Our idea of what counts as an MMO has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. While grindy RPGs are still the first things most folks associate with that term, the truth is that an MMO can be basically any kind of game. And that means there’s probably at least one or two free MMOs out there for everyone.
But finding the right one is always a journey, because there are so many MMOs out there, and it can be irritating to invest money in a new game only to realize you hate it after a few hours. But we can help you out with both of these problems. Below, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best MMOs running that you can play for free without any limits on how much time you have to get to know them. You don’t want to be hasty with decisions like these, after all. If you don’t mind a subscription or upfront fee, check out our picks for the best MMORPGs overall, or have a look at other great free games outside the MMO genre.
Guild Wars 2
- Developer: ArenaNet
- Publisher: ArenaNet
- Platform(s): PC
Despite being pretty old at this point–Guild Wars 2 launched way back in 2012–the action-oriented Guild Wars 2 is as popular in 2025 as it’s ever been, which is a major testament to how well the game has been maintained and updated by ArenaNet over time. And Guild Wars 2 is a rare MMO in which the game world might shift in response to your actions, which sometimes makes it feel more like a single-player RPG. But that’s a good thing–most MMOs are hamster wheels, ultimately, and so anything that can effectively shake up the formula is welcome.
Maple Story
- Developer: Nexon
- Publisher: Nexon
- Platform(s): PC
This charming side-scrolling dungeon crawler is faster-paced than your average MMO thanks to its action-oriented gameplay, and it’s a rare example of the genre where the social experience is often as much of a draw as the gameplay. In a genre full of copycats, Maple Story is its own thing.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Developer: Bioware
- Publisher: EA
- Platform(s): PC
This is, quite literally, an old-style Bioware RPG melded with World of Warcraft-style MMO mechanics, with branching plotlines and personal stories, and the result is a rare MMO that prioritizes storytelling as highly as it does forcing you to grind out loot. While it was seen as a bit of a boondoggle when it was released in 2011 thanks to its enormous $200 million budget, Star Wars: The Old Republic is nonetheless still going strong today–even though its carte blanche era ended when it went free-to-play about nine months after it launched. And this game has the odd distinction of being the only thing from the pre-Disney Star Wars canon that is still ongoing today–the rest of the old canon died a decade ago.
Albion Online
- Developer: Sandbox Interactive
- Publisher: Sandbox Interactive
- Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
While it may look like one of many fantasy MMOs at a glance, Albion Online is actually a hardcore sandbox with a player-run economy–and you can play it however you like, whether that be questing for rare materials or staying in town where it’s safe and crafting gear, or something completely different. Given the complete lack of rails, Albion Online has a pretty steep learning curve for new players, since its openness can be daunting at first–but it can be very rewarding for folks who find their niche.
Neverwinter
- Developer: Cryptic Studios
- Publisher: Arc Games
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Based on the Dungeons & Dragons location that was previously the focus of both the Neverwinter Nights single-player RPG series and the ancient 1991 MMO of the same name, Neverwinter puts more of a focus on storytelling than your average MMO. While it’s certainly not on the level of Baldur’s Gate 3 in that regard, the fact that it shares the D&D setting and trappings means that Neverwinter could be the natural MMO for folks who love Larian’s masterpiece.
Stalcraft: X
- Developer: EXBO
- Publisher: EXBO
- Platform(s): PC
Essentially an MMO adaptation of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, Stalcraft: X sets you and your friends loose near Chernobyl, where you’ll be forced to fight and survive against local characters, mutants, and players from other factions who are scavenging the wasteland just like you are. In other words, it’s all the pain and misery of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., but with the additional bonus hell that is other people. Yes, Stalcraft is definitely geared toward masochists–but, hey, somebody’s gotta do it.
Sky: Children of the Light
- Developer: Thatgamecompany
- Publisher: Thatgamecompany
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch, iOS, Android
For those looking for something completely different, we have Sky: Children of the Light, a rare MMO that can accurately be described as cozy with its focus on social activities and puzzles over combat. Made by Thatgamecompany, the vibe masters responsible for indie darlings Flower and Journey, Sky is a game that is, quite literally, about making friends and hanging out with them–so keep this one in mind for when you need a change of pace from the endless quest grinds that come with every other MMO.
