MMORPGs or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games are the biggest phenomenon today in the world of PC, console, and eventually mobile gaming. A MMORPG provides a persistent world for hundreds to thousands of gamers at once. Updates for each game, in the form of new content and bug fixes, occur on somewhat of a regular basis. In return for this ongoing service, these games usually charge $10 to $15 per month on top of any price that was paid online or at a retail store for the actual game.   

Free MMORPGs 
See which MMORPGs do not charge a subscription fee.  

MMORPGs in Beta
Massively multiplayer games that have not been launched commercially yet. Some of these games are still accepting beta testers, while others are performing closed testing.

MMORPG Trials 
Find out which MMORPGs allow you to try before you buy. 

List of MMORPGs

A Tale In The Desert 5
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $13.95 per month.
Download: Yes
Instead of combat, you have to make an impact in this online world by managing workshops and factories.

Aces High Graphics: 3D Subscription Fee: $14.95 after trial. Download: Yes Engage in an intense air combat MMOG. Age of Conan  Graphics: 3D Subscription Fee: $14.99 per month. Download: Retail Combines multiplayer and single player experiences into one brutal fantasy MMO.

Aion
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Fantasy MMO from NCsoft about an ethereal world with angels, demons, and dragons. In addition to players being able to fly with wings, Aion uses a combination of PvP and PvE known as PvPvE.

Anarchy Online
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: Various
Download: Yes
Tired of fantasy MMORPGs? Then check out the best 3D science fiction persistent world.

Ashen Empires
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $6 premium account with a free area.
Download: Yes
Massively multiplayer game formerly known as Dransik.

Asheron's Call  
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $12.95 per month.
Download: Yes and/or retail
One of the first major MMORPGs. Continues to run despite a failed sequel.

Astonia 3 
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $9.95
Download: Yes
Fantasy-based MMORPG that focuses exclusively (player-character wise) on warriors and mages.

Champions Online
Graphics: 3D
Item Mall: No
Download: No 
Superhero MMO with amazing customization options by Cryptic Studios.

City of Heroes - Game Lair
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Did you like Freedom Force? If you did, then you should love this Super Hero MMORPG. Definitely one of the better online games not in the usual fantasy setting. 

City of Villians
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Sequel/expansion to City of Heroes that allows heroes to battle villains in PvP mode. 

Dark Age of Camelot
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $12.95
Download: Yes and Retail
One of the most popular massive online games. Three realms battle each other in the days after King Arthur.

Dark Ages  
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $9.99
Download: Yes
Be a warrior, priest, wizard, rogue, or monk in a cartoon graphics multiplayer game that is based on Celtic mythology.  

Darkfall
Graphics: 3D
Item Mall: No
Download: Yes 
MMORPG that was highly anticipated for years. Players shape the gaming world.

Dark Space
Graphics:
Subscription Fee: $9.99
Download: Yes
MMOG that features plenty of space combat.

DC Universe Online
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Yes. 
Super hero MMORPG with well-loved heroes and villains such as Batman, the Joker, Superman, and Flash.

Dungeon and Dragons Online
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Retail
A dream game for any old school RPGer. Now offers a free version.

EVE Online 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Yes and Retail
You are a spaceship captain where you fight, trade, and communicate with other players. 

EverQuest - Game Lair
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $12.95
Download: Retail
One of the top franchises in MMO gaming.  

EverQuest II - Game Lair
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Look for this long awaited sequel to be one of the top 3 MMORPGs for years to come. 

Final Fantasy XI - Game Lair
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $12.95
Download: Retail
One of the best MMORPGs to be released in the last couple of years.

Helbreath  
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $9.95
Download: Yes
Massive online game from Korea where two fantasy cities are at war. Recently moved to a pay-to-play model. 

Irth Online
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $13.95
Download: Yes
Fantasy MMOG with a free-form based storyline.

Istaria
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $13.95
Download: Yes and Retail
Istaria looks absolutely breathtaking and allows gamers to play as dragons in addition to the usual playable fantasy races like elves and dwarves. 

Jumpgate 
Graphics: Yes
Subscription Fee: $9.95
Download: Yes
A combination of role-playing and space simulation.

