Massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) were incredibly popular in the 2000s and early 2010s, but their popularity has decreased. Now, only a few major MMOs remain, such as Final Fantasy 14 and World of Warcraft. The core concept of MMOs has shifted, leading to the rise of live-service games like Destiny 2 and Tom Clancy’s The Division. Interestingly, some modern single-player games now offer experiences that feel as expansive and detailed as traditional MMOs.
Many games now offer huge worlds, similar storylines and tasks, character customization, and even battles that play themselves. If you’re curious about MMOs but don’t want to pay a subscription, these games are worth looking into – you might not even realize how similar they are to traditional MMOs. We’re not including games that are obviously ongoing services, as those have simply evolved from the MMO format, as we discussed earlier.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
An Endless, Cold Quest
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim offers many of the features players enjoy in online multiplayer games, but it’s a single-player experience. You can fully customize your character and improve their abilities through a huge variety of skills, whether you prefer magic or close combat.
Honestly, there’s a ton to do in Skyrim – a mix of really detailed quests they clearly put a lot of work into, and then some that are randomly generated, which is cool because it makes it feel like the game never really ends. No matter which edition of Skyrim you grab, the world is just huge, and I’m pretty sure it’ll keep me busy for a long, long time.
Borderlands 4
A Non-Live Looter Shooter
Borderlands 4, the newest game in the Borderlands series, introduces some changes to make it feel new and exciting. Players can still enjoy the game solo in a more expansive open world, or team up with up to three friends online.
Unlike many modern games like Destiny 2, Borderlands 4 doesn’t have a central social space where players can hang out together. While some might miss this feature, it actually helps Borderlands 4 stand out. The game also differentiates itself with its four classes, each offering three unique skill paths, its open-world environment, a huge selection of weapons, and straightforward side missions.
Final Fantasy 12
Learning From The MMO
Final Fantasy 11 was an online multiplayer game where battles happened automatically in real-time, and it was followed by Final Fantasy 12. Both games feature similar combat: players control a group of three characters who encounter and fight monsters as the action unfolds in real-time.
While the game generally flows continuously, players can also choose to pause and give direct orders, or use a system called Gambits in Final Fantasy 12. Gambits essentially let you program your characters to act automatically under specific circumstances. The game world isn’t one continuous space, but its areas are large and packed with items, enemies, and optional quests – most of which involve collecting items or completing bounties to earn rewards.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Jedi Vs Sith
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is considered one of BioWare’s finest role-playing games, and a truly excellent Star Wars experience. Like many BioWare games, it tells a story where your choices shape your character’s path, allowing you to play as a hero, a villain, or something in between.
The battle system is reminiscent of Final Fantasy 12, but without the automated Gambit system. While the explorable areas aren’t as large as those in typical MMOs, the game compensates by letting players travel to many different planets, creating a sense of a grand adventure with their team.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Keeping The Collaborations Live
Monster Hunter Wilds, like other games in the Monster Hunter series, is best enjoyed playing with friends online. Although it’s not a constantly-updated ‘live service’ game, Capcom regularly releases updates, including new monsters and collaborations with franchises like Final Fantasy.
The main story follows a set path, but players can take on optional side quests from a bounty board to earn materials for upgrading their character’s equipment. After finishing the story, you can customize your character’s appearance and show it off in online villages. However, you’ll only see other players if you team up with at least three friends.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Building Sci-Fi Momentum
The Xenoblade Chronicles games all feature combat similar to massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), where characters fight on their own while players time the use of special abilities. Xenoblade Chronicles X feels the most like a traditional MMO, as it’s the only game in the series where you can create your own character and play with others online.
The game world is expansive and easy to navigate, but its quests lack strong stories. Getting to the best parts of the game requires a lot of repetitive gameplay, similar to a traditional MMO. Players need to invest about twenty hours to unlock their Skell – a powerful mech – and that’s when the game truly shines. While the early hours can be a bit of a slog, unlocking the Skell transforms the experience from good to exceptional, though the initial grind might discourage some players.
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
World Of Warcraft’s Action-Based Spiritual Spinoff
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was originally intended as the first step towards a larger, online multiplayer game. The game’s world, conversations, and quests were all designed with that in mind, and it clearly drew inspiration from the popular online game, World of Warcraft.
The original plan for a massive online multiplayer game didn’t work out, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is still a fantastic single-player experience. What really stands out is the combat – it’s fast-paced and exciting. As an action RPG, the game lets you use tons of different weapons and abilities, and each one changes how you play, keeping every fight fresh and engaging.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Collecting Pawns
Although Dragon’s Dogma 2 is primarily an action game, it includes elements similar to massively multiplayer online games. You don’t play with friends directly, but you create a customizable companion called a Pawn and can share them online. This allows players to find and hire Pawns created by others, and you might even find a really strong one to join your adventure.
The game features a large world to explore, but it’s quite difficult – enemies are powerful and frequently appear in groups. The story isn’t particularly strong, and you won’t find many memorable characters; the focus is really on the experience of playing and discovering things yourself.
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2025-12-06 08:35