Released in 2004, World of Warcraft brought new meaning to the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre. Even about 20 years later, the game still boasts millions of active players.

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There is never a shortage of things to do in World of Warcraft, yet players might want alternatives after grinding hundreds and possibly thousands of hours. The most elite players have spent potentially years across multiple characters (and usually accounts). Fans looking for alternatives should try out these games for a challenge outside World of Warcraft.

Updated June 16, 2024 by Mark Sammut: World of Warcraft is eternal, but a change of pace can be nice every once in a while. Consequently, a few more games like WoW were added to this article.

16 New World

Fun Action, Decent PvP

Those looking for a unique type of MMORPG may want to consider diving into New World. This release from Amazon Games has developed a bit of a cult following, with many players still logging in daily to play through the massively multiplayer online release. Those looking for something a bit more action-heavy compared to World of Warcraft should enjoy New World's unique combat.

Players are free to enjoy the adventure as they see fit, working on building up their character to dish out major damage or simply working on collecting items and other useful things to sell on the marketplace. With a booming PvP scene and lots of things to uncover and craft, New World can be a lot of fun for MMORPG players looking for something off the beaten path or to play a healer.

15 Guild Wars 2

A Classic Online RPG That Keeps On Giving

Guild Wars 2 is a pretty unique MMO that many fans have grown to love. Its steady stream of content updates means that players can jump back into the experience and enjoy a wealth of new content to explore, which is especially entertaining with a group of friends.

The sheer number of things to do in this game is mind-boggling and will ensure that players can sink hundreds of hours into the game without feeling even slightly bored. Guild Wars 2 is a massive achievement that shows just how much the MMO landscape has evolved with its innovative mechanics.

14 Valheim

Familiar But Wildly Different

In truth, Valheim and WoW share very few things in common. The former is a crafting and survival game that focuses on PvE. Players will spend most of their time exploring biomes in search of resources they can use to develop their bases and craft better items. It is a straightforward concept that works very well, and Valheim is one of those releases that can easily consume someone's life for months on end. Despite combat being fairly prominent, the early-access game is surprisingly relaxing, and players are generally encouraged to do their own thing. Co-op is also supported.

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So, Valheim is a different beast than Warcraft; however, it can deliver a comparable feel to Blizzard's MMO, even if its components are different. They both present immersive worlds that players can get happily lost in, and their controls and movements are somewhat similar too.

13 Destiny 2

For FPS Fans

A multiplayer looter-shooter that is absolutely brimming with content, Destiny 2 is a game that needs no introduction. This title is essentially a perfect sequel that improves on all the mechanics of its predecessor, and a free-to-play version is available for newcomers who are not sure if they want to invest in the expansions.

As a result, the volume of content in Destiny 2 is off the charts, with the weapons in this game being quite fresh and engaging to use. Suffice it to say, fans who love World of Warcraft and want to combine its gameplay elements with that of a robust first-person shooter will be more than well-serviced by the uninhibited brilliance of Destiny 2. Players who are on the fringe when it comes to such titles should definitely give Destiny 2 a chance — they won't be disappointed in the slightest.

12 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Vibrant World, Accessible Combat

Kingdoms of Amalur has had an interesting life. Originally released in 2012, the action RPG garnered a mostly positive reception thanks to its versatile hack and slash combat, which was arguably among the genre's best at the time. However, behind-the-scenes issues caused the game to disappear for a few years, at least until a remaster was published in 2020. The latter even received an expansion.

A single-player experience, Kingdoms of Amalur takes place in Faelands, a vibrant realm that does just enough to differentiate itself from most other fantasy kingdoms. While the story is nothing amazing, the gameplay is a great deal of fun, even if it does feel a bit dated by modern standards.

11 Final Fantasy 14

Perhaps The Best MMORPG On The Market?

The initial release of Final Fantasy 14 was nothing short of a disaster. However, Square Enix had the hindsight to pull the plug on this title and re-release it after all the kinks were sorted out. The result was Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, one of the greatest MMORPGs of all time. It fixed almost everything wrong in the previous iteration, with its expansions being universally beloved by fans. Players seeking out games like World of Warcraft will certainly be well-serviced by this title.

