The focus of this category is on multiplayer online roleplaying games (MORPGs) and massively multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPGs).
Let's define the terms.
A roleplaying game (RPG) is one in which the player assumes the role of a fictional character. Players in an RPG game act out these roles within the narrative and setting of the game, which is generally a fantasy world or one that is set in a distant time, either in the past or in the future. Within a roleplaying game, the player's actions either succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines, in which players are familiarized.
RPGs began in tabletop games, like Dungeons and Dragons, and can also be found in Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs), which are listed in an parallel category.
MORPGs are the graphic successors to MUDs, although many MUDs are still in development, and are hugely successful.
Most modern RPGs will allow the player to not only have control over their character, but over the virtual world they inhabit, as well. The player's actions have a direct affect on how the story progresses, and how the world around them changes.
The better RPGs will allow players to handle problems in a number of ways, respecting various styles of play. For example, a player who needs to get past a guard at a door might try to distrac the guard using magic, lie to the guard, or draw a sword and attack. Afterward, there should be consequences to whichever choices were made. Perhaps the player will meet the guard in the game again, and he can no longer be so easily deceived, or maybe the guard will be presented as now out of work and begging on the street.
Although it's not a differentiating point, most RPGs include magic or medieval armaments rather than modern or futuristic weapons. This has carried over from the D&D theme.
Until recent years, computer RPGs involved a single player in a fictional reality, essentially playing against the computer. While these games still exist, multiplayer games have become far more popular among RPG enthusiasts.
Besides interactions involving player versus player combat in the game, there is also a social aspect to multiplayer RPG games. Players are able to chat during the course of the game, often in character, and to form or enter into alliances, often known as clans, who often communicate with one another outside of the game, generally in online forums that have been set up for that purpose.
Online roleplaying games in which multiple players can interact with one another in a virtual world are known as MORPGs. Those in which thousands or millions of players can interact simultaneously are MMORPGs.
The MMORPG is a subgenre of the massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, the key differentiation being their use of roleplaying elements. In other words, an MMORPG is an MMO, but an MMO is not necessarily an MMORPG.
At this point, MMOs that are not RPG are being listed in the parent Multiplayer Games category. This category is reserved for multiplayer roleplaying games.
Recommended Resources
Maintained by Artix Entertainment, an independent video game developer and publisher, best known for browser-based video games, including AdventureQuest, DragonFable, MechQuest, and AdventureQuest Worlds, which use Adobe Flash. AdventureQuest is the developer’s first project, released in 2002. The Flash-animated RPG can be played through a free account, although premium upgrades are available, along with a community forum and online shopping.
https://www.battleon.com/
Specializing in online role-playing games, the game portal offers MMORPG games, horror RPGs, action RPGs, adventure RPGs, Science Fiction RPGs, fantasy RPGs, strategy-defense games, IO games, and dating simulations. Eight from each genre are highlighted on the index page, while others are one click away. Each listed game is rated, and a brief description is provided. Registration with the site is required. Advertising opportunities are available.
http://www.bestonlinerpggames.com/
Set in the fantasy world of Sanctuary, Diablo is an action, role-playing hack and slash dungeon crawler online video game series developed by Blizzard North and currently owned by Blizzard Entertainment. Consisting of three core games, Diablo, Diablo II, and Diablo III, all of which take place in similar geographic areas, sharing several common areas, the series centers around a battle between the humans in Sanctuary and the Prime Evils.
https://us.diablo3.com/en/
The browser-based MMORPG directory specializes in massively multiplayer roleplaying games. The top games for the month are highlighted on the index page. Otherwise, games may be searched for by keyword, name, type, launch status, price, interface, or game clock. Gaming news and reviews are also presented. Registered members are eligible for contests and special offers, and to participate in the site’s forums and chat rooms. Games may be submitted for consideration.
https://www.directoryofgames.com/
The single-user, online, browser-based role-playing game was developed and published by Artix Entertainment, and updated weekly. While the game is free to play, upgrading to a premium account will unlock game content not available in the free mode. New players are introduced to the game as a hero from an unknown location arriving at Lore, the world of Dragon Fable, destined to become a Dragon Lord, who will own one of the two great dragons.
https://www.dragonfable.com/
DDO is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Turbine for the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 platforms, and currently owned by Standing Stone Games. Based on the fantasy tabletop RPG game, the game is set in the fictional city of Stormreach, on the continent of Xen’drik, in the world of Eberron. After creating their player character, players begin shipwrecked on the shores of Korthos Island. After achieving success on the island, players advance to Stormreach.
https://www.ddo.com/en
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Established in 2004, GVGMall is a competitive trading platform for virtual services for MMORPG gaming. On this page of its site, the company offers a low-price Xbox Live twelve-month gold membership key for game players, along with customer support services. Other products include Google Play gift cards, eBay gift cards, Steam gift cards, PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus cards, iTunes, Nintendo, and others. Hot topics are highlighted.t.
https://www.gvgmall.com/gift-cards-code/xbox-live-12-months-gold-membership-card-global.html
Developed by Standing Stone Games, the Lord of the Rings Online is an MMORPG for Windows and macOS and based on JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth writings, taking place in the time of The Lord of the Rings. Originally requiring a subscription, the game is now free to play, but with a VIP subscription option that provides various in-game perks. Available in English, German, and French, players made register or subscribe through the site, which also includes downloads and a discussion forum.