Secret World Legends
- Developer: Funcom
- Publisher: Funcom
- Platform(s): PC
A very rare example of an MMO that takes place in modern society, The Secret World is a dark fantasy inspired by conspiracy theories and folklore–with factions like the Illuminati and the Templars. While The Secret World has a lot of the normal MMO trappings–as you’d expect for a game from 2012–but its unique setting makes it feel like something more fresh than all the normal fantasy settings that most of the games on this list have.
RuneScape
- Developer: Jagex
- Publisher: Jagex
- Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
Originally launched in 2001, RuneScape has proven extremely resilient in large part thanks to its more open structure that doesn’t require you to work through any sort of linear story as you play. RuneScape also innovated by introducing its throwback mode, Old School RuneScape, in 2013, well before some of its competitors, like WoW, tried the same thing. But Old School RuneScape remains unique in that it’s a democracy–all updates are voted on by the community and require a 70% approval to be implemented.
Lord of the Rings Online
- Developer: Standing Stone Games
- Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
- Platform(s): PC
Experience the story of The Lord of the Rings in the form of a World of Warcraft-style MMO that’s been running since 2007. It’s probably a little bit less emotionally satisfying than the movie version, but it’ll hit the spot for those folks who want their endless quest-grinding to come with the best lore available. What really keeps this one keep chugging along, though, is its extremely dedicated playerbase of Lord of the Rings-obsessed fans who will absolutely never stop playing this game–it’s one that feels like it’ll always be there because of that.
Star Trek Online
- Developer: Cryptic Studios
- Publisher: Arc Games
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
It’s not often that we get an MMO that is genuinely different from other MMOs, but Star Trek Online qualifies because every player is the captain of their own ship, and most of the action takes place in that context. Fortunately, Star Trek Online is a lot more accessible than the other long-running space MMO, EVE Online, which has no doubt been a significant factor in its longevity.
Warhammer Online: Return of Reckoning
Platform(s): PC
Considering how many Warhammer video games there are, it seems pretty strange that the franchise has only ever produced one MMO, Age of Reckoning, which was taken offline in 2013. But it’s exactly that odd dearth of Warhammer MMOs that led fans to revive Age of Reckoning as Return of Reckoning a year after it closed–and now, a decade later, this fan-run version of Warhammer Online has been around twice as long as the original `was. Return of Reckoning isn’t just a recreation, though–it has added quality-of-life improvements and balance changes, and even some extra content.
Tibia
- Developer: CipSoft
- Publisher: CipSoft
- Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux
EverQuest tends to get all the love as the elder statesperson of MMOs that have stuck around forever, but this one is actually a little older. Released in 1997, Tibia includes so many trappings of the genre that have persisted into the present, but they’re all presented in pixel art with a top-down view like so many RPGs were in the ’90s. So even though Tibia may seem primitive at first glance, it’ll make you look at more modern MMOs in all new ways.
Final Fantasy XIV
- Developer: Square Enix
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Platform(s): PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
After an exceptionally rough initial launch back in 2013, Square Enix took Final Fantasy XIV offline for a year in order to overhaul it–and the effort paid off, as the rebooted version has been going strong for a decade now. FFXIV has a strong storyline for an MMO, particularly once you get into the expansions, and it offers an unusual amount of flexibility because you can do every job in the game on a single character, no alts required. On top of that, the world of Eorzeo is an exceptionally pleasant game world to hang out in, thanks to both the gorgeous art style and vibey soundtrack–just as you’d expect from any decent Final Fantasy title.
Destiny 2
- Developer: Bungie
- Publisher: Bungie
- Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Sure, Destiny 2 may be a little bit beyond its heyday at this point–the initial Light and Dark saga reached its climax in 2024, and player counts have fallen off since then. But Destiny has one crucial quality that most of the other games on this list don’t have: the moment-to-moment experience of playing it is top notch. Yes, the hamster wheel grind can get old fast, but no other shooter, MMO or otherwise, can quite match Destiny 2’s feel.
Transformice
- Developer: Atelier 801
- Publisher: Atelier 801
- Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux
A horde of mice, all controlled by players race across vicious platforming levels to grab some cheese and bring it back to the start of the level, while a Shaman mouse player summons items and create devices that can help–or not help, if they decide to be a troll–the mice get to where they’re going. It’s not often that you can describe an MMO-type experience as being a party game, but Transformice certainly qualifies, especially if you’re wild enough to play levels with collision detection. And with bite-sized rounds that usually end within a minute or two, it’s a rare MMO that works best in small doses.