Legend of Mir  
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $10.73
Download: Yes
Fantasy MMORPG with an Oriental twist. 

Legend of Mir 3 
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $10.00
Download: Yes
Continues the series with a substantially larger world. 

Lineage  
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $15.00
Download: Yes
At one time, this was the world's most popular MMORPG. Lineage and its sequel dominates Asia (largely Korea), which has a substantially larger user base of MMORPGs than the U.S. 

Lineage II
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Lineage sequel with beautiful graphics. Unlike the original, Lineage 2 is available in the U.S. from its very beginning. 

Lord of The Rings Online  
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
The only official MMO based on The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books.

The Matrix Online  
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Jack into one of the premier movie franchises.  

Meridian 59 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $10.95
Download: Yes
One of the very first MMORPGs ever, but it never really caught on the way that Ultima Online and then EverQuest did. 

Neocron 2 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $9.99
Download: Yes
Sequel to one of the first truly controversial MMOs. 

Phantasy Star Universe 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $9.99
Download: Retail
MMORPG of the famous console series that has both online and offline components.

Pirates of the Burning Sea 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Pirate-themed MMO where every character has their own story and four different sides (Britain, Spain, France, and Pirates) fight over ports PvP-style.

Ragnarok Online 
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $12.00
Download: Yes
Cartoon-style MMORPG based on Ragnarok written by Myung-Jin Lee.

Rift 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $15.00
Download: Yes
One of the most polished MMORPGs since World of Warcraft. 

Runescape - Game Lair
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $5.00
Download: Yes
Fantasy MMORPG that caters to gamers with low-end PCs and a small budget for gaming.

The Chronicles of Spellborn
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $15.00
Download: Yes 
Fantasy MMO made with the Unreal Engine. Quests focus on the game's story. In addition, TCOS combines PvP and PvE well.

The Realm Online
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $4.95
Download: Yes
Another Cartoon-style MMORPG. Operated first by Sierra and then Codemasters, The Realm is now under the control of Norseman Games. The Realm is one of the cheaper MMORPGs.

The Saga of Ryzom 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Yes and Retail
Player-driven MMORPG with lush graphics.

Savage Eden 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $8.95
Download: Yes
Action oriented MMO with such 3D graphics.  

The Secret World
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Yes
Blends elements of MMO gameplay with alternate-reality gaming and social networking. 

Star Trek Online
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Captain your own space ship and engage in both space and ground combat.  

Star Wars Galaxies - Game Lair
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Explore the vaunted Star Wars universe in a persistent world. 

ToonTown Online 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $9.95
Download: Yes and Retail
Disney MMORPG that allows for a much younger audience (7 and up). Instead of swords and axes, this weapons of choice in this game include cream pies, seltzer water, and flower pots. 

Ultima Online 
Graphics: 2D
Subscription Fee: $12.99
Download: Retail
One the oldest and deepest MMORPGs on the Internet. While Meridian 59 stumbled out of the gates, UO was able to capitalize on its fan base from the vaunted Ultima franchise.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes 
Graphics: Yes
Subscription Fee: $14.99
Download: Retail
Looks to shake up the MMO genre with stellar graphics and gameplay, while solving some of the genre's biggest issues like player camping and server downtime. 

Vendetta Online 
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $9.99
Download: Yes
Sci-Fi MMORPG where you play a space pilot who can take on NPCs or other players in real-time combat. 

Warhammer Online
Graphics: Yes
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Retail 
Based on the popular tabletop war game and developed by Mythic Entertainment. This highly anticipated game could develop into a leading MMO for PvP combat. 

World of WarCraft - Game Lair
Graphics: Yes
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Retail
The current 800-pound gorilla of the MMORPG genre. 

World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade  
Graphics: Yes
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Retail
Most anticipated expansion pack for a MMORPG yet. Expands World of Warcraft by raising the level cap, adding 2 new races, adding new lands and dungeons to explore, and much more.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Graphics: Yes
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Retail
Second expansion pack for WoW. Expands the game further by adding the new continent of Northrend, epic siege warfare, and a new hero class.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Graphics: 3D
Subscription Fee: $14.95
Download: Retail
The latest expansion for World of Warcraft. Cataclym "breaks" the game world in order to provide a fresh look.