gorgon

Project: Gorgon is currently in early access,  but it’s shaping up to be one of the most successful games in the MMORPG genre.

This game is all about players choosing their own adventure, and there is little to no hand-holding to be found.

Along with other players, there are also numerous NPCs, each with their own stories and goals to learn about.

One of the coolest parts of this game is that you can add messages to items and even write books for other players to read!

Little touches like this are what goes a long way toward making the world of Project: Gorgon feel much more alive.

There are also a ton of monsters to fight, and many of them have unique abilities that make them incredibly interesting.

Project: Gorgon also has a big emphasis on player choices, which can have lasting consequences.

For instance, you can totally become a werewolf and enjoy all of the unique powers that come with lycanthropy.

However, every full moon, you’ll be stuck in your beast form, and there is no cure, so this isn’t a choice to make lightly.

While this game isn’t free to play, it does have a free demo that we definitely recommend checking out!

6. Elder Scrolls Online

Often considered one of the best games like Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online is also a fantastic MMORPG.

ESO is a massive game set on the continent of Tamriel that covers many of its countries.

When starting the game, players can choose from 10 different races and seven different classes.

Set 1000 years before the events of Skyrim, ESO has many different storylines to explore in a non-linear fashion.

While there are numerous expansions, they can be completed in any order players want.

Speaking of expansions, this game receives a ton of new content every year, so you’ll never run out of things to do.

The newest expansion, Shadow Over Morrowind, began with the Scribes of Fate DLC and will continue with the upcoming Necrom chapter.

One of the best things about this MMO is that it often has year-long stories that are told through at least three DLCs released months apart.

This really helps prevent the game from getting stale, and with each update, hours of new content are added.

Like Runescape, you will be hard-pressed to run out of things to do in ESO, and once you start playing, it’s easy to get sucked in!

5. Everquest

Everquest is another old-school MMORPG, and it has been around since 1999, having become the first commercially successful game in the genre.

Now considered one of the greatest video games ever made, this MMO stands out as the perfect alternative to Runescape.

This game is divided into over five hundred zones, each of which has varying biomes that players can explore.

When starting the game, players can choose from one of 12 races, 14 classes, a patron deity, and their desired starting city.

Like Runescape, this MMO is nonlinear, and players can choose to advance in a number of ways, including learning magic or mastering certain skills.

There are even PvP-specific zones, like the Wilderness in Runescape, where players can go to kill other players!

While the popularity of this game has waned since the release of the best WoW titles, it maintains a very loyal player base.

Additionally, it is still receiving expansions every year, so once you start playing, you can always look forward to new content!

4. Albion Online

Albion Online is set in a medieval fantasy world, and it is highly influenced by Arthurian legends.  

Unlike other MMOs, Albion Online doesn’t have any classes; instead, the equipment a player uses is what influences their abilities.

As players go through the world completing quests, they will gain fame, which will allow them to access better gear.

Grabbing stronger gear is essential for making progress, so it isn’t something you should put on the back burner.

There are also PvP zones that are sorted by levels of risk and reward, starting at yellow and progressing to black zones.

In Black zones, players will lose all of their loot if they die but have the opportunity to gain other players’ inventory if they’re able to kill them first.

What’s more, Albion Online has a fully player-driven economy, with all items and equipment for sale having been made by other players.

As of 2019, this game is a free-to-play MMORPG, though a premium subscription can be purchased by using in-game currency.

3. Legends of Aria

Legends of Aria was created by Citadel Studios, a game studio founded by the lead developer of Ultima Online.

Released in 2020, this is one of the best free MMORPG games like Runescape, though it does also have premium options.

This game is nonlinear and very much driven by the players, with everyone’s choices influencing the world.

Players can build, explore, make friends, or make a whole lot of enemies, as there is no right or wrong way to play.

In Legends of Aria, the skill system is also remarkably robust, featuring numerous combat, trade, and crafting masteries.

Additionally, players can claim a house plot anywhere and decorate it in any way, with full control over where things go.

There is also a faction system, guilds to join, dungeons to clear, bosses to defeat, and community modding to explore!

Although it is a relatively new game to the MMO scene, it is definitely shaping up to be one of the best alternatives to Runescape!

2. World of Warcraft

Of course, World of Warcraft made our list; how could it not? WoW is one of the most popular MMOs of all time!

While there are many games like World of Warcraft, the OG remains a must-play for fans of the MMORPG genre.

In this game, players can create their own custom avatars and explore the huge open world, fighting monsters and completing quests.

One thing that WoW excels at is encouraging players to work together, though the game can be played completely solo if you’re antisocial like that.

When starting off, players must choose a faction, a race, and a class, though some classes are limited to specific races.

Characters can also choose two primary professions, such as blacksmithing or tailoring, and join or start a guild.

Although much of the game revolves around questing, there are also many skills to master, as well as PvP combat.

Currently, WoW has nine major expansions, with new ones being released roughly every two years.

These expansions are huge, and they add a ton of new content to keep players occupied for hours upon hours.

Despite requiring a subscription, WoW is one of the best MMOs like Runescape, and certainly one of the most addictive!

1. Neverwinter

Taking our number one spot is one of the best online games to play with friends, Neverwinter.

Based on the Dungeons & Dragons campaign Forgotten Realms, this game is full of things for Runescape fans to enjoy.

When loading up the game, you can choose from one of the right D&D character classes and form a group with up to five players.

While players have the opportunity to explore the world openly, what makes this game really shine is its story.

This game is very heavily story-driven, and it centers around the disappearance of the last Lord of Neverwinter.

Unlike Runescape, which doesn’t really have a huge overarching story, Neverwinter’s main plot is engaging, rich, and filled with mystery.

Moreover, Neverwinter has enjoyed many updates, known as modules, that add new zones, professions, loot, dungeons, and campaigns.

To date, there have been 27 modules released, and we expect many more to come in the future!

Best of all, this game is free to play, so you can jump in and experience all of these updates for yourself without having to pay a dime!

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the 10 best games like Runescape, and found a few new MMOs to play!

Runescape is one of the most popular online games in the world, remaining popular for decades.

However, if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, you can’t go wrong with any of these great alternatives!

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best games like Runescape:

1. Neverwinter
2. World of Warcraft
3. Legends of Aria
4. Albion Online
5. Everquest
6. Elder Scrolls Online
7. Project: Gorgon
8. Black Desert Online
9. Ultima Online
10. Wakfu

Which of these games will you play first? Leave a comment below.