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The alluring thing about MMOs is their neverending worlds that just keep getting bigger with every new expansion. From medieval theme park games with whimsical creatures to worlds harboring fantasy races and a few that allow you to create fashion models instead of adventurers, there’s one for different types of players. While there are many MMOs you can call your home in 2025, we’ve decided to recommend the best 10 that we believe will remain relevant and full of top-notch content throughout the year.
10. Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online has remained consistent with its updates and playable content, but 2025 will mark a huge change for this MMO. ESO will move away from the annual expansion model and focus on seasonal releases, which, according to the last Studio Director’s Letter, will last for three or six months. These seasons will include story content, events, store items, and more. The shift to, as the article puts it, bite-sized pieces of content might worry a few. However, others are eager to see what type of content the developers release and how the MMO will evolve with it.
For those who haven’t played this MMO yet, it is pretty enjoyable. Questing is great and fully voiced, the areas are brimming with things to discover, the housing system is one of the best in the market, and the class mechanics are pretty good and highly customizable. Plus, anyone joining in 2025 will have a lot of content to catch up on, and the best is that you buy it once and you don’t have to subscribe to it unless you want the extra content, which is not necessary at all.
9. Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online might be more famous on the other side of the pond, but it holds a steady playerbase around here. While it is extremely grindy, it offers a lot of fun things, with its combat standing as one of the best things about this MMO. Each class feels unique to play, and the animations behind each move are extremely flashy. Plus, the game pumps out new classes constantly, so there’s always something new to try.
However, the most remarkable thing about it is its visual style, which eclipses that of many other MMOs, even new ones in 2025. And we’re not talking about the landscapes only. Character models are gorgeous, and the character creator is quite deep, so you can experiment as much as you want and create the most magnificent protagonist ever.
8. World of Warcraft Classic
While we could place all versions of World of Warcraft in one entry, Classic deserves its own spot. Why is it so far behind the list? Well, since some of us have already played the many iterations of WoW throughout the years, and even if the game is “restarting” everything with the anniversary servers, there’s really nothing much to it other than the dose of nostalgia. However, new players might find it highly enjoyable, especially now that it is heading toward Mists of Pandaria.
Another thing that is worth checking is the unique Season of Discovery servers, which will sadly end their seasonal content soon, but there’s a lot to do in them in the meantime. It feels like the Classic Plus many have been asking for, so that’s worth trying. However, the retail version of WoW feels a bit better for once.
7. Throne and Liberty
Throne and Liberty is in a weird spot in 2025, at least compared to other MMOs. It had a great start due to its combat mechanics, gorgeous character models, somewhat enjoyable story, and large-scale PvP content. However, it’s been losing players daily. You just need to take a look at SteamDB to see how fast the game is bleeding. Yet, it doesn’t mean the game is dying.
The developers are pumping out updates and listening to some of the players’ feedback. The biggest complaint about it is the huge focus on PvP content, and some players just wish they could do more PvE-oriented things. But as long as you find a large guild, you should be able to enjoy the chaotic PvP content that Throne and Liberty is known for.
6. New World Aeternum
With the latest Aeternum update, New World regained its popularity, and with good reason. The new player experience is better, combat isn’t floaty anymore, the story has a bit more coherence, and overall, the experience for any type of player has vastly improved. Yet, many veterans feel that the game only got a new coat of paint and re-launched, and well, yes, that’s the case in a way.
However, there’s a lot to do in New World, and the buy-once-play-forever model is an attractive offer. You’ll get the full game plus all the expansions that have launched. Also, a lot of people have compared it to RuneScape‘s crafting and gathering, which isn’t that bad of a comparison. Yet, it lacks the depth of RuneScape‘s questing and immersion. Still, it is a good MMO worth visiting in 2025.
5. RuneScape 3
While many opt for OSRS, RuneScape 3 is the modern version of the game, which gets more constant updates. A lot of people are against it due to the pay-to-win model it’s received in past years. Plus, certain decisions regarding its optional subscription model have raised a few eyebrows. Still, we believe RuneScape 3 holds an unmatched questing experience that is worth paying for.
Combat can be a bit confusing for some players jumping from Old School, and the design behind it isn’t the best in the market. However, this is one of the few MMOs that really make you feel like an adventurer. Just for the questing alone, this one deserves to be in the top five MMOs we recommend playing this year.
4. Old School RuneScape
Old School RuneScape shares many things with its modern counterpart, but it is definitely superior. Many will say that the big difference is how grindy Old School is compared to RS3, where you can skip almost everything by paying. Yet, that’s the beauty of it. There’s something alluring about creating everything from scratch and trading with other players.
Despite being the “old” version, it still gets a few updates with new things that do not tamper with the original experience that much. Ultimately, you have to pick between these two and balance what you prefer more: a flashy experience in RS3 or a grindy old-looking adventure like in OSRS; you can’t go wrong either way.
3. Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 received a major expansion back in August 2024 and another major content update in November 2024. In truth, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag. But that doesn’t mean it’s been bad. Out of all the “free” MMOs out there, Guild Wars 2 is at the top of every other in terms of content, immersion, class design, world activities, and even narrative. It may falter a bit on the latter, but it offers so many great things that everyone has to play it at least once.
The great thing about this game is that even in its base form, which is free, you’re getting a lot of terrific content. If you decide to purchase the expansions, you’ll get even more things for your classes, many gorgeous and huge zones to explore, and one of the market’s best mount systems ever made. Plus, it seems there’s a new expansion coming in 2025, so now’s the best time to jump into GW2.
2. Final Fantasy 14
Normally, we’d put FFXIV at the top of the list, but these past months have been rough. Let’s start by saying this: yes, Dawntrail has been a bumpy road. However, everything before it is flawless. FFXIV relies heavily on its storytelling aspects, and the road from A Realm Reborn to Endwalker is worth experiencing. Plus, it has some of the best free trials any MMO has seen, and we don’t think that’ll change in 2025.
As a general recommendation, always try the free trial and then decide if you want to jump into Shadowbringers and beyond, which, trust us, is more than worth it. Also, another thing we love about this game is how you can have everything in one character, including all classes, which makes creating alts unnecessary. At the moment, FFXIV is going through its post-Dawntrail content, which, while a bit underwhelming, could always get better in the upcoming patches.
1. World of Warcraft
Lo and behold, the legendary MMO takes the 2025 crown for now. WoW is standing strong thanks to the release of The War Within, which brought a lot of great endgame content, fantastic hero talents, and a strong start to the World Soul saga. Furthermore, it is preparing for its 11.1 patch, which promises to be huge.
Before, we stayed away from WoW due to Shadowlands taking things in the worst possible directions. However, World of Warcraft has slowly risen from the ashes ever since Dragonflight launched, and it seems the MMO will hold on to that momentum to continue being one of the best MMOs of the year. You have to subscribe to it to play and buy the expansions, but with so much to do, it is worth jumping into Azeroth now more than ever.
