Top 6 online RPG games to play

Role Playing Games (RPGs) have always been super fun to play and very immersive. Most games almost always have something to do from the main story to side missions and more. Since the 2000s, there has been a massive scaling up in RPGs with many of them going online and spawning an entirely new genre: MMORPGs.

Still, there are many great RPGs you can play offline. Multiplayer though has seen a lot of success and many games which are now decades old are still going hot. If you're curious about the best online RPG games to play, here is a list of 6 games that are considered some of the best.

#6 Maplestory 2

Initial Release Date: 7 July 2015

Available on: PC

MapleStory 2 is a cute little RPG developed by Korean developers Nexon. The original MapleStory was made in 2003 and it was an online RPG game but it was a 2D side scroller. MapleStory 2 introduces the 3D element and a little more complexity to the game.

Fight monsters, fish for food, travel across multile maps and compete against other players in a PvP environment. MapleStory and MapleStory 2 received huge upgrades in 2015, which was famously called the "Big Bang" update.

#5 The Elder Scrolls: Online

Initial Release Date: 4 April 2014

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One

The massively popular Elder Scrolls series goes online with The Elder Scrolls: Online. Set in the contient of Tamriel, there are loose connections between many of the older Elder Scrolls games.

You can choose from 10 races and six classes, each having their own pros and cons. You can free roam the continent, do quests to level up as well participate in many events that are held.

The game still holds up really well after almost 6 years. The volume of the content and the gameplay makes this game among the best online RPG games.

#4 EVE: Online

Initial Release Date: 6 May 2003

Available on: PC

EVE: Online is a space-based online RPG game. The setting of the game is 21,000 years after humanity where humans have colonized space for resources and were left abandoned on another side of the universe. There are multiple things you can do such as mining, trading, piracy, PvP and PvE combat and more.

The game is almost two decades old but is still considered one of the best online RPG games of our time and it is still going strong. There have been many space battles and events that were considered some of the most devastating and expensive in gaming history.

The shared universe is really large and there are still so many things you can do. Although the game can be a bit complex, it is incredibly fun and addictive when you learn the mechanics.

#3 Guild Wars 2

Initial Release Date: 28 August 2012

Available on: PC

Guild Wars 2 is a very unique take on the online RPG genre. The game features a storyline where your decisions have an impact on the story as you progress. It also features a randomized events that replace "quests" which you normally find in traditional RPG games.

The combat system is pretty well designed too. Your combat depends on your professions and you can also use the environment to your advantage against enemies. You can choose from five races and eight professions and your choice will largely affect your gameplay style too.

With a low complexity, unique environments and a fun PvE and PvP environment, Guild Wars 2 is one of the best online RPG games you can play.

#2 Runescape

Initial Release Date: 4 January 2001

Available on: PC, Android, iOS

Good old Runescape. Runescape was one of the most popular online RPG games to exist. 19 years later, the game has received several updates to the game engine and gameplay. Fans of the old school Runescape (aka 2007 scape) can also play the old game which was revived by popular demand.

Runescape has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest and most frequently updated MMORPG with over 200 million accounts. After you create your character, Runescape allows you to explore the world freely whichever way you feel like.

You can fight monsters, hunt, gather resources, engage in combat, complete quests, upgrade your skills and much more. You can also trade with other players, play mini-games with them, chat with them or do quests together.

There is so much to do in this game and that is why people are still playing almost 2 decades later. Runescape is also free-to-play so it is very easy to join but may take some time to learn.

#1 World of Warcraft

Initial Release Date: 23 November 2004

Available on: PC

After the success of Warcraft III, Blizzard decided to make the Warcraft universe in an MMORPG style. Since then, there have been seven expansions with an 8th on the way in 2020. For the old school World of Warcraft lovers, Blizzard has released World of Warcraft: Classic in a remastered fashion which takes you back to the original game before 2007.

World of Warcraft features a very rich story which is considered one of the best storylines in gaming history. But even if you are a casual player, it is still enjoyable. Choose between two rival factions: The Alliance and The Horde and choose a race and class to play with.

The world is extremely large, especially since it took so much time to develop. You can level up, gear up for better gameplay, specialize with your class, get professions which help your class or for money and so much more.

There are an endless number of things to do in World of Warcraft and many joke about how playing the game is essentially "having a second job". World of Warcraft works on a subscription basis, where there is a fixed fee every month in order to play. The latest expansions will need to be bought separately for a $60 price tag but they become free with the subscription after 2 years or so.

Edited by Prasen Moudgal