The Top Four Best MMORPG and MMOFPS Games Available
There are a huge number of MMO games competing for your attention these days. The list at MMORPG.com now has over 275 upcoming and post-release games. With so many choices, it can be a bit overwhelming for a gamer seeking just one game to devote their free hours to. Fortunately, Bright Hub is here for you. Here, separated by genre, are some of the best games in the MMO world.
Best Fantasy MMORPG: World of Warcraft
I’m not going to spend time detailing sales figures or subscriber base numbers to show that WoW is the top game in the MMORPG genre, that’s a topic for another article. Instead, I’ll just offer an overview and invite those who are interested to go download the game’s 14-day free trial.
World of Warcraft is a MMORPG set in the medieval world of Azeroth. Players choose between two factions, horde and alliance, and make their way through the world completing quests and battling through instances as one of WoW’s ten unique classes. PvP and tradeskills are among the many diversions that expand the experience. World of Warcraft is a very addictive game, so much so that the FCC commissioner recently named it as a leading cause of college dropouts.
The recent Wrath of the Lich King expansion propelled the game to new heights. The game world is now even more massive, players can choose to play the very popular Death Knight hero class, and new PvP options abound, including the massive siege-based combat of Lake Wintergrasp.
With the recent announcement of the Cataclysm expansion, one that will radically reshape the world of Azeroth, I think it’s safe to say that WoW will remain atop this genre for quite some time.
Best Comic Book MMORPG: Champions Online
Building off the success of their first game, Cryptic Studios released Champions Online in September 2009. With significantly more variety in gameplay and content than the 5 year old City of Heroes, it is easy to choose a winner for this category.
To hit a few highlights:
The overall feeling of playing a super hero has been achieved. It remains to be seen if they will ruin it with nerfs or the lack of a full retcon system, so only time will tell.
Gear is implemented quite well considering the difficulty of adding such a feature to super heroes.
Action packed gameplay! The XBOX 360 controller is unofficially supported, and it is easy to see why. While keyboard and mouse are still the superior way to play, the console controller is not too shabby. The style of combat is very action, run-and-gun oriented and is a lot of fun.
Design your own nemesis! You get to use the full costume creator to design your nemesis. You are then randomly attacked by its henchmen, and occasionally have missions against your nemesis. You can eventually jail him or her, and move on to a new nemesis. The system is great and really adds major super hero charm to the game.
Community management is noticeably superior compared to most MMOs. The community management people are engaged with the players, and it is evident that there is real communication between them and the developers. The information flow is quite good in both directions, which helps keep players informed.
Check out page two for more great game picks, including our choices for best Sci Fi MMORPG and best MMOFPS.
Best Sci-Fi MMORPG: Eve Online
Eve Online is probably the best example of a true sandbox MMORPG. There are no player classes or strictly-defined skill sets in Eve. Players are free to train in any skill they have the means to acquire. There is also no experience point grind in the space-themed MMO; players select skills which train automatically in real time, even when not logged in.
Ship customization takes the place of character tweaking in Eve Online. Players choose from a plethora of ship designs, then install the components of their choosing. A ship decked out for mining is quite different than one equipped for battle.
Eve has a dynamic economy which gives unprecedented levels of control to the players themselves. Unlike more traditional MMOs, player actions can truly make a difference in this game.
One more amazing feature that sets Eve Online apart from the competition is the fact that all expansions are released free of charge.
Best MMOFPS: Planetside
Planetside is a game that’s had its problems, I admit, but when it’s good, it’s simply the best MMOFPS on the market.
Players in Planetside enter into a three-way global conflict. Battles rage over the entire surface of the planet Auraxis. As your character grows in rank you add combat certifications which grant access to more advanced infantry weaponry, ground vehicles and air vehicles, or advanced suits of mechanical armor.
No two players in Planetside are the same, and the game’s first-person shooter-style gameplay is visceral and fast paced. Any action game fan would do well to give it a try.
World of Warcraft, Champions Online, Eve Online, and Planetside represent the best their respective genres have to offer. Taken collectively, they represent the absolute cream of the MMO crop. These five games are truly the best MMOs available today. For more on any of these great games, be sure to check out additional articles in the MMO Channel.
