15 Best Games Like World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft (WoW) remains one of the most popular massively multiplayer role-playing games in the world. It’s also one of the oldest and longest-running role-playing games ever for all the right reasons. It has set the bar for what players expect from this genre when it comes to content, lore, and reasons to come back.

WoW is a wildly popular MMORPG that lets players enter the lore-filled world of Azeroth. It embodies the role-playing genre since its gameplay requires you to build a personalized avatar, explore the environment and then fight monsters while engaging with fellow players or non-playing characters, as well as completing different quests to move up levels.

And while Blizzard comes up with new expansions to keep veterans returning year in year out, even the most dyed-in-the-wool WoW aficionado may decide that it’s time to play something different.

Fortunately, there are loads of similar massively multiplayer online role-playing games out there that feel and play out like World of Warcraft and can offer you a fresh start. Give these 15 games a whirl today!

1. RuneScape

Released back in 2001, RuneScape is still a hit with millions of players around the world. In spite of being a browser-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game, it still boasts awesome graphics with plenty of quests to complete, dragons to kill, mythical creatures to vanquish, and gods to fight.

In RuneScape, there’s no linear slay-and-fetch kind of quests. As a player, you’ll set your own goals and quests. You can decide to fight a non-playing character, complete loads of quests, or spend your time sharpening your skills.

You have 26 skills to perfect in the game, so it’ll definitely take you quite a while before you master most or all of them. Trying a skill regularly will earn you some experience points and help you get closer to perfecting it. Your skills will have quite a significant impact on your gameplay.

You can explore the massive world using magic spells or on foot. There are also charter ships here, but they’re harder to get. The map is quite huge and divided between various cities and kingdoms, with each region having various kinds of quests. In RuneScape, you’ll never want things to accomplish as content is still released quite regularly.

2. Blade & Soul

This free-to-play MMORPG feels and looks exactly like World of Warcraft. In fact, the gameplay style and visuals are very similar to WoW that Blade & Soul is commonly referred to as the Korean answer to WoW. The game contains two playable factions known as Crimson Legion and Cerulean Order, who fight each other.

From various quests to an enormous open-world that’s ripe for exploration, Blade & Soul has everything. If there something that makes this game stand out, then it’s the fact that it’s a free-to-play game.

Of course, the game has some paid elements, but that won’t affect the general gameplay. Given what this action-packed game promises to deliver, it’s safe to consider it as one of the best replacements for World of Warcraft.

3. Warframe

This third-person shooter game is special and unique in its own style. While staying faithful to its MMORPG genre, Warframe manages to deliver an amazing MMORPG experience like never before. It allows you to control an ancient race’s warriors who are fighting other factions.

Warframe’s co-op-centered gameplay makes it an amazingly unique action title. There are loads of various characters to select from, with each having its own unique ability. Although Warframe may not feel like a perfect alternative to World of Warcraft, it’s an awesome title to try out if you’ve decided to take a break from WoW.

4. Elder Scrolls Online

Elder Scrolls Online is a fantasy game that’s inspired by a variety of different worlds. Set in the continent known as Tamriel, this is an expansive fantasy adventure MMORPG that sets you off on a wide range of quests as you represent Humans, Bestial races, or Elvish races which are part of six disparate classes.

Set far ahead of titles like Oblivion, this game gives you the chance to witness what Tamriel was like prior to those games taking place. If you’ve ever spent days and months playing Elder Scrolls, this online version will welcome you back home.

5. Age of Conan

Age of Conan can be your perfect alternative to World of Warcraft, especially if you’re looking for a free-to-play MMORPG. This game is slightly inspired by the Age of Conan novels, but is a direct competitor to WoW and offers the same gameplay aspects.

You select your beloved class with unique abilities and traits, explore the massive world, gather resources, complete quests, and update your character’s equipment and skills. You’re free to decide your own destiny according to your preferred playing style.

Live the life of a stealthy assassin or sorcerer, depending on your choice. One of the best things about Age of Conan is the chance to explore the fable of Conan. Full of several astounding elements, the story of Conan never ceases to amaze.

6. Rift

Rift is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing MMORPGs around and it offers plenty of tools and features that it could potentially do away with World of Warcraft in a few years. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most popular MMORPGs out there since it’s taken all the good elements of the genre and blended them into one enthralling game that captivates everyone who gives it a try.

Rift boasts two factions constantly fighting each other and your mission is to help your side win the war. It looks and feels like all other MMORPGs on the market with resource gathering and character building.

In addition to that, you need to actively seek any Rifts around the world and end them before your nemesis begins seeping out of them. A word of warning: sudden attacks can completely unravel your whole plan. So, always keep an eye out for them while looking for Rifts.

In a nutshell, Rift has it all to warrant a place in your list of games like World of Warcraft.

7. Black Desert Online

After being launched in Korea with lots of fanfare, Black Desert Online quickly found its way to the worldwide market and lived up to its hype. The game makes the most of the MMORPGs genre to deliver addictive gameplay that’s constantly being improved.

Black Desert Online stands out from the crowd due to its sharp action combat and instinctive property management features in the MMORPG. From creating alliances to acquiring buildings of your own, Black Desert Online has it all.

Heck, you can even conquer a whole city if you’re able to. All in all, Black Desert Online is a really exciting game, which should be a good replacement for World of Warcraft.

