The Best MMORPGs I’ve Ever Played – A Journey Through My Favorite MMORPGs

Introduction – Why I’ll Always Love MMOs – Best MMORPGs

You know that feeling of logging into an MMORPGs for the first time? The music kicks in, the world stretches endlessly before you, and you’re just standing there, soaking it all in—ready to start an adventure that could last days, weeks, or even years.

MMOs aren’t just games; they’re living worlds, filled with epic battles, deep friendships, and legendary memories. I’ve played my fair share over the years, but some have left a permanent mark on my gaming soul.

Today, I want to take you on a trip down MMO memory lane, sharing the games that defined my journey in online worlds. Whether you’re looking for something new to play or just want to reminisce about the golden days of the Bests MMORPGs, this list is for you.

So grab your mount, summon your party, and let’s dive into my all-time favorite MMOs!

My Top & Best MMORPGs – Reviewed

AION & AION CLASSIC – My First Love in MMOs

Aion was my very first MMO, and what a way to start! Everything felt huge—the world, the grind, THE GRIND ! (2-3 months at the release to reach lvl 50), the PvP, the sense of accomplishment when you finally reached max level. Unlike modern MMOs that hand you rewards, Aion made sure you earned them.

The PvP was incredible—open-world fights, faction wars, Rift PvP ambushes, and fortress sieges. I started as a Templar, but my reroll addiction kicked in quickly. I made twinks of every class, experimenting until I found my true love—the Cleric (as damage dealer). PvPing with a high-damage Cleric (in full magic resist) was an absolute blast.

But Aion wasn’t perfect. The Gameforge transition messed up the game, and later expansions made returning harder. I played intensely at level 50 and 55, took a break, then returned at level 65, but it never quite felt the same.

📌 Pros & Cons of Aion:

✅ Pros:
✅ The grind is real, but it’s ultra-gratifying—every new gear piece feels earned.
✅ PvP-focused game with intense faction-based warfare.
✅ Dynamic and fast-paced combat, with fluid aerial battles.
✅ Class balance was well done, each class had a clear role.

❌ Cons:
❌ Huge time investment required to stay competitive.
❌ Pay-to-win elements, though Aion Classic mitigates this.
❌ Daily quests and repeatable content become tedious over time.
❌ Many events & sieges happen at fixed times, hard to balance with real life.

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC – Living My Sith Fantasy

When SWTOR came out, I was all in. Star Wars + MMO? Sign me up! I rushed to level 50, eager to experience the endgame content, and while the game wasn’t perfect, it delivered something no MMO had done before—a fully voice-acted, cinematic storyline.

But let’s talk about the real fun—battleground PvP with friends. Hopping into matches with Asato and Ramu, running around as my Sith Inquisitor, destroying enemies with stealth burst attacks—pure fun.

Unfortunately, at launch, endgame PvP was lacking—no ranked arenas, no large-scale PvP battles like Aion. Then Guild Wars 2 Beta came out, and curiosity pulled me away.

📌 Pros & Cons of SWTOR:

✅ Pros:
✅ Story is fantastic, it really feels like living a Star Wars saga.
✅ Free-to-play experience is generous, and expansions add great content.
✅ Iconic Star Wars classes and lore, which make progression exciting.
✅ Casual-friendly, you can experience most of the game solo.

❌ Cons:
❌ Slower combat pace due to long global cooldowns.
❌ Endgame content was light at launch, though improved later.
❌ Many players either go hardcore or reroll alts, leading to repetitive play.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT – The MMO That Defines the Genre

I jumped into WoW during Mists of Pandaria , which might not be everyone’s favorite expansion (I had played before at Burning Crusade on a private server), but it hooked me instantly. The sheer amount of content was insane—raids, dungeons, battlegrounds, endless things to do at any time of day. Like shown in the screenshot I still had reroll issues and HAD to play them all xD.

My focus? PvP. I started with Frost Mage, inspired by Ziqo and Xaryu, trying to pull off 1v2 arena plays (this was super fun). Then I switched to Sacred Priest for 3v3 ranked, grinding my way to 2k rating before moving on (I know for most it’s not high) I always struggled in PvP in WoW.

