15 BEST MMORPGs of 2022

Are you looking for an exciting new MMORPG to get into this year? Fortunately, 2022 is shaping up to be an incredible year for the video game industry. In this list, we’re going to highlight a few MMORPG releases that we think you should be keeping an eye on throughout the remainder of 2022.

Disclaimer: Bitcraft, Project Ragnarok, Blue Protocol, Ashes of Creation was removed due to being delayed into 2023.

#15 The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong

Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
Publisher: ZeniMax Online Studios
Platform: PC November 01, 2022
Release Date:PS4 PS5 Xbox One XXSX|S November 15, 2022

You might still have to wait a good while before Bethesda brings out the next mainline chapter to The Elder Scrolls series. However, an online MMORPG is available to help with your urge to play more of The Elder Scrolls franchise. The Elder Scrolls Online has provided a few expansions, with Firesong being the latest DLC at the time of writing this. This DLC pack brings in the end storyline for the Bretons’ adventure. If you’ve been playing this game, the DLC not only adds more to the storyline but also comes with a new zone, the island of Galen, where you’ll get more lore for the druids. There are also new collectibles and achievements to gather as you progress through Firesong. We know that future expansions in 2023 will not feature year-long chapters. Instead, players can expect shorter chapters that can be completed quicker rather than dragged out.

#14 World of Warcraft: Dragonflight

Developer : Blizzard Entertainment.
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC
Release Date: November 29, 2022

World of Warcraft has been around for ages now, and it continues to be a massively popular MMORPG. One of the reasons it continues to see veteran players return, along with a slew of newcomers joining in on the fun, is through different expansions. In late 2022, players were given another expansion full of content to check out, which was called Dragonflight. As the name implies, Dragonflight is all about dragons. Players are tossed onto the Dragon Isles, the homeland of dragons, where a new mystery awaits to be solved. With that said, if you enjoy World of Warcraft, chances are you’ve already been enjoying this expansion since it was released. But if not, you’ll find that you are not only given a new quest and zones but a new playable race with Dracthyr, along with overhauls to different system mechanics, eight new dungeons, and a new raid.

#13 Zenith: The Last City

• Developer: TribeVR
• Publisher: TribeVR
• Platform: PC
• Release: 2022

Zenith: The Last City acts like your typical MMORPG. It’s a game where you’re tossed into a fantasy world, and from there, you’re actively trying to level up. You’ll grind for XP, fight off hostile creatures, explore, find loot, craft better gear, and meet other players. However, what makes this game different is that this is a VR MMO title. Players will be going through the game world with more immersion, and it could sway players to dust off some of that VR gear you have laying around to try another VR take of the MMO genre.

#12 Mortal Online 2

• Developer: Star Vault
• Publisher: Star Vault
• Platforms: PC
• Release: January 25, 2022

If you played the original Mortal Online release that came out back in 2015, then you might find some interest in the sequel. Mortal Online 2 will again toss players into an unforgiving fantasy medieval world. The game has the usual tropes you would expect from an MMORPG with plenty of exploration, quests to take on, and crafting. However, the combat is more action-based, so you can’t rely on targeting or auto-attacks. Ultimately, this means you’ll have to rely on your skills to take out an opponent. Another aspect that the developers hope fans will notice as a bit unique in Mortal Online 2 is the freedom to attack anyone at any point. So there’s no certainty that players won’t find themselves in an unwilling duel when they encounter another player. With all that said, this game does have some mixed feelings because it is a subscription-based title. So you’ll need to pay for the base game and keep up with the monthly subscription to continue enjoying this MMORPG.

#11 Broken Ranks

• Developer: Whitemoon Games
• Publisher: Whitemoon Games
• Platform: PC
• Release: 2022

Broken Ranks is a turn-based isometric RPG that you can dive into now. Within this fantasy RPG, we’re getting a narrative centered around two characters, a refugee looking to find a new home and a hero seeking to take out the invaders. Players will get to pick from various classes before setting off on their journey. As you explore the world and venture on a new exciting journey, the combat is a bit different. While we said that this game is turn-based, it’s set up in a way that forces players to make a decision for their round within ten seconds. When players enter combat, both the player and the opponent are making their commands within the same ten-second time limit, which should keep you on your toes.

#10 Mist Legacy

• Developer: Virtys
• Publisher: Virtys
• Platform: PC
• Release: September 13, 2022

A new MMORPG that takes place in a top-down fantasy world, Mist Legacy will take players across a land filled with a storybook-style vibe. Combat is turn-based and players who enjoy their roleplaying games being packed with plenty of skill-based action will definitely enjoy Mist Legacy. Depending on the skills players choose to use, their characters will evolve to suit their playstyle. This is down to the classless system used for character development, meaning that this is an MMORPG with a more unique style of characterization than many others. Crafting is also based upon characters’ skills, meaning that players can craft and build a variety of objects and structures without needing to learn blueprints. An intriguing hybrid of a turn-based tactical game and a fantasy RPG, Mist Legacy looks like a lot of fun.

#9 Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

• Developer: Bungie
• Publisher: Bungie
• Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, X/S
• Release: February 22, 2022

The Destiny franchise has a strong following, and fans playing Destiny 2 are gearing up for the launch of its sixth expansion. Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is coming into the marketplace within February of this year. Players will find that the game expansion will have a narrative centered around Savathun. If you dabble with the Destiny lore, this is actually the sister of Oryx, the antagonist from Destiny’s The Taken King expansion. In this new expansion, we’re getting plenty of new content. Outside of missions, there are new PvE locations, PvP maps, new gear, weapons alongside a new raid. There are also seasonal content updates planned. While this expansion is coming to multiple platforms, some fans might be worried about Destiny’s future since the development studio, Bungie, was acquired by Sony.