8. Vindictus

Created and released by Korean game developer Nexon, Vindictus is a prologue to another popular title Mabinogi. While it’s set several centuries before Mabinogi took place, the settings remain pretty much similar.

You can select from eight classes. Every class boasts a unique collection of abilities that’d considerably affect your gameplay and combat style, so you have plenty of reasons to return and try out a new class.

But the real highlight of Vindictus is its real-time battle system. It’s exciting to grab your foes by the neck and thrown them off the cliff. You’re free to experiment with this system and come up with your own deadly set of combinations.

If you’re used to playing MMORPGs with conventional point-and-click battle mechanics, it might take you quite a while to get used to Vindictus but it shouldn’t be that long. The game is easy to grasp, but hard to master.

If you’re looking to try out Vindictus, here’s a word of caution: it’s extremely addictive!

9. ArcheAge

This MMORPG was made in Korea and is considered to be a “sandpark” title, given its tendency to closely resemble an open-world sandbox game with a theme park game structure.

It offers a broad variety of warfare, including naval battles between ships, as well as unique farming, housing, and crafting mechanics. You also need to act right, since there’s a player-controlled court system that’ll ensure that you pay for your crimes.

As you take on evil forces, you’ll realize that ArcheAge is one expansive, interesting adventure with loads to offer.

10. Sea of Thieves

An exclusive of Microsoft, Sea of Thieves allows you to stretch your sea legs and hone your swashbuckling skills. With wind in your sails and a deck under your legs, you explore an open-world environment through your pirate ship and complete several missions on your way to attaining legendary status.

The huge world is shared, too, meaning that there are innumerable pirates and posses dashing across the open seas sprinting to find the largest and best bounty.

11. Tera

Tera is an awesome game that provides a responsive, real-action battle system. With about 1,000 quests to complete and 80 zones, it’ll definitely keep you engaged for quite some time.

Apart from an interesting battle, the lovely graphics and intelligent enemy AI will take your breath away. Unlike in other MMORPGs, Tera’s monsters won’t swing blindly. They’ll take a step back, plot, and strike out of the blue.

You’ll die more often than in similar games, but you’ll have the last laugh since you’ll learn from your missteps and return stronger than ever!

12. Skyforge

This intergalactic game is set on a planet known as Aelion, where it combines science fiction and fantasy throughout every facet of its narrative.

Rather than being a typical mage or warrior or something similar, you become immortal with celestial powers, doing everything you can to protect Aelion. You don’t gain levels, either, but rather rise up levels based on a prestige program and explore 17 classes.

Your ultimate goal is to become a god.

13. The Secret World

Created by Funcom and released by EA, The Secret World stands out from the rest of these games with a rich and realistic world containing plentiful important, mind-bending quests. While there are fetch and kill quests, they’re presented in such a manner that won’t get you bored.

You’ll begin your journey by selecting one faction from three: Templar, Illuminati, and Dragon. The faction you choose will determine your hometown as well as a set of missions. Initially meant to be available by subscription, The Secret World was eventually changed to a buy-to-play version. So, you only have to make a one-time purchase and enjoy this game forever.

14. Dragon Age: Inquisition

While Dragon Age: Inquisition isn’t necessarily an MMORPG, it’s nonetheless a game that improves upon the role-playing feeling that’s symbolized in WoW.

The vast world in Dragon Age: Inquisition has been overrun by demons and your character has to seal the multiple cracks through which the demons invade your world. With a non-linear plot and free-roam type of gameplay, this game plays out like an MMORPG and feels like World of Warcraft.

Before starting the game, you have to select a race for your character from human, elf, dwarf, and Qunari. You can modify the Inquisitor’s gender and physical appearance, among other things.

You can also select from three classes—rogue, mage, and warrior—and specialize your character to give it specific abilities. Later, the character will evolve and become the Inquisitor, whose decisions and choices change and affect the state of the game’s world.

15. Star Trek Online

A Cryptic Studios creation, this MMORPG takes place in the universe of Star Trek. While this game was initially available by subscription, it was changed to a free-to-play version back in 2012.

Since then, Star Trek Online has become more and popular among players worldwide. If you’ve watched the TV series of the same name, this game will instantly resonate with you as it contains many subtle references to the Star Trek TV series.

Star Trek Online starts out with the player having to pick one faction out of the three available: Romulan, Klingon, and Federation. Soon after, you begin exploring the world of Star Trek.

Star Trek Online boasts a skill-based crafting structure which is quite rare for an MMORPG. You’ll need to collect enough knowledge and data about an item prior to crafting it. While it’s very puzzling and hard to master, there’s a sense of fun and adventure in collecting data for creating your beloved items.

Lastly, the foundry system in the game allows you to build missions before sharing them with others. This allows you to try out what others have built and vice-versa. There are always plenty of user-developed missions in the game.

It’s really amazing to see how creative some players can be if handed the appropriate tools and the opportunity to develop something. Some user-created missions in the game are really awesome!

FAQs About Best Games Like World of Warcraft

Have Fun with These Best Games Like World of Warcraft Today!

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games give you the chance to engage with a variety of online communities of video game players. World of Warcraft dips you into a world of fantasy with limitless adventures, but it’s sometimes good to switch things up.

If you’re fed up with World of Warcraft, you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s a myriad of other games on the market that’ll help you fill the gap left by World of Warcraft. The 15 games above are definitely worth trying out if you’re after something with the same gameplay elements or playstyle.