http://www.lotro.com/en
Built with Adobe Flash on a Microsoft Windows platform MechQuest is a single-player science-fiction role-playing game developed and published by Artix Entertainment. Players can play for free or pay a one-time fee that grants access to additional game content. Within the game, players control navigate their character by pointing and clicking the place on the screen where they want their character to move. Design notes, videos, and discussion forums are featured.
https://www.mechquest.com/
The MMORPG community site presents news, features, and community forums in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) genre. Maintained by Cyber Creations, the site includes a directory of MMORPG games, with ratings and other details, game news and reviews, informational articles, and reviews on game consoles and other hardware. Giveaways are announced, and forums for several games are made available.
https://www.mmorpg.com/
Released in 2002, Planeshift is an online 3D multiplayer role-playing game that runs on Linux, macOS, or Microsoft Windows. Released under the GNU General Public License, its artistic content is covered by a proprietary license. The setting is a huge stalactite known as Yliakum, while players begin in the game’s main city, Hydlaa. The fantasy game features nine playable races, each with their own homelands and characteristics. Community forums, clans, and chats are available.
http://www.planeshift.it/
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Developed in 2007 by Pearson Education Network, Poptropica is an online role-playing game targeted at children from the ages of six to fifteen. Within the game, players can travel to various virtual islands, compete in multiplayer games, and communicate with one another. Each island is different, but the player’s goal is to resolve a problem by completing multiple obstacles or goals. Upon finishing an island, players are awarded credits that can be used to buy effects within the game.
https://www.poptropica.com/
Rune HQ is a global gaming site focused on RuneScape, an MMORPG developed and published by Jagex, which is not affiliated with this site. RuneHQ features a Quest Guides page to help players develop their RuneScape character, city and area guides, distraction and diversion guides, guild guides, game maps, and a database of items, monsters, and persons within the game. Also included are skill calculators, a guide to treasure trails, and an online forum.
https://www.runehq.com/
Runescape is an MMORPG that was developed and released by Jagex in 2001. Originally a browser game using a Java platform, the game was largely replaced by C++ code in 2016. The free-to-play fantasy, multi-player RPG game takes place in Gielinor, a fantasy realm divided into different kingdoms, regions, and cities, through which players can travel on foot, charter ships, or through magical spells, encountering monsters, completing quests to challenge other placers, and collecting resources.
https://www.runescape.com/
Associated with Hello Kitty Online, Sanrio Town is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sanrio Digital and Typhoon games. The game tells the story of a hero, represented by the player, helping Hello Kitty and her friends to wake up from eternal slumber and defeat a malevolent power. SanrioTown is also the home of the online community that has grown up around the game. Besides the game, members receive an email account, blogs, and mini-games.
http://www.sanriotown.com/
Developed and published by Bigpoint Games, Seafight is a pirate-themed, browser-based, MMORPG game, which takes place largely on the open seas, with players engaging in combat with NPCs and other players. Players may form guilds, after which they can attack or defend special guild islands scattered throughout the game. Although free to play, there are game features that require in-game payments. Its terms and conditions are stated on the site.
https://www.seafight.com/
Developed by Linden Lab, Second Life is a virtual world. Although similar to massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), Linden Lab insists it is not a game, as there are no manufactured conflicts or objectives. Users may access the virtual world through Linden Lab’s client programs or through third-party viewers. Users, known as residents, create virtual representations of themselves, called avatars, and are able to interact with the virtual world and other avatars.
https://secondlife.com/
The multiplayer online role-playing (MORPG) is free to play. The virtual world in which the gameplay takes place is known as Trinald, which consists of three major lands, Valorn, Killican Isle, and Ethucan, the largest being Valorn. Once a mighty kingdom, Killican is now ruled by pirates, while Ethucan can only be reached through a magical portal. Anyone thirteen and older can register, create a player character, and join the game. A game discussion forum is included.
https://www.darkgrimoire.com/
Developed by Travian Games, a German software company, the browser-based, massively multiplayer, online real-time strategy game was released in 2004. Programmed in PHP, the game runs on most browsers. Set in antiquity, players begin the game as the leader of a small, undeveloped village, surrounded by fields that need to be developed by erecting new buildings. It is necessary to recruit military units in order to attack and plunder other villages and to defend against attacks.
https://www.travian.com/
Set in the Middle Ages, the browser-based, real-time strategy, massively multiplayer online game was initially released in 2003. Each new player begins in control of a small village, the objective being to expand and conquer new villages by forming armies and assembling a tactical combat system. The game requires teamwork, planning, and strategy, allowing players to collect resources, build armies, erect buildings, make war against other armies, and conquer villages.
https://www.tribalwars.net/en-dk/
Khoras is a fictional fantasy world populated by wizards and knights, dragons, and castles, which can be used as a campaign setting for role-playing games on the order of Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings, Rune Quest, and others. It is not a role-playing game in and of itself. It is a fantasy world intended to be used as a tool to add depth to the role-playing experience. Online since 1997, the world is described in detail, including its cultured races, fauna, flora, and religions.
http://www.khoras.net/
WoT is an MMORPG featuring combat vehicles from the 1930s to the 1960s. The online multi-player game is free to play, but players have the option of making in-game purchases for premium features. The focus of the gameplay pits players against other players, each controlling an armored vehicle. Available through the web browser, the game has also been ported to multiple game consoles and mobile platforms. Ratings, clans, and tournament schedules are posted.
https://worldoftanks.com/
WoW is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2004, and part of the Warcraft series that began in 1994. With more than a hundred million registered accounts, it is one of the highest-grossing video game franchises of all time. After creating a game character within the virtual world, new players explore the landscape, fight monsters, complete quests, and interact with non-player characters and other players. A subscription is required.
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/
