Ranking The Oldest MMORPGs (That Are Still Online Today)

Key Takeaways

• MMORPGs can be timeless if they have a dedicated fan base and continuous developer support.
• Unique gameplay mechanics and expansive worlds can keep players engaged for decades.
• Older MMOs may still have a significant impact on the genre, inspiring modern titles and trends.

It’s disheartening when a favorite MMORPG goes offline, and not just for the developers or investors. All the hours, effort, and money players have invested into the game seem to go to waste, and all of those great quests and missions, along with the compelling and detailed lore that make up the world, are lost forever.

If an MMO is popular or well-built enough, it may withstand the test of time. Some of these titles came out over twenty years ago now, when the genre was still in its infancy, but are still available to play even if they’re just in maintenance mode. Often the developers are still working on them even if it’s on a volunteer basis, trying to improve the player experience and add more to the game for those remaining loyal followers.

Updated August 26, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: It was new in the 1990s, but today, the concept of the MMORPG has been around for decades and dominated the gaming world of the early 21st century. After a period of saturation and decline, the younger generation is turning towards the classics for modern inspiration, while older gamers are enjoying modern graphics and better customization options.

22 EVE Online

Corporate Greed at A Galactic Level For 21 Years

This space exploration MMORPG is a great fit for sci-fi fans who want to get away from the traditional fantasy MMORPG setting. In EVE Online, the player pilots a starship and travels through various galaxies, leveling a character and building resources. Each account can create up to three characters with a choice between four unique races, the Amarr, Gallente, Minmatar, or Caldari.

EVE Online has enjoyed a steady increase in popularity, which improved even more in 2011 with a free-to-play version. The developers continue to work on this old online RPG game, releasing regular events for players.

21 Second Life

For 21 Years, The Objective Has Been Daily Life

This game is very much a staple in nineties fashion and style. Second Life is a much more basic game with a strong The Sims comparison. Players build and create characters, dress them up, style their hair, build their houses, and create and maintain their social life. Relationships can be forged with other players, and characters can explore a game world based on reality rather than fantasy.

Second Life is often referred to as an MMORPG, but many, including the game’s own developers, dispute this, stating that, “There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective.” Whether this makes it an MMO is up to the player and gaming community.

20 Dofus

In 20 Years, This French Game Has Never Seen A Global Release

Dofus was similar to other games of its time for its use of a high fantasy aesthetic with RPG elements. What made this one different, and maybe preserved its form and structure for so long, was that it was originally released in French and wasn’t translated or localized for some time.

Gamers in France often know this title and some of the lore of the Land of Twelve, a reference to the 12 gods that rule over this portion of a much larger media universe. Other games in this franchise include Dofus Arena, a tournament version of the original, and a sequel called Wakfu that came in both game and serialized anime form.

19 Ultima Online

It Was All About PvP Combat 26 Years Ago

This old MMO traces its origins to the Ultima game series, the first of which goes all the way back to 1981. Like EverQuest, Ultima Online focuses mainly on PVP combat and continues to cater to this popular market. Maybe back in the days before internet trolling it was easier to engage in friendly competition.

Although several expansion packs and updates have been released for the game including a new client in 2007 called Ultimate Online: Kingdom Reborn, which improved the game’s graphics, the developers have done their best to maintain the original spirit of the game.

18 Anarchy Online

A Unique Early Title That’s 22 Years Old

• Developed By: Funcom
• Designer: Gaute Godager
• Date Released: June 27, 2001

Released in 2001 and still going strong, part of the draw of Anarchy Online is the expansive, open world which is based on science fiction instead of the standard fantasy. This wasn’t just one of the first MMOs, either, it’s also one of the first online games to use a science fiction aesthetic and first-person shooter (FPS) instead of melee or magical combat.

There’s no endgame or instances in Anarchy Online, but a steady path of character progression through leveling skills and collecting a precious ore unique to this harsh planet. It’s a simple formula with complex potential that has lasted for 20 years so far.

17 Lineage 2

Impressive Graphics And An Immersive Storyline Since 2003

There’s been a resurgence in popularity for Lineage 2 recently, in part thanks to the publicity about its 18th anniversary. The game was released a year earlier in Korea than in North America, and it started the trend of distinctive KRPG MMOs that continues today with games like Lost Ark.

