Abhimannu Das
Wizard101 is one of the oldest MMORPGs set in a fictional galaxy. You get to play as a student from the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts and learn to fend off the dark threats. The magical setting reminds us of Harry Potter, and we can’t get enough of the game. If you love Wizard101 and are looking for similar experiences, then you have come to the right place. Here is the list of video games similar to ‘Wizard101’ that are our recommendations. You can play these games like ‘Wizard101’ on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, iPhone, Android, mac or even online.
9. World of Warcraft (2004)
There are very few games that can boast of the longevity World of Warcraft has seen due to its loyal fan base, and the incredible work Blizzard has done over the years. In 2004, history was made with the release of World of Warcraft and over 100 million players have signed up till date. The rich lore that the Warcraft universe offers is unparalleled and is nothing like any other MMORPG you may have tried out.
Alliance and Horde are the two major factions to choose from, and when it comes to character creation, you have a bunch of different classes including new additions like Demon Hunter. With a vast number of builds to work towards, you will never run out of content. There are players who have clocked tens of thousands of hours over the years, and frequent updates and expansions keep the playerbase active. One thing you do need to keep in mind is that World of Warcraft requires you to purchase the latest expansion as well as pay a monthly fee as subscription costs. While you can grind for in-game tokens to play for “free,” as a beginner it might prove to be a little difficult unless you have friends who can help you out during the early game.
8. Warframe (2013)
Warframe is not a true MMORPG, but it does have a lot in common with other titles from the genre. The biggest differentiator is the third person combat. Unlike other games where you have to grind for new gear all the time, you can pick up a good weapon and mod it to your heart’s content in Warframe. In fact, it is the mods that you can rank up for specific weapon classes to upgrade all of your favorite gear. Unlike other MMORPGs that feature living worlds, you are limited to just 4 players at a time in any given mission with a few social hubs being exceptions to the rule.
The Warframe community is one of the best we have ever seen in online gaming wherein players are always willing to help each other out with missions, boss fights, and limited time quests. When it comes to the lore, there are plenty of story missions along with plenty of hidden secrets and a Codex system that encourages you to pick up data fragments and learn more about the Warframe universe. Unlike traditional MMOs that have a limited number of classes, the game has over frames to choose from and just like the weapons, you can mod them for a number of builds as well. Volt, which is one of the starter frames can be built for speed, crowd control or shields to amplify his team’s damage. Different builds on certain frames make them feel like completely new characters altogether which adds to the beauty of Warframe. There is a ton of content and while PVP might be one of its weakest spots, the game does plenty right to draw millions of players into the game every single year.
7. Elder Scrolls Online (2014)
While some of the top MMORPGs are PC exclusive, Elder Scrolls Online is one of the best titles you can get for PS4 and Xbox One. The Elder Scrolls franchise shattered all records with the release of Skyrim, and even though games like Morrowind were loved by fans, TESV is what defines modern day RPGs. If you can’t get enough of the high fantasy action that Skyrim has to offer and want to take your experience online, Elder Scrolls Online is definitely a must-play title. Similar to World of Warcraft, you have to pay a monthly subscription fee to keep your account active.
There is a completely new skill line in Summerset along with new crafting systems for jewelry. You need to put in the time to research various blueprints and max out your crafting skills if you want to have an easier life when playing Elder Scrolls Online. When it comes to the world map, ESO definitely doesn’t compare to something like World of Warcraft when it comes to size. However, the beautifully crafted locations and intriguing NPC interactions make Elder Scrolls Online a fantastic experience. Despite being a paid game and a subscription model being implemented as well, you may find yourself stuck from time to time, and the only way forward seems to be spending a bunch of money on crowns. Even though ESO can get quite expensive to play, the polished experience combined with the constant updates that the game receives makes it a great experience for MMORPG fans.
6. RuneScape (2001)
RuneScape is one of the oldest MMORPGs, and it still commands an impressive number of concurrent players. Many of us were introduced to Runescape with its old-school mechanics and less than perfect gameplay almost two decades earlier. The popular MMORPG has evolved a lot over the years, and we have seen a number of drastic changes to the gameplay mechanics. Even though the Runescape world is quite overwhelming, it is definitely not too jarring for new players.
You start off with simple quests like talking to NPCs and killing a bunch of monsters. Once you start getting the hang of how things work in-game, you start taking on bigger challenges. Unlike many other premium MMOs, you have the option of playing Runescape for completely free. Ironman accounts are available for players who want to get into the gameplay for free with the only restriction being you can’t trade with other players. At launch, Runescape was known to be an overly complex game, but the developers have shed the image with more approachable mechanics that is very helpful for newer players and avoids unnecessary complication. Like a fine wine, RuneScape has aged quite well over the years and does not let the age of this brilliant title keep you from trying it out.
