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Today’s MMORPG industry has a multi-billion-dollar revenue. In fact, according to Statista.com, the MMO/MMORPG marketplace grew from $24.4 billion in 2014 to almost $31 billion in 2017. You might be surprised to hear that free-to-play MMORPGs are actually the most lucrative to the industry. That’s because free-to-play titles are designed to ‘hook’ players in and then entice them to enhance their gameplay through in-game purchases, be it new weapons, maps or armor.

The MMORPG industry has come a very long way since the launch of Ultima Online back in 1997. It was the World of Warcraft franchise that really helped to characterize MMORPGs and position the genre as one of real potential. Almost two decades after its creation, there is still expected to be 4.46 million global subscribers to the World of Warcraft franchise.

There has long been an assumption that these kinds of games cater solely to the demographic of young male gamers; however, that could not be further from the truth today. In fact, almost three-fifths (59%) of women surveyed in the United States have admitted to playing MMO games, with the pull of social interaction and competition being the mitigating factors.

If you have always been intrigued by the world of MMORPGs, there has never been a better time to immerse yourself. Make a late New Year’s resolution for 2019 to start playing MMO games. Newcomers should consider the following titles to ease your way into this global phenomenon.

World of Warcraft

"My new Hello Kitty World of Warcraft UI" (CC BY 2.0) by Joi

 

The general consensus among the most ardent MMORPGers is that World of Warcraft is one of the most beginner-friendly titles, whilst giving you a real taste of what MMO gameplay is like. There are a plethora of in-game tutorials that you can use to help you along your way and, most importantly, it is free to play up to level 20, which should give you plenty of time to decide if the game is for you before investing your hard-earned cash in enhancing your gameplay.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

For more than a decade, this fantasy-themed MMORPG has enjoyed a loyal fanbase. It has been a free-to-play MMORPG title since August 2012, with the virtual world of Telon enchanting hundreds of thousands of players worldwide. According to Gamespot.com, it differs enough from World of Warcraft thanks to the engaging combat and diplomatic gameplay that keeps fervent adventurers hooked. Vanguard is also good for beginners as it has smaller active populations, making it less daunting than World of Warcraft, which is oft-considered overpopulated.

Four Kings Casino and Slots

The excitement of casino gameplay knows no bounds in 2019. iGaming continues to welcome a raft of new operators every month. According to http://casinowings.com, there are hundreds of licensed casino brands in the UK and many more elsewhere around the world. But what if you could enter your own virtual casino and get the same social experiences from an MMORPG? Digital Leisure’s Four Kings Casino and Slots is a hugely popular MMO for beginners that like the idea of the social aspect of playing with thousands of other humans online. Create your own personalized 3D avatar and participate in the living and breathing casino floor, playing table games or socialising at the casino bar.

RuneScape

If you don’t want to have to spend a dime to start experiencing MMO gameplay, RuneScape is a great starting point. This browser-based title has historically appealed to the younger generation due to its simplistic gameplay, but older MMORPGers are increasingly scaling the fantasy game world of Gielinor. The Guinness World Records recognizes RuneScape as the world’s largest and most updated free MMORPG, with 200 million-plus accounts created since 2001.

These four MMORPG titles will almost certainly reinforce that there is still a lot of life left in this gaming genre and make you wonder why you didn't get involved sooner.


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Last Updated: Jan 21, 2019

About The Author

Dissecting and distilling the game industry since 1994. Lover of family time, youth hockey, eSports, and the game industry in general.

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