The MMORPG genre is one of the most interesting and growing in the gaming industry. From the release of games such as World of Warcraft and RuneScape, the massively-multiplayer online role-playing game genre has taken the world by storm. These games allow players to get sucked into worlds where anything is possible and they can be whoever or whatever they want.

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Some of these worlds are familiar to players, such as Lord of the Rings Online where players embark on a journey in Middle Earth. There are so many adventures for players to take part in, with new experiences coming out constantly. Some of them date back decades to when even the internet was in its infancy. Here are 10 MMORPGs that are still fun in 2020.

Updated by Kristy Ambrose on March 14th, 2021: Old games are new again, whether it's for nostalgia or publicity. Last year, gamers were treated to some reworked D&D titles in anticipation of new releases like Baldur's Gate 3. There's plenty of vintage media for MMO fans to enjoy too, even though the concept of an MMO feels more recent than a stand-alone RPG. So we're adding some remakes to fill out our list. Older games that were once limited by localization are now available worldwide and are still up and running. We've added four more enduring choices to our list.

14 World of Warcraft

ardenweald anima wildseeds

There's a reason that World of Warcraft has been the most popular MMORPG since 2004. It's highly engrossing with a bunch of classes to play, it's loaded with content, and still catches the attention of long-time subscribers after over 15 years.

The recently released WoW Classic is a night and day difference from the current regular version of the game. The retail version still offers plenty to do, including a brand new expansion called Shadowlands that was released in December of last year.

13 City of Heroes

Here's an MMO that uses the DC universe as a setting, and that unique feature is one o the things that have ensured the game's loyal fanbase keeps it running. It was originally released in 2004 and there hasn't been a live update to City of Heroes since 2012, but the source code was made readily available for players to start their own servers. So far, developers have made no moves to shut these independent servers down, and the game is still humming along thanks to a community of dedicated players that move MMOs and comic books.

12 Star Wars: The Old Republic

star wars the old republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic gives players the ability to embark on a journey as a member of the Sith Empire or Jedi Order. It was released in 2011 and has still been kicking after all these years. It has a free-to-play option, with some limitations towards the end game content and expansions, and gives players enough time to decide on whether they would like to spend the extra money.

It definitely could use a new expansion in the future but still offers a very immersive storyline for each of the different classes in the game.

11 Classic: World of Warcraft

Naxxramas is the final full patch for Classic

World of Warcraft is still the reigning king of MMOs, but subscriptions had been on a downslide since the Cataclysm expansion. After literally years of fans hounding them for a version of the old game, Blizzard finally caved in, and WoW Classic was released in 2019.

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Released as close to the 2004 original version as modern tech would allow, the success of this revamp has prompted the announcement of an upcoming expansion. The Burning Crusade is expected to appear in the next few months, and there's even talk of WoW Classic+ servers in Barrens chat these days.

10 Maplestory

Maplestory is another extremely long-running MMORPG that plays more like a side-scroller. It's really unique and a ton of fun for anyone looking for a cute chibi-like game that has a ton of content. It was released back in 2003 and has changed a lot since the initial release.

Maplestory lost a lot of its player base in recent years but still has a fairly big fanbase. There's also a sequel called Maplestory 2 that plays a bit differently and has a lot of newer features and content available.

9 Final Fantasy 14

Final Fantasy XIV is a very popular game that has had a rapidly growing player base since the release of A Realm Reborn in 2013. It has amazing visuals and a very immersive storyline that has countless hours of content.

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It's an MMORPG that every fan of the genre should try at least once to see if it's something they are interested in. One of the most interesting features in the game compared to other MMORPGs is that one character can be any class in the game. This is a really unique change in the genre as most games require the player to have multiple characters to try out different classes.

8 Destiny 2

Destiny 2 guardians

Destiny is no stranger to the MMORPG genre. The franchise is extremely popular on both consoles and PC and has received a ton of content updates throughout both the first game and its sequel.

No plans to release a third game have been announced as of yet, and a new expansion is on the way for Destiny 2 that will add plenty of brand new missions, loot, raids, and so much more. The game can be a bit uninteresting to play alone but it is a blast with friends. There are also plenty of online communities to do raids and multiplayer content.

7 Anarchy Online

Anarchy Online, single character with rifle vs mecha monster

Released in 2001 and still going strong, Anarchy Online based in a sci-fi world rather than one based on Western mythology. It was produced by a company based in Norway and predates most of the entries on this list. Players assume the role of colonists on a hostile planet known as Rubi-Ka, populated by demonic aliens and dotted with ancient ruins and harsh geography. In addition to other quests and activities, their main goal is to find and collect a mineral called Notum while they advance their various skills.

6 Elder Scrolls Online

For those looking for their Elder Scrolls fix while they wait for the next main game to be released, The Elder Scrolls Online can fill that void. It's quite similar to Skyrim visually and takes a lot of the locations, races, and abilities from previous games.

RELATED: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Starting The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online has a growing community that exists on both console and PC and offers a ton of content with more being added annually. It's great for both casual players and for those looking for a more hardcore experience.

5 Blade & Soul

Fans of anime should look no further, as Blade & Soul is the perfect MMORPG for those looking for a martial arts-inspired game with amazing visuals and plenty of content.

The game is fairly unique compared to other entries in the genre and plays quite a bit faster than most of them. It's a welcome change for players that aren't a fan of slow combat systems in other MMORPGs and are looking for more fluid and engaging action.

4 Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 has a much different take on the MMORPG genre. Just like Blade & Soul, it plays a lot faster than the average game in the genre. Guild Wars 2 has a big focus on its immersive storyline, which is extremely well written.

RELATED: 10 Biggest Open World MMORPGs (From Smallest To Largest)

Guild Wars 2 also has endlessly fun PvP and PvE content that takes advantage of its fast and fluid combat system. While Guild Wars 2 is not currently anywhere near the height of its popularity when it was first released, it's still worth a shot for anyone looking for a new MMORPG to play.

3 RuneScape

RuneScape is one of the oldest ongoing MMORPGs that still has a fairly huge player base and still receives content updates to this day. The classic version of the game is one of the most engaging MMOs to ever be made and is perfect for any fan of the genre.

There's so much to do in the game, be it leveling up combat skills, exploring professions like woodcutting, or traversing different areas of the massive map. For players looking for a newer experience, RuneScape 3 is available and updates a lot of the aspects of the original game.

2 The Lord of the Rings Online

The world of Middle-Earth is beautiful and perfect for adventuring and The Lord of the Rings Online gives players the opportunity to do so. The game looks quite dated but is still a ton of fun and offers a lot to enjoy for fans of the books and movies.

Players can embark on a journey that follows the books and play as different iconic races and classes. The game is free to play, which is great for those just looking to try it out for some time without having to take the risk of spending money on an experience they may not like. This is a great MMORPG for any type of player and is worth giving a shot.

1 Old School Runescape

Even those vintage java graphics started to age out, and the people at Jagex responded to the fans' demand for a revamped version of the old game. Old School Runescape was released in 2013, and like other revamps it was based on an engine for an older game, in this case, the 2007 version. Since it was released, even though it has fewer additions and a smaller development team, the player base of the vintage game has grown to eclipse the population of its modern incarnation. That's not just a big deal for this franchise, it's a lesson for the whole industry.

NEXT: The 10 Best Games For Fans Of Medieval History