List of massively multiplayer online role-playing games

This is a selected list of massively multiplayer online role-playing games. MMORPGs are large multi-user games that take place in perpetual online worlds with a great number of other players. In most MMORPGs each player controls an avatar that interacts with other players, completes tasks to gain experience, and acquires items.

Business models

MMORPGs today use a wide range of business models, from free of charge (with microtransactions) or advertise funded to various kinds of payment plans. This list uses the following terms.

• Free-to-play (F2P) means that there is no cost to purchase the software and there is no subscription charge. Variably applies to traditionally bought and forever available games (see Buy-to-play below). Almost all newer MMOs that fall under this category now includes heavy microtransactions however, which causes them to overlap with the Freemium model most of the time.
• Freemium means that the majority or all of the game's content is available for free but players can pay for extra content, added perks or faster advancement into the game via microtransactions.
• Buy-to-play (B2P) means that the MMO can only be played by purchasing the game, but there is no subsequent subscription fee for playing the game. These games may or may not include additional microtransactions, or may sell additional content in the form of expansions instead of asking for an ongoing subscription fee.
• Pay-to-play (P2P) means that the MMO requires a monthly subscription fee or other ongoing fee in order to continue playing the game. It may also require an up-front purchase of the game in addition to the monthly subscription fee, though many of these up-front purchases include a month of game time. This was once the most common way for MMOs to finance themselves, but has fallen out of favor in recent years as an increasing number of games have switched to other business models due to difficulty in retaining a stable playerbase.