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Now, it should be said that while both games fall under the general MMORPG bracket, they are not actually all that similar in terms of gameplay and mechanics. FF14 shines in its storytelling, slower-paced combat, job combo build variety, housing system, and a less intensive endgame. These elements combine to create a gameplay loop that feels very different from WoW, with neither project being necessarily better than the other. They are also both significant time sinks.

10 Divinity: Original Sin 2

A CRPG Masterpiece

Larian Studios crowd-funded this now smash-hit top-down RPG in their Divinity series. But this game takes place long after the events of the first Original Sin title. It places players as a custom character or one of 6 pre-made people with unique stories and plenty of ways to derail the main narrative.

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The game harbors hundreds of choices from what order to do quests to whether or not that Magister who spoke down to the player lives to see nightfall. WoW players are likely to love Divinity: Original Sin 2's soundtrack, great visuals, and captivating world lore.

9 Neverwinter

Dated But Not Without Charm

Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter has been around since the early 2010s, and Crytic's free-to-play MMORPG has had an up-and-down life since then. While "new" compared to WoW, Neverwinter is cut from the same cloth as Blizzard's eternal project, especially in terms of quest design and combat. Containing 12 playable races and an array of classes, the MMO gives players a respectable range of customization options to allow them to craft the hero best suited for them.

Although grinding is undoubtedly part of the overall package, Neverwinter provides a decent entry-level experience by streamlining the main campaign's early hours, permitting new players to reach the level cap quite quickly. However, once that point is reached, the focus shifts to item level, which is quite a time investment.

8 Xenoblade Chronicles Games

MMO-Style Combat In Single-Player Experiences

• 	Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition	Xenoblade Chronicles 2	Xenoblade Chronicles 3	Xenoblade Chronicles X
  Platform(s)	Switch	Switch	Switch	Wii U
  Released	2020-05-29	2017-12-01	2022-07-29	2015-12-04
  Developer(s)	Monolith Soft	Monolith Soft	Monolith	Nintendo SPD, Monolith Soft
  Genre(s)	RPG	RPG	RPG	Open-World, Action RPG

No single-player project can scratch the same itch as World of Warcraft. Much of the latter's appeal rests on its multiplayer and community, and solo titles cannot replicate that element. However, a few developers have tried to translate the MMO blueprint into a standard single-player campaign, and none have arguably done it better than Monolith Soft. The Xenoblade Chronicles games are ambitious open-world RPGs that (usually) tell engrossing stories while featuring combat systems that gradually layer a billion mechanics on top of each other.

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While some entries are more divisive than others, they are all fantastic in their own right, including the underappreciated Wii U spin-off, Xenoblade Chronicles X. Newcomers who are not sure where to start should go with either Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition or Xenoblade Chronicles 3. The former is an all-time classic, while the latter represents the series at its most accessible since it actually explains its battle system in a way that makes sense.

7 Grim Dawn

Great Combat, Great Loot

Another dungeon crawler like Diablo, this game expounds upon the genre with dozens of possible builds. It might not be an MMORPG, but the game's breadth of content isn't exactly lacking. It's a nice alternative for MMO players who want something a bit more personal.

Though a fantastic co-op game, Grim Dawn makes for a challenging and fun solo game, as well. It's a little less hardcore than Path of Exile, too, so players who might be new to the genre or hesitant to pay a subscription fee for an MMORPG can get their feet wet.

6 Black Desert

Really Fun Combat & Gorgeous World

Black Desert is established as a cornerstone of the MMORPG sphere, and it is even set to get a successor in Crimson Desert. While waiting for the latter to become a reality, newcomers can jump into Peal Abyss' active game, which is not free-to-play but is regularly on sale for very low prices. Now, it should be noted that Black Desert and WoW are wildly different experiences, and fans of the latter should only check out the former if they are craving a change of pace. More importantly, the endgame is entirely devoted to grinding gear and can be a money sink, so ignore this one if that does not sound remotely appealing.

