The 10 Best Games Like World of Warcraft

What are the best games like World of Warcraft?

Created by Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft has become the most popular MMORPG in the world since being released in 2004.

WoW currently has over 2.4 million active players, while WoW Classic boasts an additional 2.1 million.

However, if you’re in the mood for a World of Warcraft alternative, we’ve rounded up the best you can play right now. 

The 10 Best Games Like World Of Warcraft

Each of these games was chosen because of their similarities in gameplay and theme to WoW.

We’ve tried to add something for every WoW fan to enjoy, so you can easily find a good alternative!

If you’re ready to start a new adventure, here’s our list of the 10 best games like World of Warcraft:

10. EVE Online

Kicking off our list, we have one of the best free MMORPG games, EVE Online, which was released in 2003.

Taking place in outer space, EVE Online has 7,800 star systems that players can visit.

Built on an unprecedented scale, it’s safe to say that this game is absolutely huge, and it doesn’t lack in things to do.

EVE Online gives players a ton of freedom to do almost anything, from jobs to exploration, warfare, and piracy.

Players control basically everything in EVE, including the economy, because the whole world is on one server.

This means when you log in, you will be joining thousands of other players, all exploring the same galaxy.

In fact, EVE Online holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Multiplayer Video Game PvP Battle.

Set in 2020, 8,825 players took part in this huge PvP battle, and so far, no other game has come close to breaking this record.

One of the longest-running MMORPG games in the world, EVE is an incredible game that all WoW fans should check out.

9. Destiny 2

Available on multiple platforms, Destiny 2 is a massive action MMO created by Halo developer Bungie.

One of the best multiplier games of all time, Destiny 2 is an FPS that is currently free to play.

Set in a science fiction world, players share the environment and can team up or play solo.

Like the first game, activities in Destiny 2 are split between PvE and PvP, with different things to do in each.

Aside from story missions, PvE boasts six-player dungeon raids and three-player strikes.

Similarly, players can take part in objective-based PvP modes as well as traditional deathmatches.

The overarching goal of the game is to keep Earth’s last city safe from different invading alien races.

New expansions are frequently released that further the story, and they can be played either alone or with friends.

There are also different character classes to play as, each with its own different play styles.

Destiny 2 is well worth checking out if you love World of Warcraft, and there’s no risk since it’s free to start playing!

8. Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy is one of the most well-known series in the world, and its online MMO is extremely fun.

Known as A Realm Reborn, this MMORPG is a reboot of the failed 2010 version of the game, and it has been thriving.

Set in a persistent world, players can create custom characters in many races and classes.

There is a lot to do in Final Fantasy XIV, including Full Active Time Events, where a large number of players work together.

These FATE events can be anything from defeating monsters to defending a location from invading forces.

Players can also explore the world at their own pace and complete quests to gain XP to become stronger.

Final Fantasy XIV isn’t free to play in its entirety, but it does have a free trial that is very generous.

This free trial can be used on the PC or PlayStation, and it lasts for 30 days, giving you plenty of time to play around.

One of the best Final Fantasy games of all time; this MMO is worth trying out if you’re a WoW fan.

7. RuneScape

Runescape was first released in 2001, and since then has become one of the biggest MMORPGs with millions of players.

This game also holds multiple Guinness World Records, including one for the Most Prolifically Updated MMORPG with a total of 1,014 updates.  

It also boasts records for the Most Users of an MMO, the Most Complex HTML 5 Code in a Video Game, and the Most Fish in a Video Game.

Basically, Runescape is a titan of MMORPGs, and it has a little something for everyone to enjoy.

Set in the fantasy land of Gielinor, Runescape allows players to explore and complete tasks at their own pace.

You can choose to dive head-first into quests or spend more time working on grinding up your skills.

There is also Old School Runescape, an older version of the game that is maintained by a smaller team of developers.

While both are similar, OSRS is more challenging since it sticks to a stricter MMO formula.

However, the more modern iteration of the game features many great updates that make it a good starting place if you’re new.

Runescape gives players a ton of freedom, and there are always new updates introducing new content.

While there is a pay-to-play mode, you can also play either RS3 or OSRS for free, though some content is limited.

If you start for free and end up loving the game, the current membership costs about $12 a month, with discounts for multi-month subscriptions.

6. Neverwinter

Based on the Forgotten Realms campaign from Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter is a free-to-play MMORPG released in 2013.  

Much more story based than many other games in the MMO genre, Neverwinter revolves around an epic war.

Started by the Lich Queen, armies of darkness beset the land of Neverwinter, and it’s up to players to hold them off.

Speaking of players, there are eight character classes from D&D to choose from, each with its own play style.

You can also choose to play this game solo or with a group of up to five total players.

What really makes this game stand out, though, is its story, which is filled with a ton of depth to explore.

While MMOs usually have an overarching story, rarely are they so prominent and engaging.

Neverwinter plays more like Dragon Age or The Elder Scrolls than a traditional MMO, but it works extremely well.

Arguably one of the best games to play online with friends, Neverwinter is a fantastic alternative to World of Warcraft.

5. Dragon Age: Inquisition

The third entry in the Dragon Age series, Inquisition, kicks off with a hole torn between reality and the world of spirits.  