5. Aion (2008)
Korean MMORPGs might not be as popular in the west, and the language barrier in the community can be a big reason to keep English speaking users away. However, some of the country’s offerings are too good to ignore. Aion: The Tower of Eternity is one of the best Korean fantasy MMORPGs out there, and it has a ton of PVP and PVE content on offer. The lore, world building and well fleshed out NPCs are all connected well together to keep things interesting. Even though most of the players are from South Korea, there is a sizeable number of non-Korean players as well, so seeking assistance in English from the community is not too difficult at all. At one point of time, Aion managed to surpass WoW in terms of the active subscriber count. Most of it has to do with its rich backstory and the constantly evolving world that keeps players engaged with the title even after hundreds of hours.
4. EVE Online (2003)
EVE Online is easily one of the most fascinating sci-fi games ever made, and very few have managed to get the MMO formula right in such a setting. One of the best things about the popular title is how large-scale alliances can attack each other with massive fleets. The technical achievements of EVE Online cannot be undermined. When it comes to the setting, you will find a replica of the current world political alliances including American, European and Russian forces along with a number of other neutral states. EVE is definitely not an easy game to get into, and there are players who struggle with the mechanics even after dozens of hours of gameplay. There is a steep learning curve, and you need to put in the time to understand how the game’s combat system works to make the most of your time. If you are looking for an online MMO that can act as a long-term hobby, EVE Online is definitely a solid title that you can get into.
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3. RIFT (2011)
RIFT is one of the best free to play titles out there with its deep combat system and stellar storytelling. There are six elemental planes in RIFT that serve as the primary setting for the fantasy MMO. Everything feels well fleshed out including the user interface, AI and level design. There are a small number of starting class systems but you can take advantage of the Ascended Soul class system, and the skill trees allow you to customize your own builds in any way you want. One of the best things about rift is that there are events that are dynamically generated in the larger maps which adds a lot of flavor to the gameplay. Players need to work together to defeat several monsters that come through rifts spread across the world map. Aesthetically, it is one of the best looking MMOs out there, and we definitely recommend it over many of the older titles on the list that may look a bit too dated for your tastes.
2. Final Fantasy XIV (2010)
Even though it has been almost a decade since Final Fantasy XIV released, Square Enix has been actively pushing out updates for the game to keep the playerbase engaged. There have been two major expansions so far, and more are set to come in the near future. With over 600,000 subscribers, Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most played games currently and its popularity doesn’t seem like it will wane anytime soon. The Final Fantasy franchise has always been known for its compelling storytelling, and fun gameplay and the FFXIV is no different. While it might not be the most beautiful MMORPG out there or even the most complex, it has the right amount of polish to keep the gameplay enjoyable even after you sink in hundreds of hours.
While catching up on all of the content might prove to be a Herculean task in 2019, the experience is actually quite great as you explore all of the original quests that led to the current state of Final Fantasy XIV we see today. Even though there are jump potions available that help you skip past various sections of the story, you should familiarize yourself with all of the content instead of using the potions. However, if you want to delve into all of the action right away, then we recommend finding a high-level friend who would be willing to power level you through the initial grind and help you catch up on all of the content in no time. The MMORPG is by no means a casual game that you may pick up every now and then. It requires a lot of time and patience to play through all of the content on offer, and we recommend picking it up only if you have enough time to spend on it.
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1. Guild Wars 2 (2012)
Guild Wars 2 might feel like just another MMORPG when you login for the first time but once you go deeper into the story, you realize that the game is unlike any other MMO out there. The best thing about Guild Wars 2 is the world versus world gameplay which allows multiple clans to fight against each other in an all-out war. Unlike other games where you can get to one-shot any enemy that appears if you have the right gear, the dungeons in Guild Wars 2 are level capped to ensure you can’t just breeze through all of the content. There are a number of hidden challenges that you will discover throughout your playthrough as well to unlock rare items.
ArenaNet has been actively updating the game to keep players engaged with all of the content that GW2 has to offer. There is also a level cap in most dungeons to ensure new players have a good experience and don’t end up having veterans popping in and clearing an entire dungeon in seconds. All of it is available without a subscription fee, and the expansions are also quite impressive with countless hours of content on top of what the base game already offers.
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