If you're wondering which MMORPG to play next year, we have good news and bad news. The good news is that you have a wide variety of free and paid online games to choose from. The bad news is that this genre is not developing very actively. This does not mean that the genre is in danger, it is just that most studios are currently dedicating their main resources to mobile games.
We have studied a number of popular Russian and foreign gaming resources such as Freemmostation, Gamer Info and MMOByte and have compiled a list of the most anticipated MMORPGs of 2018.
10. Lineage Eternal
Payment model: subscription.
After years of existence, Lineage still manages to be a big cash cow for NCSoft, surpassing games like Guild Wars 2, Blade & Soul, Aion or even Lineage 2, not to mention WildStar: Reloaded.
It took a very long time for the Korean studio to release a new chapter, Lineage Eternal, which was announced back in 2011 and closed beta testing started in November 2016.
Lineage Eternal Features:
- the ability to play as a whole team of several heroes, one of which is controlled by the player, and the other three - by AI. Very handy in dungeons.
- Dynamic dungeon generation with randomized spawn of monsters.
- Dynamic events similar to those players have already seen in Guild Wars 2.
The gameplay is similar to other hack and slash games, but will include mouse gestures to activate skills.
9. Lost Ark
Subscription model: free-to-play (not certain).
Next up on the top-anticipated MMORPGs of 2018 is another Korean game. The first Closed Beta showed how Smilegate successfully fulfilled its promises of gorgeous dungeons, impressive raids and a fun combat system.
The game has many entertaining factors such as hidden dungeons, sea bosses or portals that randomly appear on the map and are only accessible if there are enough players nearby. And there will also be as many as 18 classes and, at the same time, a meaningful partyplay with the classic trinity of "tank-damage-healer".
Lost Ark is rumored to be coming to North America and Europe soon. As for Russia, the publisher for the game has not yet been chosen.
8. Dauntless
Subscription model: free.
It is not so much an MMORPG as it is a cooperative multiplayer RPG similar to Monster Hunter. But unlike Monster Hunter, Dauntless offers much larger areas to explore. Players will have many unique islands at their disposal, where they can hunt various monsters, using the collected loot for crafting or upgrading equipment.
The game will not have a traditional class system, instead, the developers chose to give each weapon type its own unique set of attacks, abilities, strengths and weaknesses.
So far, Dauntless is in closed beta testing.
7. Crowfall
Payment model: one-time purchase.
Crowfall, which the creators call "the war for the throne simulator," offers gamers a unique gaming experience that combines a large open world, political simulation and survival games. The main entertainment in Crowfall will be temporary campaign worlds with phases in which there will be changing rules and events. Each phase can last for several months.
In addition, the developers preferred to abandon the usual level system, introducing instead a passive and active pumping of the skills used by the player.
Crowfall is set to release in 2017, but judging by the fact that it is currently in a closed alpha test, the game is likely to be released in 2018.
6. Riders of Icarus
Subscription model: free-to-play.
Every new MMORPG must have a flavor to grab the attention of players. For the Riders of Icarus, this highlight is the mounts. Of course, many games have interesting and unusual mounts, but as you might have guessed from the name, mounts in Riders of Icarus will play an important role for both quests and character development. In the game, you are sure to encounter many new and powerful creatures that you can capture and use for your tasks: from adorable kangaroos to ancient, fire-breathing dragons. Kind of like Pokemon, only in a fantasy world, with murder and bloodshed.
5. Chronicles of Elyria
Payment model: subscription.
The game was scheduled to go through alpha and beta testing during 2017, with a release date slated for Q4 2017. However, looking at it in its current state, it can be assumed that a release in 2018 is much more likely.
Chronicles of Elyria is positioned as "the most dynamic and impressive MMORPG to date," and the development team is trying to do something extraordinary - to give gamers a character who can age and die. This is an attempt to encourage players to think big, giving them a fuller sense of purpose and giving the character a meaningful role in a fast-paced story.
Chronicles of Elyria is one of the few upcoming MMORPGs that features a closed economy, non-repeatable quests, limited resources, and a completely destructible environment.
4. Ashes of Creation
Payment model: subscription.
One of the things that sets Ashes of Creation apart from most MMORPGs is that it has a completely player-controlled world with a unique Node system that allows players to build an entire world from scratch around them.
Nodes are special zones that appear when players perform a certain number of actions. At first, the Node can be a small fire, then it grows into a settlement, and even an entire metropolis, depending on the activity of the players. Enemy nodes can be besieged, with friendly ones - you can trade, buy housing there and recruit players to go through the dungeons.
There will also be caravans in Ashes of Creation. Which can be robbed. Or protect from robbers - as you like more.
3. Camelot Unchained
Payment model: subscription.
In third place in the top 10 most anticipated MMORPGs of 2018 is the creation of Marc Jacobs, the creator of Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online.In fact, the new project is a sequel to Dark Age of Camelot.
Unlike most of the games on our list, Camelot Unchained is a predominantly PvP game that features 5,000-player large-scale battles.
2. Patheon: Rise of the Fallen
Payment model: subscription.
In this game, the plot revolves around several gods, who unleashed a war for power, using their loyal supporters as "cannon fodder". Although players can independently go through part of the campaign, progress inside the Pantheon requires constant interaction with other players and even NPCs. For example, the quest can be taken only after talking with the game character on the desired topic. Some NPCs can even arrange a trap for the player, others will fight to the last, and there will be those who will run in panic at the first danger.
Another feature of Patheon: Rise of the Fallen will be a perception system that allows gamers to complete random quests with rich loot.
1. Sea of Thieves
Payment model: one-time purchase.
The most anticipated MMORPG among games 2019 in Russia will be dedicated to pirates. Search for lost treasures on sunken ships, explore distant islands, sea battles with other ships, and all this is fun, perky, with bright graphics and a first-person view.
The most anticipated MMORPGs to be released in 2018 are dominated by subscription projects.Paid projects have several advantages over free-to-play games: a more sane community (since mainly adults can afford to pay for a subscription), a longer "life", adequate technical support and quick bug fixes. So it remains to be hoped that in 2018 we will have high-quality and interesting games, for which it is not a pity to shell out a certain amount.