List of MMORPGs

Title	Status	Graphics	Setting	Subscription Model	Initial Release Date	Server Close Date	Notes	Manual Aiming in Combat
The 4th Coming		2D (isometric)	Fantasy	Buy-to-play	1999		Now known as T4C v2
9Dragons		3D	Historical fantasy (China), martial arts	Free-to-play	2007
Ace Online		3D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2006
Aces High		3D	Historical (World War II)	Pay-to-play	2000
AdventureQuest Worlds		2D	Medieval fantasy	Freemium	2003		Browser-based
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2008		This game features a combo based combat system.	No
Age of Wulin		3D	Martial Arts, Wuxia (fantasy)	Freemium	2013
Aion: The Tower of Eternity		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2008			No
AIKA Online		3D	Medieval fantasy	Free-to-play	2009
Allods Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2010
Anarchy Online		3D	Science fiction	Freemium	2001
Angel Love Online		2D	Fantasy	Freemium	2006		Downloadable client (Windows only). Multiplatform: PC, PlayStation 3
ArcheAge		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2013		Open-sandbox player built world, large-scale crafting interactions (building own ship to sail with, etc)	No
Ashen Empires		2D (isometric)	Fantasy	Freemium	2002		Housing, Guilds, 3 Expansions, Downloadable client (Windows only)
Asheron's Call		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	1999		Has player housing
Asheron's Call 2		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2002	2005-12-30
Atlantica Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2008		Turn-based strategy
Aura Kingdom		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2014
Battlestar Galactica Online		3D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2011		Browser-based, Battlestar Galactica license
Black Desert		3D	Medieval fantasy	Freemium (Asia), Buy-to-play (EU/NA)	2015		Active, open-sandbox player built world - Manual aim action combat	Yes
Blade & Soul		3D	Fantasy, martial arts	Freemium	2012		Manual aim action combat (within melee/short ranged combat)	Yes (Melee)
Cabal Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2005
Champions Online		3D	Superheroes	Freemium	2009
City of Heroes		3D	Superheroes	Freemium	2004-04-27	2012-11-30	Formerly pay-to-play
City of Villains		3D	Superheroes	Freemium	2005-10-31	2012-11-30
Clan Lord		2D	Fantasy	Pay for account; free-to-play	1998		Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
Club Penguin		2D	Cartoon, kids	Freemium	2005-10-24		Browser-based
Crowns of Power		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2008
Dark Age of Camelot		3D	Mythology (Arthurian)	Pay-to-play	2001
Dark Ages		2D	Mythology (Celtic)	Pay for account; free-to-play	1999
Darkeden		2D	Horror	Freemium	1997	2013
Drakensang Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2012		Browser-based
Darkfall Unholy Wars		3D	Medieval fantasy	Pay-to-play	2013
Dead Frontier		3D	Horror	Freemium	2008		Pay for extras, Browser-based
DC Universe Online		3D	Superheroes	Freemium	2011		DC Comics license
Defiance		3D	Science fiction, Post-apocalyptic	Freemium	2013		Tie-in to Defiance (TV series), formerly pay-to-play
Digimon Masters		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2011
Dofus		2D (isometric)	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2004		Downloadable client (Windows, Mac, Linux) Tactical combat
Dragon Ball Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2010		Downloadable client (Windows, Mac, Linux) Tactical combat
Dragon Nest		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2010		Manual aim action combat	Yes
Dragon Oath		3D	Mythology (Chinese)	Free-to-play	2007		Based on the novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by Jin Yong
Dragon Quest X		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2012		Multiplatform: Wii, Wii U
Dragonica also known as Dragon Saga		3D (side-scrolling)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2010		Anime/manga-style hack and slash
Dungeons & Dragons Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2006		D&D 3.5 Edition ruleset
Dynasty Warriors Online		3D	Historical fantasy (China), martial arts	Free-to-play	2006		Hack and slash
Earth and Beyond		3D	Science fiction	Pay-to-play	2002-09-24	2004-09-22	Space vehicle piloting, trading, leveling
Echo of Soul		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2013
The Elder Scrolls Online		3D	Medieval fantasy	Buy-to-play with optional subscription model	2014		Manual aim action combat. Formally a subscription based, but changed to buy-to-play on March 17, 2015.	Yes
Emil Chronicle Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2005	2010
Empire & State		2D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2011		Browser-based political strategy MMORPG
Empire of Sports		3D	Modern sports	Free-to-play	2008		Sports-based
Elsword		2D (isometric)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007
Entropia Universe		3D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2003
Eternal Lands		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2003		Downloadable client (Windows, Mac, Linux)
EVE Online		3D	Science fiction	Pay-to-play	2003		Space vehicle piloting, trading, and business management
EverQuest		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	1999		Formerly pay-to-play	No
EverQuest II		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2004		Sequel to EverQuest
EverQuest Next		3D	Fantasy			Cancelled	Active, open world, Multiplatform: PC, PlayStation 4. Cancelled as of 2016
Fantage		2D	Fantasy	Freemium	2008
Face of Mankind		3D	Science fiction	Freemium	2009
Fallen Earth		3D	Post-apocalyptic	Freemium	2009
Fantasy Westward Journey		2D	Fantasy (Chinese)	Free-to-play	2004		Inspired by Journey to the West
Fiesta Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007
Final Fantasy XI		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2002		Multiplatform: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2013		Relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV. Now known as Final Fantasy: Heavensward with latest expansion. Multiplatform: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4	No