The Lineage 2 was one of the first MMOs when it was released, and it’s still popular, even if it didn’t get as much attention as its contemporaries. The game has been free to play since 2016 and is currently available on a variety of platforms.

16 Age of Conan: Unchained

A Successful Comic Book Adaptation That Dates From 2008

While this old MMO has declined in popularity in recent years, its servers are still alive and going. Age of Conan is inspired by the fantasy legend Conan the Barbarian. Set in Hyboria, the game follows an action-based combat system, where players design and build their characters in a traditional fantasy setting. The goal is to “tread in the footsteps” of Conan the Barbarian.

Age of Conan offers a free-to-play version, but must be fully unlocked by a subscription fee. The game has received some negative publicity for its portrayal of women and the revealing female armor, but it was generally well-received when it launched in the mid-2000s.

15 EverQuest

With Five Hundred In-Game Zones, It’s Lasted For 25 Years

Earlier this year EverQuest celebrated its 21st birthday, which is quite impressive for an MMORPG. Yet another MMORPG that uses the standard medieval European fantasy model, EverQuest is set in the world of Norrath and focuses mainly on PVP combat.

Given the length of time since its release, EverQuest offers players a lot of content, boasting five hundred in-game zones. There are sixteen classes to choose from and sixteen races, although fourteen of these are from the original game. The continued input from the developers to improve this old MMO shows that it won’t be ending any time soon.

14 Dark Age Of Camelot

A Modern Version Of An Old Legend That’s 25 Years Old

• Developed By: Mythic Entertainment and Broadsword Online Games
• Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
• Date Released: October 9, 2001

It is a dark time. The internet is still in its infancy, and it would be years before add-ons would even be invented. To put the age of this game into even sharper relief, Dark Age of Camelot is one of the oldest MMOs and was based on a text-based game called Darkness Falls: The Crusade from 1999. The game is currently free to play and is only available on PC.

That’s a nice parallel with how things were in Camelot in the time right after Arthur’s death, which is the era in which this historic MMORPG is based. The realm is broken into three different factions that are in a constant state of civil war, a concept that future MMOs would emulate and interpret for their own settings.

13 The 4th Coming

A Medieval Adventure For 25 Years

• Developed By: Vircom Interactive
• Designers: Jean Carrieres and Francis Lahaie
• Date Released: May 11, 1999

Arakas, Raven’s Dust, and Stoneheim are the three islands that make up the mythical land of Althea, where adventurers await the coming of a prophesied event known only as the 4th Coming. Players start with a human character and customize them with physical characteristics and attributes. These points are distributed by asking questions and adding skills or features based on the player’s answers, rather than the player making a conscious choice.

The 4th Coming is one of the oldest MMORPGs that’s still both playable and online, but thanks to some drama in the early years regarding distribution rules as well as some privacy complaints, it never had a wide release or a big, expensive PR campaign. Today, the game is owned and maintained by Dialsoft, who acquired the property from Vircom in 2006.

12 Cabal Online

Dark Horror And Romance Since 2008

• Developed By: ESTsoft Corp.
• Published By: ESTsoft Inc.
• Date Released: October 2005

This game originated with South Korean gaming company ESTsoft in 2005, where it was available on PC, but it wasn’t free to play until its international release in 2008. Many different versions of Cabal Online exist depending on where in the world the game is running, which is one of the reasons it’s been able to survive all this time and mostly fly under the radar.

The game is a typical fantasy RPG in some respects, but the website is for mature players only, as some of the dark horror and romance options might not be suitable for younger players. It’s worth a look just for the fluid combat, which was fairly new at the time but was eventually adopted by virtually all MMOs and stand-alone RPGs.

11 World of Warcraft

Defining The Genre Since 2004

Arguably the most popular and well-known MMORPG of all time, World of Warcraft is a fantasy-themed MMORPG in which players choose a race for their character and skill specification according to their class. It made gaming more accessible to casual players who wanted something more forgiving than the other MMOs of the era, which could be difficult to learn.

Several changes have been made in the years since 2004, and their legacy lives on in the gamer debate. In 2019, the developers released World of Warcraft Classic, set in the original 2004 game world. Meanwhile, the retail version has revitalized its gameplay and storyline with more recent expansions and ongoing patches.