Black Desert shines in two main areas: combat and graphics. The world is arguably among the most beautiful in the genre, and the game's high production value is evident throughout the campaign. The combo-driven combat system is flashy and exciting as it leans into character action territory, and it is more than enjoyable enough to keep someone entertained while they are grinding to level 60.

5 RuneScape

An Eternal MMORPG

Whether players choose to play OldSchool RuneScape or the new RuneScape, there is much incentive to get into this free-to-play game. It's one of those games with a subscription option, but it's not required. OldSchool RuneScape heavily influenced later massively multiplayer games.

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Though the graphics are basic, almost everyone agrees that the gameplay is phenomenal. One can fish, mine, blacksmith, cook, and more. The Steam release has crossplay with mobile users and makes a relaxing game to play with friends.

4 Dragon Age: Inquisition

Gorgeous World, Solid Story, & Decent Combat

BioWare's Dragon Age is one of the biggest IPs in the Western RPG genre. All three games are good-to-great in their own right, and while Origins is generally regarded as the franchise's peak, Inquisition is the best pick for World of Warcraft fans. The 2014 game opts for a more action-oriented battle system than earlier entries, and the combat does have an MMO feel to it.

After creating a character from a range of races, players step into the role of the Inquisitor as they are tasked with stopping a continuous invasion of demons. Inquisition is split into self-contained but fairly open maps, each of which contains side quests along with plenty of loot.

3 Star Wars: The Old Republic

Not Only For Star Wars Fans

Star Wars: The Old Republic was Electronic Arts' most expensive video game to develop and market when it was released. This expansive game takes players to various worlds in the Star Wars universe. The ability to play as a Jedi or Sith gives this game much replay value. One can also choose to be a commando as they participate in group quests as well as single-player ones.

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The story of Star Wars: The Old Republic is intriguing. Players can choose between dialogue options as they take control of the epic story. WoW fans might appreciate time in a space-themed fantasy game vs. another high fantasy game.

2 Fable Trilogy

Vibrant World, Solid Customization, Accessible Combat

• 	Fable (2004)	Fable 2	Fable 3
  Platform(s)	Xbox (Original), Xbox 360, PC	Xbox 360	Xbox 360, PC
  Released	2004-09-14	2008-10-21	2010-10-26
  Developer(s)	Big Blue Box Studios, Lionhead Studios	Lionhead Studios	Lionhead Studios
  Genre(s)	Action RPG	Action, RPG	Action RPG

Even if it struggled to live up to its initial promises, the Fable franchise mostly consists of decent-to-great action RPGs that are overflowing with personality, humor, and whimsy. Admittedly, the trilogy might hit differently with people who did not grow up on them, but they are still charming adventures with decent personality customization, simple combat, and semi-open worlds. The first two games are particularly worth trying, while the third one was and still is polarizing for a reason.

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Obviously, WoW and Fable are very different in most areas, and the latter is only for people who are craving self-contained single-player RPGs. That said, they both give players quite a bit of freedom in crafting their characters' journeys and dispositions, with Fable allowing the protagonist to act pretty evil if that is the direction someone would like to go.

1 The Elder Scrolls Online

Weak Start, Strong Follow-up

Alongside FF14 and WoW, Elder Scrolls Online is arguably the biggest MMO of the last decade, and its success goes beyond a general affinity for the license. Following a fairly unspectacular launch, the game eventually found its place as a more casual-friendly experience that encourages immersion through class customization and housing.

While not lacking in combat or engaging questlines, ESO maintains a more relaxing and stress-free pace than most of its competitors, which can be positive or negative depending on what type of MMO someone is craving. The class, housing, and crafting systems are particularly fantastic, arguably among the very best in the genre. That said, the combat can be quite polarizing.

World of Warcraft

Platform(s)

PC

Released

November 23, 2004

Developer(s)

Blizzard

Genre(s)

MMORPG