📌 Pros & Cons of WoW:

✅ Pros:
✅ Strong expansion cycle, Blizzard tries to reinvent itself each time.
✅ WoW Classic allows nostalgia-filled experiences for older expansions.
✅ Balanced PvE & PvP content, something for everyone.
✅ Massive player base, ensuring active servers and LFG tools.

❌ Cons:
❌ Class balance issues, some expansions force rerolling.
❌ Solo queue times are long, some content lacks participation.
❌ Stat inflation over expansions, forcing Blizzard to reset everything multiple times.

GUILD WARS 2 – The MMO That Changed My View on PvE

I first tried Guild Wars 2 in beta, purely for the battleground PvP, and wow—the gameplay was fast, fluid, and exciting. Few spells, but infinite possibilities.

When GW2 launched, I expected to only PvP… but then something crazy happened—I fell in love with the PvE world exploration. Thanks to the map completion system, I was actually enjoying PvE for the first time in an MMO.

I started with Elementalist, but then I discovered that you could level purely by crafting—so I did something crazy. I power-leveled my Thief to max level through crafting, then jumped into World vs. World PvP, where I completely fell in love with the burst gameplay.

📌 Pros & Cons of GW2:

✅ Pros:
✅ Best integration of PvE & PvP, allowing for multiple playstyles.
✅ Level 80 cap never increases, so returning players never feel left behind.
✅ Open-world events and dynamic map changes keep the world feeling alive.
✅ Combat feels fresh, skill-based mechanics instead of tab targeting.

❌ Cons:
❌ Endgame PvE lacks hardcore challenges for high-level raiders.
❌ PvP updates are slow, with no major additions in years.

WILDSTAR – The MMO That Should Have Been Huge

Wildstar was a dream MMO that never got the love it deserved. It had:
✅ Insanely fast combat
✅ Best MMO housing system ever
✅ Hilarious humor and a unique sci-fi world

I played Esper, climbed PvP rankings, and had the most fun in 2v2 arena, reaching the best PvP gear level (1800 ranking back in the days). But endgame content was thin, and after six months, I moved on.

📌 Pros & Cons of Wildstar:

✅ Pros:
✅ The best MMO housing system, letting you build actual functional homes.
✅ Telegraphed combat, making fights feel fast and reaction-based.
✅ Funny, engaging storytelling, with witty quest writing.

❌ Cons:
❌ Low population from launch, making grouping difficult.
❌ Endgame content was sparse, leading to player exodus.
❌ Shut down after only a few years, leaving a feeling of lost potential.

Honorable Mention – THE DIVISION: The MMO-Like Shooter That Surprised Me

Alright, I know what you’re thinking—“The Division? That’s a shooter, not an MMO!” And you’re right, but hear me out.

While The Division is technically a looter-shooter, its gear progression, build customization, and cooperative PvE/PvP mechanics make it feel incredibly MMO-like. Unlike traditional FPS games, where raw aim and reflexes dominate, The Division’s build system adds an entirely different layer of strategy.

The real magic happened when playing in a full squad of four, each player optimized for a specific role—one focusing on damage, another on support abilities, a tankier frontliner, and someone dedicated to healing and buffs. The synergy felt just like raiding in an MMORPG, except you were gunning down enemies in a collapsing urban New York City instead of fighting dragons.

But where The Division truly shined for me was the Dark Zone—a PvPvE hybrid area where you never quite knew what to expect. Would that other squad help you out? Or would they turn rogue and ambush you the second you extracted your hard-earned loot? The tension, the thrill, and the high-stakes loot system made every PvP session unforgettable.

📌 Pros & Cons of The Division:

✔ Pros:
✅ Deep build customization, letting you craft unique playstyles.
✅ Loot-driven gameplay, just like in MMOs—gear truly makes a difference.
✅ Tactical PvP (Dark Zone) creates intense, unpredictable encounters.
✅ Strong cooperative experience, especially with a fully optimized team.

❌ Cons:
❌ PvE endgame was lacking, with repetitive missions.
❌ Gear balancing issues—some metas were way too dominant.
❌ Solo play was difficult, especially in PvP zones like the Dark Zone.

Conclusion – Why MMOs Are Still My Favorite Genre

MMOs shaped who I am as a gamer. No other genre creates memories, friendships, and stories like these games do.
PS : writing this article made me want to retry some of these MMOs so badly 😀

💬 What’s YOUR favorite MMO? Drop it in the comments!