Firefall		3D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2014		First-person/third-person shooter
Flyff		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2005
Fragoria		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2011		Browser-based
Furcadia		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	1996
Gekkeiju Online		3D	Medieval fantasy	Free-to-play	2003		Anime-based. New version in 2010 with ""Occulus Rift"" support
GodsWar Online		3D	Mythology (Greek)	Free-to-play	2009
Granado Espada		3D	Historical fantasy (Age of Exploration)	Pay-to-play	2007
Grand Chase		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2003		Client download required
Guild Wars		3D	Fantasy	Buy-to-Play	2005			No
Guild Wars 2		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play / Buy-to-play	2012		Manual aim action combat (guided); Sequel to Guild Wars	Yes (Optional)
Helbreath		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	1999
Hello Kitty Online		3D	Cartoon	Free-to-play	2009		Client download required.
Hero Online		3D	Mythology (Chinese)	Free-to-play	2006
Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play / Pay-to-play	2003		Name changed from Horizons
Illyriad		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2011
Jade Dynasty		3D	Fantasy, martial arts	Freemium	2008		Latest expansion in 2013
Kal Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2004
Knight Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2004
LaTale		2D (side-scrolling)	Fantasy	Freemium	2009	2010
The Legend of Ares		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007	2009-05
The Legend of Mir 2		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2001
The Legend of Mir 3		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2004		Sequel to The Legend of Mir 2
Lineage		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	1998		North American servers shutdown on June 29, 2011
Lineage II		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2003		Sequel to Lineage, formerly pay-to-play until the 2011 expansion
Lineage III	Under development	3D	Fantasy				Sequel to Lineage II
Little Space Heroes		2D	Kids	Freemium	2011
The Lord of the Rings Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2007
Love		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2010		Builder
Mabinogi		3D	Fantasy, mythology (Welsh)	Free-to-play	2004
Magical Land		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy (Chinese)	Free-to-play	2005
MapleStory		2D (side-scrolling)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2003
Marvel Heroes		3D	Superheroes	Free-to-play	2014
Matrix Online		3D	Science fiction	Pay-to-play	2005-03-22	2009-07-31
Meridian 59		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	1995		Formerly pay-to-play
Metin 2		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2004
Minions of Mirth		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2005
MonsterMMORPG		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2009		Browser-based
Mortal Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2010		Formerly pay-to-play
MU Online		3D	Medieval fantasy	Free-to-play	2003
Mythos		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2011	2014-01-22
Myst Online		3D	Ancient Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2007		Open source
Neocron		3D	Cyberpunk	Free-to-play	2002		FPS-style gameplay, second installment run by the game's community
Neverwinter		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2013			Yes
Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds		2D (sprite-based; overhead)	Mythology (Korean)	Pay-to-play	1996
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen	Under development	3D	Fantasy				Spiritual successor to the original EverQuest
Pardus		2D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2004		Browser-based, space war and trading game
Parallel Kingdom		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2008
Perfect World		3D	Fantasy (Chinese)	Freemium	2005		Latest expansion in 2013	No
Perpetuum[1][2]		3D	Science fiction	Buy-to-play	2010		Persistent sandbox MMORPG. Formerly a subscription[3]
Phantasy Star Online 2		3D	Science Fiction	Freemium	2012
Phoenix Dynasty Online		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007	2010-12-8
Pirates of the Burning Sea		3D	Historical (maritime)	Free-to-play	2008
Pirate101		3D	Fantasy, kids	Freemium	2012		Pirate game, kid-safe chat
PlaneShift		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2000		Open source
Priston Tale		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2001	2013
Poptropica		2D (side-scrolling)	Cartoon, kids	Freemium	2007		Browser-based, no downloadable client required
Puppet Guardian		2D (isometric; adventure)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007
Puzzle Pirates		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2003
Ragnarok Online		2D/3D[4]	Fantasy, mythology (Norse/mixed)	Freemium/Pay-to-play (Depending on the server)	2002
Ragnarok Online 2		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2012		Sequel to Ragnarok Online
Ran Online		3D	Campus fantasy	Freemium	2004
Realm of the Mad God		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2011		Browser-based
The Realm Online		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	1996
Red Stone		2D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2004
Regnum Online		3D	Medieval fantasy	Freemium	2007
Requiem: Memento Mori		3D	Dark fantasy	Free-to-play	2008
RF Online		3D	Science fiction	Pay-to-play	2006
Rift		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2011		Formerly pay-to-play
Risk your Life		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2005		RYL Path of the Emperor PC
Roblox		3D	Abstract	Freemium	2006		Block-building game
Rohan: Blood Feud		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2008
ROSE Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2005
Runes of Magic		3D	Medieval fantasy	Freemium	2009
RuneScape		3D	Medieval fantasy	Freemium with subscription model	2001		Browser-based, Java and HTML 5. Optional membership will unlock more skills and quests as well as access to Old School Runescape, and allow players access to Runescape Classic if it's unlocked for them.