#8 Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds

• Developer: netmarbleNeo
• Publisher: Netmarble
• Release date: May 25, 2022
• Platform: Android, PC Beta

The Ni No Kuni franchise has gone to a few different places before, but you could argue that Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds is easily their biggest reach in terms of trying to make something very unique.

In the title, you’ll play as a hero who enters a virtual game known as Soul Divers. But as time goes on, you figure out that this isn’t a virtual world at all, it’s a very real one. So much so that a mysterious woman asks you to not just save the world and kingdom that you are connected to, but to save other worlds that are in danger of being destroyed!

With a set of allies by your side, set off on a journey across worlds to save all within!

#7 The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle

• Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Platform: PC, PS4, XBO
• Release: June 6, 2022

We might be waiting a few more years before we actually get that next mainline installment to The Elder Scrolls franchise. However, there is the MMORPG that’s readily receiving new content. The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle is coming out later this year, taking players to a new location centered around Bretons. Meanwhile, the narrative will focus on bringing a truce to the Three Banners War. However, a mysterious organization called the Ascendant Order will try to prevent the war from ceasing. When you’re not actively hunting down the Ascendant Order, you’ll find that there are plenty of new areas to explore, events to partake in, and dungeons to clear.

#6 The Elder Scrolls Online: Ascending Tide

• Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Platform: PC, PS4, XBO
• Release: March 14, 2022

The Elder Scrolls Online is easily one of the most beloved MMORPGs out there because the team behind it have worked hard to craft a compelling and consistent narrative in order to keep players interested and show off the potential of the Elder Scrolls world in its largest possible scale.

Now, with The Elder Scrolls Online: Ascending Tide expansion that came out recently, you’ll be able to take to the seas for a multi-part story that ensures that you’ll have swashbuckling adventures, all the while learning about dark plots and fighting deep threats across many vessels and islands!

So set sail for adventure, you won’t regret it.

#5 Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons

• Developer: ArenaNet
• Publisher: ArenaNet
• Platform: PC
• Release: February 2022

Guild Wars 2 was released back in 2012, and we’re getting ready to receive the third expansion to the game this year. Being an expansion, players can expect quite a bit of content to be added to the game. There’s a new storyline, mounts, masteries, legendary weapons, strike missions, a guildhall, and Bestiaries. Now with that said, you can enjoy the core game for free, so if you’re just starting out, you not only have the base game but the other two expansions, Path of Fire and Heart of Thrones, before you get into End of Dragons.

#4 Temtem

• Release date: September 6, 2022 Full Release
• Developer: Crema
• Publisher: Humble Bundle
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Let’s not mince words here, TemTem is very much a Pokemon title. In fact, if you look and see how it plays and how the world is shown and such…you’ll see just how much it’s Pokemon…just in a different “shell” if you will.

And to be fair, Temtem does recreate it well enough, as you’ll be exploring places (in this case, islands in the sky) in order to get all sorts of unique monsters to raise and train and battle with.

Plus, you’ll able to do it alongside all sorts of players. Which will actually make it a bit more inclusive before Pokemon releases their Gen 9 later this year.

#3 Chrono Odyssey

• Developer: Npixel, Gameplex Co
• Publisher: Npixel Co
• Platform: X/S, PC, PS5
• Release: 2022

Chrono Odyssey is a relatively new video game announcement from Npixel. The title is a typical fantasy medieval video game set where players are battling an assortment of mythical creatures using an array of melee weapons and magic. What has been unveiled so far is that the title will put players into the role of a special organization called Idraiginn that’s in the battle against the fabled 12 gods. We know that his story will have some kind of aspect with time and space as well. Not to mention that the composer is behind the title is Cris Velasco, who is known for a few video game franchises such as God of War and Overwatch. Currently, the game is slated for a planned release in 2022 for both PC and mobile platforms.

#2 Lost Ark

• Developer: Tripod Studio, Smilegate RPG
• Publisher: Smilegate, Amazon Games
• Platform: PC
• Release: February 11, 2022

Lost Ark is another MMORPG title available in certain markets for years before we finally got our hands on it. This Diablo-style video game title has had a strong following since it was released in Korea in 2018. Players are tossed into an open world to sail out to unique lands and hunt down treasure. From there, it’s all about taking on quests, completing mini-games, gathering resources, and eventually taking control of your very own island. As mentioned, the game was available for a few years now, but finally got Lost Ark into western markets this February. You can dive into the action and battle against a demonic legion today.

#1 World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic

• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
• Platform: PC
• Release: September 26, 2022

World of Warcraft is an MMORPG that has been around for decades now, and at one point in time, it was considered THE online game to play. Not the least of which was because its expansions were highly desired and often brought the game to new levels.

Arguably its greatest and most beloved expansion was that of Wrath of the Lich King. An expansion so enjoyed that when they made WOW Classic, fans couldn’t wait for it to be reborn in it. And soon, they will get that chance.

You’ll get to play the classic expansion once again, just with modern improvements. A perfect way to relive arguably one of the best times of wow without having to do various things to get access to it.