I’m often asked “What is the best MMO?” and I often reply that there is not one. The problem isn’t that there aren’t great games out, but rather everyone wants to play something different and no one game offers everything the others do.
The Secret World
I really enjoyed this game, until I finished my Illuminati Story. I found the story interesting, the puzzle quests fantastic and challenging, but I rarely ever grouped with anyone. It was a fantastic single player game wrapped in an MMO. At end game I could PVP in instances or run Dungeons, neither of which were enough to keep me playing. I log in every now and again when a new “issue” is released to do some new missions and spend my life-time account allowance.
Pros
- Great single player story set in the modern world
- Ability to customize characters to your own unique players style
- Many abilities are hybrid focused
Cons
- After the story get you make an alt or run dungeons
- New issues expect you to be well geared or play with specific builds
- Wonky UI, lack of instant grouping tools and unable to group for many of the story missions
Tera
I really love the combat of Tera, I’m bashing people with my shield, plowing through monsters with my lance and riding around on a white lion like a baws! I’m also a super sexy dragon chick. Unfortunately I’m tired of being told to go outside the town walls and kill yet another twenty more of something for some gold.
Pros
- Great action RPG
- Great non-combat pets for looting
- Player influenced realms
Cons
- Repetitive quests and gameplay
- Story isn’t engaging
- After the story get you make an alt or run dungeons
Star Wars
I loved playing the biggest cunt the galaxy has ever known, but I was saddened that my female Sith Warrior had few male prospects and zero lady lovers, especially my mentally unstable apprentice. The other downside was that when I reached the end of my Sith’s story I discovered I would have to play through all of the other characters at least half way in order to be viable for end-game raids. No alts leveled meant no invites. Could be ok if the world had multiple paths to level, but unfortunately the same Followers of Revan want me to get the mask AGAIN!
Pros
- Great single player story in the KOTOR universe
- Item modifications are awesome
- Companions add interesting PVE pet dynamics
Cons
- Annoyingly and constantly reminded if you’re not a subscriber
- After the story you HAVE to level alts in order to be viable in dungeons
- Selling me Ewok pets does not equate to new content
EVE Online
I love space and I love feeling like I am in a spaceship in space. Unfortunately everyone wants to kill me cause I’m new and an easy target and there is no one to save or mentor me. Want to join a learning Corporation? Sure, but keep in mind they may kill you for fun just to see your reaction or to keep new players out of the game.
Pros
- The best space simulation – I feel like I am in space, in a spaceship, for reals!
- True PVP
- True player controlled universe
Cons
- In-game scams and combat system make for the worst of a libertarian’s ideals
- Everyone wants to screw you over
- They call minor patches “expansions”
Rift
If I didn’t say that there is no best MMO, I would give the crown to Rift as they always find a way to include stuff from other games into theirs. You like that class, mount, pet? Boom, it’s in the game. I can ride a Hellbug from their Defiance franchise, a steampunk Spider twist on Neverwinter’s spider mount or a Tauntaun – even SWTOR doesn’t have Tauntaun mounts.
Pros
- It’s a F2P steampunk meets magic and Palladium Rifts with a WoW engine
- Every class can swap to be play heal, tank or dps
- Two-man the story portion of end game raids via “Chronicles”
Cons
- WoW players want to play WoW because all their friends are already there
- Chronicles still won’t get you epics
- Mobile app is no longer being developed
GW2
My WoW guild all jumped onto this game from WoW and for a while we really enjoyed it, but after sometime we just didn’t feel like grinding dungeons for epics again when we could just go play our geared out WoW toons or explore other games with less required time commitments.
Pros
- Every act gives XP
- Dynamic events make traveling through areas unique…the first time
- Single player story is great
Cons
- Dungeons can be wonky as class dynamics and roles don’t always benefit each other
- You have to go away from your story path or you won’t gain enough experience to level
- Not as action as Tera, but not as fixed as WoW makes for a confusing Hybrid of expectations in character animations and actions
Other games
WoW – I’m tired of talking about and playing this game, I want to do something else. While having a chance to kill panda bears tempted me, I’m just not that in to you anymore.
STO – Fun game, I have a life-time account for so I spend my allowance on new ships. It’s fun and feels sort of like Star Trek, but doesn’t feel like I’m in space.
Neverwinter – I play you cause you’re free, but I would never spend money on you as your combat makes me want to play Tera and your story lines make me want to play DDO.
Defiance – You’re a first person shooter who’s story made me hate the main characters of the SyFy show. I like shooting people, but you’re like the stranger I see at the grocery store on Saturdays I nod too, but don’t have any interest in befriending.