Rusty Hearts		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2011	2014	Hack and slash
Ryzom		3D	Science fantasy	Freemium	2004		Free-to-play (up to level 125), pay-to-play (to max level). Open source
Salem		3D	Historical (17th century) fantasy	Free-to-play	2012		Crafting-based
Sangokushi Online		3D	Mythology (Chinese)	Pay-to-play	2008	2010	Part of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series by Koei
The Secret World		3D	Modern	Buy-to-play	2012		Formerly pay-to-play
Seal Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2003
Scions of Fate or Yulgang		2D (sprite-based)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2005
Shadowbane		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2003-03-25	2009-07-01	Switched to "free-to-play" in March 15, 2006, supported by ads
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues	Steam Early Access Pre-Alpha	3D	Fantasy	Buy-to-play			Spiritual successor to the Ultima series
Sho Online		3D	Historical fantasy (China)	Free-to-play	2008
Shot-Online		3D	Sports (golf)	Freemium	2004
Silkroad Online		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2005
Skyforge	Open beta	3D	Fantasy (Mythic/Sci-fi)				Russian-based developers. Currently in open beta	Yes
Soul of the Ultimate Nation		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2007	2013
Spiral Knights		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2009		Java
Star Trek Online		3D	Science fiction	Freemium	2010		Switched to "free-to-play" in January 17, 2012
Star Wars Galaxies		3D	Science fiction	Pay-to-play	2003-06-26	2011-12-15	The first Star Wars MMORPG used a "sandbox" approach with a totally player-driven economy
Star Wars: The Old Republic		3D	Science fiction	Freemium	2011		Spiritual sequel of 2003's Game of the year Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, formerly pay-to-play	No
StarQuest Online		3D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	2007	2014	Downloadable client (Windows)
Stellar Dawn	Development paused	3D	Science fiction				Development started back in 2006 as Mechscape, which was scrapped in 2009. In 2010 Stellar Dawn was announced, though in March 2012 the development was paused so the developer, Jagex, could focus on their other games.
A Tale in the Desert		3D	Mythology (Egyptian)	Pay-to-play	2003		Non-combat-oriented RPG
Tales of Pirates		3D	Fantasy (Maritime)	Free-to-play	2007
TERA: Rising		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2011		Manual aim action combat (True Action combat)	Yes
Terra		3D	Science fiction	Free-to-play	1996
Tibia		2D (sprite-based; overhead)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	1997		Downloadable client (Windows, Linux).
Toontown Online		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2003	2013	MMORPG designed for children
Trove		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2013
Twelve Sky		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2007
Twelve Sky 2		3D	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2008
Ultima Online		2D/3D	Medieval fantasy	Pay-to-play	1997		The term MMORPG was first coined by Ultima Online creator Richard Garriott in 1997.[5]
Uncharted Waters Online		3D	Historical (maritime)	Pay-to-play	2005
Underlight		3D	Fantasy (Dream)	Free-to-play	1998		Original servers were shutdown December 2006. Recently re-launched in September 2014 by KoiWare.
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2007-01-30	2014-07-31
Vindictus		3D	Fantasy (Celtic)	Free-to-play	2010		Manual aim action combat	Yes
Voyage Century Online		3D	Historical (maritime)	Free-to-play	2006
Vendetta Online		3D	Science fiction	Pay-to-play	2004		Space vehicle piloting and twitch-based interface
Wakfu		2D (isometric)	Fantasy	Freemium	2012		Downloadable client (Windows, Mac, Linux). Tactical combat.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning		3D	Fantasy	Freemium	2008	2013-12-18		No
Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade	Pre-Alpha production	3D	Fantasy, Science fiction	Buy-to-play			PC. Founders Packs available
WildStar		3D	Fantasy, Science fiction	Free-to-play	2014		Manual aim action combat (telegraphed). Became Free-to-play on September 29, 2015	Yes
With Your Destiny		3D	Fantasy (Scandinavian)	Free-to-play	2003
Wizard101		3D	Fantasy, kids	Freemium	2008		Wizard game with cards, kid-safe chat
WonderKing Online		2D (side-scrolling)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2006
Wonderland Online		2D (special)	Fantasy	Free-to-play	2008, March		Anime/Manga based
World of the Living Dead		2D	Survival Strategy	Free-to-play	2014	2014	Map-Based Survival Game with PvP, Factions, Customization, Upgrades & Crafting. Defunct 2014
World of Warcraft		3D	Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2004		Free-to-play until level 20	No
Wurm Online		3D	Medieval fantasy	Freemium	2006		Sandbox game with hundreds of skills, multiple kingdoms, and a deep crafting system.
Xsyon		3D	Apocalyptic Fantasy	Pay-to-play	2011		Apocalyptic Fantasy Sandbox MMORPG - Currently in the Prelude phase.
Zhengtu		2D	Mythology (Chinese)	Freemium	2008
Zu Online		3D	Mythology (Chinese)	Free-to-play	2007	2012

See also

• Chronology of MUDs
• Comparison of MMORPGs
• History of MMORPGs
• List of free MMOGs
• List of MMOGs
• List of multiplayer browser games
• List of text-based MMORPGs
• Online game

Notes

1. Rossignol, Jim (2010-06-02). "Interview: Perpetuum Online". Rockpapershotgun.com. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
2. Brendan Drain (2011-06-26). "Perpetuum receives influx of EVE players". Massively.com. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
3. "Perpetuum Developer Blog: The end of subscriptions, the start of something new". blog.perpetuum-online.com. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
4. 3D environment with 2D sprites
5. Safko, Ron; Brake, David (2009). The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success. Wiley. ISBN 0-470-41155-4. Richard Garriott first coined the term MMORPG in 1997.