2020 was not a bad year for games. As well as the return of some long-dormant franchises, gamers were also treated to plenty of top new titles and a brand new generation of gaming consoles. Believe it or not, this year looks set to be even better.
One genre that looks particularly exciting is that of MMOs, with a host of fantastic-looking titles slated for release over the next 12 months. Due to the large scale of some of these games, it's possible that some of them could slip into 2022. Based on the latest screenshots and trailers though, the majority should be ready before the year is out.
Updated June 2, 2021, by Tom Bowen: Though developing any game can be challenging, the sheer scale of MMOs makes them particularly difficult for video game developers. Due to the sheer scale of the games, there are countless things that need to be taken into account and just as many that can go terribly wrong. This can in turn lead to lengthy delays or, in some extreme cases, cancellation, making it difficult for developers to commit to a specific release date. At the time of writing, however, these titles are expected to release at some point during 2021, with many having begun beta testing and a few even having firm release dates announced.
10 Project BBQ
Having grossed well over $15 billion during its lifetime, Dungeon Fighter Online is one of the most successful video games ever made. With that in mind, it's not too surprising that a successor is currently in the works. Project BBQ will be a 3D MMORPG and — if the most recent trailer is anything to go by — it will be a mighty good one at that.
The game looks fantastic, but it's the incredibly fast-paced combat that really catches the eye. Having originally been slated for a release at some point during 2020, the game is already a little behind schedule. Considering just how polished the current build of the game is looking though, fans shouldn't have to wait too much longer to get their hands on it.
9 Crowfall
Following a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign which saw the developers bring in more than double their initial $800,000 goal, Crowfall seems to be on track to release at some point in 2021. The Closed Beta is now accepting signups and the footage released so far looks pretty impressive too. Assuming nothing goes wrong over the next few months, it looks set to be one hell of a game.
Describing itself as an online throne war, the game will offer intense PvP battles, a fully shapable world, and a highly detailed character progression system. Only time will tell whether or not it's able to deliver on its obvious potential, but given the experience of some of the team behind the game, only a fool would bet against it.
8 New World
Considering the financial clout of Amazon, it's perhaps a little surprising that so much about New World remains a mystery. That will no doubt change pretty quickly though as the game's August 31 release date begins to loom larger on the horizon. From what little footage has been released, however, it looks to be shaping up nicely.
The game will feature souls-like combat, with the developers making the brave decision to do away with the traditional MMO class system and instead allow players to allocate stat points however they choose. With the game having already been delayed several times already though, players may have to wait a bit longer to finally get a taste of the retail giant's new title.
7 The Day Before
At first glance, The Day Before might seem like yet another survival horror zombie game, but the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO has a lot more going for it than that. Visually, it bears more than a few similarities to Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, while its gameplay promises to bring the very best elements from similar titles like Rust and H1Z1.
Whether the developers will be able to find a way to prevent the game from becoming another shoot on sight affair remains to be seen, although they're also embracing the PvP aspects of the genre just to cover their bases. With the game expected to release at some point in the second quarter of 2021, players won't have to wait too much longer to find out either way.
6 Dual Universe
What happens when elements of Star Citizen, Minecraft, and No Man's Sky are combined? Well, according to developer Novaquark, the answer is its upcoming space-based MMO, Dual Universe. With a continuous single-shared universe, the game will apparently feature mining, crafting, and trading as well as a healthy dose of PvP combat.
Many have tried and failed to master the sci-fi themed MMO over the years and although games like EVE Online show that it's possible, it's certainly no easy feat. More than 8,000 people seem to believe that the team at Novaquark can pull it off though and the footage released so far suggests that they're at least on the right track.
5 Blue Protocol
Bandai Namco doesn't have the best track record when it comes to MMOs, but everything revealed so far suggests that Blue Protocol could definitely buck that trend. The game looks absolutely stunning and should have more than enough content to keep players engaged for quite some time. Fans of games like Genshin Impact, in particular, should be pretty excited.
Despite some early confusion, it now seems that the game will indeed be getting a worldwide release, although Western players will likely have to wait a little bit longer to get their hands on it than those living in Asia. Having recently missed its anticipated launch window, many now expect the game to arrive in late 2021, with a Western release following a little further down the line.
4 Ashes Of Creation
Ashes of Creation is one of the most successful video game projects to have ever graced Kickstarter, with over $3 million dollars pledged by almost 20,000 backers. One of its main selling points is its vivid and detailed world, which developers claim will constantly react to the choices and actions of the game's players. It might not be there just yet, but early reports from beta testers suggest that it's well on its way.
The idea of dynamic cities whose populations rise and fall as time progresses is an incredibly innovative one and could prove to be a real game-changer when it comes to differentiating the title from other MMORPGs. This change promises to play a huge role in the AoC experience, but whether or not the game will succeed in changing the genre itself remains to be seen.
3 Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Set in the same universe as Phantasy Star Online 2, New Genesis' page on the official Xbox website vows that the game will surpass its predecessor "in every way." This is quite a bold statement, considering how revered PSO2 remains in some Asian territories. With the game launching on June 9, 2021, players shouldn't have to wait too much longer to find out if there's any real substance to these claims.
Visually, at least, the game looks certain to deliver on this promise, but this was always to be expected given that PSO2 will soon be celebrating its 10th year on the market. The real test will instead be trying to improve on the extensive character customization options and well fleshed-out questlines that have helped to make the game so very popular in the east.
2 Lost Ark
Lost Ark has already been out in Korea for more than two years now, but thanks to a publishing deal with Amazon Games, Smilegate's award-winning MMO looks set to finally make its way west at some point before the end of 2021. Given its beautiful presentation, the top-down hack 'n' slash is arguably well worth the wait.
While the two year delay will be seen by many as a massive handicap for those playing in the west, it also spares them from some of the game's early teething problems. If its performance in Korea is anything to go by though, this action role-playing game has the potential to remain relevant for quite some time and so, whichever way one looks at it, it's definitely a case of better late than never.
1 Corepunk
With the last big cyberpunk-themed game having failed to deliver a stable experience, fans of the genre will be hoping that Artificial Core's upcoming MMO Corepunk is a bit less broken. Considering the game's lengthy development cycle and what's been shown so far though, they needn't worry too much about that. Even if there are any lingering issues, these will likely be picked up when beta testing begins in late August.
Featuring both PvP and PvE, the game's world will feature four distinct cultures; each with vastly different ideologies. According to the game's producer, around 60% of the experience will be centered around end-game content which suggests that the team is already thinking about the long-term sustainability of the title as well. Given how many MMOs run out of steam not long after their release, this is definitely a promising sign.
Every Game Coming Out In 2021 And Beyond
MMOs are designed to be played in the long term, so each one of the previously mentioned games can consume hundreds, if not thousands of hours. If there comes a time when someone feels like taking a break from the genre to try something different, each platform has stacked calendars of games set to launch in the near (and far) future:
- Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Nintendo Switch
- Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PS5 And PS4
- Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Xbox Series X|S And Xbox One
- Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PC