One of the biggest factors when choosing a potential MMO to enjoy is how “healthy” it is. In other words, is the online game bursting with life and future potential? After all, you don’t want to get too invested in an MMO that might be circling the drain or lacking a significant population for that social connection!
At the end of every year, the MassivelyOP writers take a look at the entire field of games and determine which titles look the healthiest based on several criteria, including population, development this year, earnings reports, upcoming plans, and — let’s be honest — an informed gut feeling. While it’s not an exact science to narrow this down to 10, we feel pretty confident about the state of the following titles.
World of Warcraft
Even in a year without an official BlizzCon, World of Warcraft stirred up quite a lot of excitement for its many versions. The studio is cranking out updates for retail on a regular cadence (and already posted full plans for 2025), there’s an expansion and player housing on the horizon (possibly for the end of next year), and The War Within has been well-received. Additionally, WoW Classic continues to show significant strength both from the community and development team. It’s also been heartening to see Blizzard admit to past mistakes, create evergreen content, and even experiment with new ideas.
Final Fantasy XIV
While Dawntrail wasn’t an earth-shattering expansion when it arrived this past summer, it was perfectly fine and continued players’ adventures throughout this popular fantasy world. FFXIV found its groove a long time ago and seems content to more or less continue in the same fashion, which is comforting to those who enjoy the MMO and are here for the long-haul. Its community is also lauded as one of the most involved and friendly in the industry, helping to lift up this title. And did someone say “mobile version…?”
Guild Wars 2
A new expansion and player housing put Guild Wars 2 back on a lot of players’ radars this past year. ArenaNet certainly has a plan for this game and is keeping the quality level relatively high. Until we hear more word of Guild Wars 3, expect to see plenty of future investment in this title. One gets the sense that the studio is doing the best it can with limited resources split among multiple in-development MMOs, and if it can’t churn out massive End of Dragons-like expansions every year, at least it’s still growing the world in meaningful ways.
DC Universe Online
DCUO was, up until the end of 2023, in a safe and stable spot, thanks to it being a consistent breadwinner for Daybreak and benefiting from the popular DC comics IP. It also helps that competition for this title is light, especially in the absence of a Marvel MMORPG. And while the game saw layoffs and a troubled early 2024, Daybreak and EG7 told investors that it has stabilized under new leadership brought over from the remains of Cryptic Studios, and the new boss has announced big changes and investment into the game for 2025. So if you want to get your superhero fantasy on, this is a prime option on both PC and console.
Albion Online
If you get this game, then you get it. If you don’t, then you’re probably mystified why this isometric PvP MMO is so incredibly popular. The secret isn’t that much of a secret, however: Albion Online keeps putting out good content that keeps its massive community engaged. If you like crafting, deep character systems, and high-stakes competitive adventuring, there’s no better fantasy realm to visit than this one.
Black Desert
After kicking and punching its way up the ranks to become a Top 5 MMO, Black Desert is happy to stay there, year after year. This gorgeous world with a crazy amount of sandbox features is unlike a lot of the same-old, same-old in this industry, and it’s only gotten better with two back-to-back expansions in the past couple years. We’re a little nervous about the game’s slow decline in revenues, but even at its weakest, BDO is still a top MMO performer, and we have no reason to suspect that Black Desert won’t keep going strong into 2025.
RuneScape
Highly entrenched community? Check. Two popular versions of the game that are both receiving active development? Check. A studio that can’t seem to come up with a follow-up title and thus needs you with a sweaty desperation? Oh, that’s a checkaroo. Trust us: RuneScape isn’t going anywhere for a long, long time.
EverQuest
While nowhere near the king of the hill that it used to be, EverQuest continues to be in an enviable position compared to many more precarious MMOs. It pulls in good money for Daybreak, has a larger population than its sequel, is in a prime position for retro-seeking players, gets a yearly expansion, and isn’t being threatened by a particularly imminent EverQuest 3 (but check back in five years). This title is the cockroach of MMORPGs: Even a nuclear winter wouldn’t be able to kill it.
Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online makes this list not because it’s the talk of the town but because it can comfortably coast on its famous IP and a routine yearly cadence without significant harm. It’s huge, and it makes a lot of money. And hey, it actually had a good past year with an expansion and monthly anniversary celebrations that did a bit to bolster the community.
EVE Online
If you follow Pearl Abyss’ revenue reports, you already know that EVE Online had a hell of a 2024 in terms of players and financials, and that’s without considering all of the EVE spinoff games currently in production or in the wild. It might not be as huge and flashy as it used to be, but the core EVE Online MMORPG experience is CCP Games’ cash cow, and there’s no way it’s going anywhere but into the future.
Lord of the Rings Online
Despite more than a few cracks in its tech and performance, Lord of the Rings Online continues to endear itself to a loyal community through its sheer faithfulness to the source material and continued growth of the world. It was singled out as a title that’s helping parent company Daybreak’s revenue in a recent earnings call, put out two expansions in two years now, and has shown a willingness to create special-ruleset servers. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Lord of the Rings is popping up on streaming and in movie theaters these days!
Star Wars: The Old Republic
OK, if you’re actually counting along, you know this is the 12th entry in a list meant to be 11 long, but I have to include it as my own personal rogue pick. It’s not always top-earning MMOs that deserve this list but titles that have a lot going for their longevity. And I’d bet more chips on a SWTOR that’s being overseen by a smaller studio that loves MMOs and knows what a valuable asset this is than a larger studio that kind of hated MMOs in the first place. It’s a very full-featured game that’s actually picking up in development and being tended with care by passionate developers. That goes a long way in the MMORPG genre.
Everyone likes a good list, and we are no different! Perfect Ten usually takes an MMO topic and divides it up into 10 delicious, entertaining, and often informative segments for your snacking pleasure. And per tradition, we’re cranking this column up to eleven with our annual special features in the End-of-Year Eleven!