While it is an action RPG and not an MMO, it has plenty of themes that fans of WoW will enjoy.

In this game, players can choose between one of four races and three character classes, all of which will impact gameplay.

Inquisition has a semi-open world structure, with large areas becoming available as the game progresses.

Altogether, it boasts one of the largest open-world maps in gaming history when all the pieces are put together.

Combat happens in real-time, but players can switch between party members or stop time and give tactical commands to followers.

Although the main story of civil unrest and magical danger is front and center, there are also a ton of side quests to do.

This side content ranges from fetch quests to collecting items and solving puzzles to unlock useful items.

There are also war table missions that players can dictate that take real time to complete and offer a variety of rewards.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is one of the best games like World of Warcraft to play when you need a break from MMOs.

4. Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is another free-to-play MMORPG, and it follows Destiny’s Edge, a guild centered around destroying Elder Dragons.

This game is unique in that it has a complex storyline that changes depending on the player’s actions.

Games in the MMO genre rarely have stories like this, and they are much more common in single-player titles.

It also boasts a remarkably extensive character creation system that allows players to choose from five races and nine jobs.

Races and professions will dictate the types of abilities and skills that players have access to, so it’s important to consider your preferred playstyle.

Three major expansion packs, Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, and End of Dragons, have also been released for the game.

End of Dragons is the most recent, and it adds a new storyline, a multiplayer mount, a fishing system, and new strike missions.

Having been receiving new content updates since its release in 2012, needless to say, there’s no shortage of things to do in Guild Wars 2.

World of Warcraft players will find a lot to love about this free-to-play game, especially in terms of combat and story.

3. The Lord Of The Rings Online

Set in Middle Earth, Lord of the Rings Online is an MMORPG that first launched in 2007 and has since received a ton of new content.

In this game, players can choose from seven races and 11 different classes while creating characters.

Events kick off in the region of Eriador but quickly spread out from there with the various expansions.

In total, there are four large sections of the world; Eriador, Rhovanion, Gondor, and Mordor, which are split into regions, with regions splitting into areas.

Suffice it to say, the map in Lord of the Rings Online is huge, and you can easily spend hours exploring just one region.

Like in the books and movies, players can also form their own Fellowships, with up to six players working together.

As for the plot, it throws players right into the fray shortly after Frodo and his crew leave the Shire.

While you’re not following Frodo around, you do get to see and hear about the adventure from the story while exploring and completing quest lines.

Overall, this huge MMORPG has a lot to offer, and since it’s free-to-play, you can jump right in without worrying about a subscription!

2. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Since the days of the best Atari games of all time, Star Wars has been turning out incredible content for eager gamers.

SWTOR is no different, and this MMORPG has remained one of the best in the world since its release in 2011.

While it is one of the biggest subscription-based MMO games, it also has a free-to-play option, sort of like Runescape.

The main plot takes place shortly after the establishment of peace between the re-established Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic.

Players can choose from eight classes, each of which comes with a special three-act storyline that progresses as characters become stronger.

Best of all, players aren’t just forced to join the Republic and can instead choose to join the Sith.

However, there is also a light and dark alignment system that can lead to players following the light or darkside regardless of faction.

Like many other RPGs from Bioware, SWTOR boasts tons of customization, voiced dialogue, and companions.

Choices that a player makes will also affect NPC companions, and the dialogue system is reminiscent of the one found in Mass Effect.

Furthermore, players have access to a ton of planets, and new content is still being released, most recently in 2022 with the Legacy of the Sith.

Even if you’re not a die-hard Star Wars fan, there is a ton of stuff to love about SWTOR, especially for WoW fans.

1. The Elder Scrolls Online

Taking our number one spot is The Elder Scrolls Online, a huge MMORPG from Bethesda and ZeniMax.

Part of the Elder Scrolls series, this game takes place about 1000 years before the events of Skyrim; ESO was released in 2014 and is still going strong.

Now boasting six major chapters and DLCs, along with numerous content, dungeon, and zone updates, this game is huge.

Each of the six chapters is as large as any Elder Scrolls game, with a massive world filled with major and minor quests dotted throughout.

There are ten races to choose from, along with seven main classes that come with their own abilities and benefits.

Players can also learn numerous skills, including alchemy, blacksmithing, woodworking, provisioning, enchanting, and more.

Gameplay is also non-linear and designed so that you can jump in at any time and play expansions in any order.

Best of all, there are often year-long events that take place, and new chapters are always right around the corner.

The most recent chapter is called Necrom, and it will be adding a brand new class and two new zones to explore.

ESO is, by far, the best game like World of Warcraft that you can play right now, and we highly recommend checking it out!

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the 10 best games like World of Warcraft, and agree with our lineup!

Although WoW is a huge phenomenon, these games serve as great alternatives if you’re in the mood for something new.

The Elder Scrolls Online, in particular, is exceptional, and it has enough content to keep you occupied for more than 1000 hours!

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

1. The Elder Scrolls Online
2. Star Wars: The Old Republic
3. The Lord Of The Rings Online
4. Guild Wars 2
5. Dragon Age: Inquisition
6. Neverwinter
7. RuneScape
8. Final Fantasy XIV
9. Destiny 2
10. EVE Online

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