10 The Lord of the Rings Online

Going On 17 Years Online For This Famous Fantasy

Middle-Earth is the perfect basis for an open-world MMORPG, so it is surprising that one wasn’t made until 2007. The game was originally behind a paywall in the form of a regular subscription, but a free version was released in 2010.

When starting The Lord of the Rings Online, players choose a race for their character and a class based on the ones from Tolkien’s work. Classes include Burglar, Beornling, Hunter, Champion, Lore-Master, and Warden. The game features several quests and areas from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as building several original regions inspired by Tolkien’s work.

9 Dungeons & Dragons Online

A 2006 Adaptation Of The World’s Favorite TTRPG

Almost every RPG owes something to the Dungeons & Dragons universe, and naturally, the vast video game library based on the franchise would include an old online RPG. The development and distribution teams have changed over the years, which is partly why the game has also been called Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach and Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited.

The gameplay is based on D&D 3.5 rules and takes place in the world of Eberron. Players who have experienced the tabletop game will recognize some familiar places and settings as they progress through this old MMO. Dungeons & Dragons Online was also an important release that showed that the free-to-play model could work.

8 RuneScape

The Road To Many MMOs For 23 Years

This game has a bit of a mixed reputation. While it can prompt eye-rolling from some gamers, RuneScape has always been incredibly popular. Virtually every gamer has played this old online RPG game at one time or another.

RuneScape is a fantasy MMORPG set in the world of Gielinor. Unlike most MMORPGs, players don’t choose a race or skill set. All players are human and can train in a variety of skills which affect the character’s stats in some way. RuneScape’s popularity came from its being very accessible, with a restricted but fulfilling free-to-play world, and being able to run on almost every PC.

7 Mabinogi

A Relic Of 2006 Hand-Painted And Inspired By Ancient Myth

• Developed By: devCAT
• Published By: Nexon Korea
• Date Released: March 27, 2008

Mabinogi is also the title of a famous work of Welsh mythology, and the lore and setting of the game are inspired by the legends and stories in the same anthology. The artwork is mostly hand-painted, with some CGI touches, and the innovative result is one of the reasons this game still has a dedicated fan-following and server population almost twenty years after its initial release.

Despite its popularity, publisher Nexon Korea determined that running servers worldwide was a losing proposition. Anyone outside of South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, North America, Oceania, or Israel might have to use a VPN to experience Mabinogi in the present day, but it might be worth it anyway.

6 MapleStory (2003)

Character Customization That Was Ahead Of Its Time Even In 2003

This old MMO includes both side-scrolling levels and areas where players can interact. MapleStory was one of the first MMORPGs to offer a large number of choices when it came to character customization, which explains its popularity.

MapleStory was also poised to break new ground when games for Andriod became a lucrative trend, another one of the features that have assured its longevity. Several local versions also exist, making the game a worldwide phenomenon in recent years and poised to continue expanding.

5 Wurm Online

18 Years Of Old School Crafting And Cooperation

• Developed By: Code Club AB
• Designed By: Rolf Jansson and Markus Persson
• Date Released: 2006

Almost 20 years after its initial release, this game is currently available on Steam in all its old-school Java-generated glory. It has most of the trappings and details of modern games, such as different servers that players can choose from and a detailed crafting system, two features that were new at the time.

Wurm Online was originally developed in Sweden by some friends in Motala, Sweden, and emphasizes trade skills like blacksmithing along with individual and region-level PvP. The game has a high learning curve, so it’s not the ideal choice for beginners unless they really want to jump into the deep end.

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3 Final Fantasy 11 Online

Broke The Glass Console Ceiling For MMOs 22 Years Ago

MMORPGs based on already popular games and game worlds don’t always live up to expectations. Final Fantasy 11 Online proves that an old MMO installment can become as popular as other additions to the series and stay relevant.

Final Fantasy 11 was created by the same developers as the rest of the series, Square Enix. It also broke ground as the first MMORPG to step out of PC, releasing on PlayStation 2 and XBOX. Add-ons and expansions have been added to the game since its release, and today the game servers only run on desktop computers.