MMO Games are arguably one of the most exciting genres. With the promise of a huge world, high player interaction, and endless content, there's a reason so many players eagerly await the next big thing. Although some major MMOs, such as Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft are still excelling in the genre, and as a “killer” MMO of the two seems increasingly far-fetched, there is certainly room within the genre to contain multiple compelling entries.
Coming in 2025 and beyond, there are a number of new entries that could be promising contenders in the genre. While it's often difficult for new MMOs to gain a foothold in a genre that demands immediate player retention, when done correctly, MMOs can be one of the most rewarding genres to get involved in. From returning IPs, early expansions, and completely new versions, There's a lot to expect from the ancient genre.
10
Corepunk
Hardcore Science Fiction
Corepunkan old school style sci-fi MMO, releasing in early access on November 24, 2024. With an isometric view and right-click to move, Corepunk is an attractive mix of the MMO, ARPG and Moba genres. The actual gameplay is slower paced and, like many games on this list, is more comparable to MMOs from the early 2000s, with slow, immersive leveling experiences.
Although the game was released in buy-to-play status, Corepunk is still far from its full release. An important design philosophy is the lack of quest and direction markers, an attempt to recreate the old style of MMOs where players are essentially dropped into a new world with little to no tutorial. CorepunkWith its mix of old-school design and modern, genre-blending gameplay, it's certainly trying something new and is worth keeping an eye on as it develops in Early Access.
9
Chrono Odyssey
State-of-the-art graphics and gameplay
Despite being plagued by development delays and complications, Chrono Odyssey is still being firmly developed, albeit now with a more ambiguous release date than the originally planned 2022 date. Being developed in Unreal Engine 5, Chrono Odyssey has already showcased its impressive graphics and fluid combatwhich is usually enough to get fans excited about what comes next.
Beyond Next-Gen Looks Chrono Odysseythe exact details of the MMO's gameplay and style are still a bit ambiguous. MMOs can often take advantage of these modern features during their initial release, and they always seem to generate a level of excitement and engagement because of them. The difficulty, as with all MMOs, will be as Chrono Odyssey maintains its inevitable initial hype. Certainly, C.Odyssey time It looks promising, but fans will have to wait and see what else is in store for players.
8
Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO
A family journey
Amazon Games is working on a new THE Lord of the Rings MMO after its first attempt at the genre New World. This would be the second SDA MMO, with the first, The Lord of the Rings Onlinelaunched in 2007 and still receiving expansions. LOTRO It has maintained steady relevance since its release, with the game leaning on its story and leveling elements, which are substantially helped by the iconic IP it is based on.
LOTRO is certainly dated, with graphics and controls that don't feel a day more up-to-date since its introduction in 2007. Despite continual updates and a loyal fan base a new SDA The MMO would certainly generate a lot of excitement as a result of the beloved IP. LOTRO remains a much-loved installment, but a fresh coat of paint and modernized features could go a long way in a new attempt to gamify the massive world of The Lord of the Ringsa traditionally difficult undertaking, especially with the budget at Amazon Games' disposal.
7
Soul Structure
Next release from Warframe developers
Coming from Digital Extremes, developer of the old looter shooter, Exoskeleton, Soul Structure is set to expand the developers' genre horizons in an expected release in 2025. While that release likely won't be the full game, based on the studio's past success and dedication to Exoskeletonwhich is now better than ever, players can expect the same amount of love in this upcoming MMO.
Soul structure is still in its early stages, but has already withdrawn from many of the Warframe systems. Combat appears to be focused on meleewith a slower and heavier combat style. The fantasy setting of Soul structure it certainly differs from its predecessor's sci-fi approach, with a heavy emphasis thus far on overgrown ruins and a generally nature-centric look. There is not a huge amount to spend Soul Structurebut based on the studio's previous work, Soul structure it could certainly become a contender for the genre.
6
Ashes of Creation
An immense scale
Ashes of Creation It was already playable and has already attracted countless players to its traditional gameplay. Although it is still in its first technical tests, with an exorbitant starting price, Ashes of Creation showed immense promise in its nostalgic gameplay pillars. The upcoming MMO has put a lot of focus on its sense of adventure and the risk-reward gameplay that comes with it. Traveling takes time, with the scale of the world feeling enormous and full of secrets, and it is bound to be full of exciting dangers for players and NPCs on the path to glory.
The gameplay also appears to be a fairly fluid take on traditional tab-based combat systems. Although it is difficult to recommend Ashes of Creation Right now, with its expensive price tag and unfinished state, it's certainly a game that demands a lot of attention from fans of the genre, especially as more of its massive world is realized.
5
Monsters and Memories
Old school inspired adventure
Monster and Memories is scheduled for early access release in January 2026, with a subscription-based payment model. The game is being made independently and therefore doesn't have the same budget as some of the other more conventional games on this list. Without considering, Monsters and Memories looks like a suitable treat for fans of old-school RPGs and MMOs of the early 2000s, as Wow, EverQuestand Runescape.
As Ashes of Creation, Monsters and Memories seems to put an emphasis on the leveling and adventure aspects of MMOs. While this seems like a popular choice for upcoming games in the genre, it's important to note that this has been a largely absent concern in MMOs in recent years. The distinctive art style seems to offset its low-fidelity graphics with a strong atmosphere, perfect for risky dungeon delves and adventures. With its Early Access release just over a year from now, fans of the games that inspired it should keep an eye on its development.
4
Dune: Awakening
Control the seasoning
Dune: Awakeningcoming off the successes of the recent Dune films, will take players to Arrakis. Although there are some Dune games, like the excellent strategy game, Spice War in the Dunes, Seeing an MMO-scale Arrakis is exciting in its own right. The game will feature many survival game mechanics suited to the hostile planet the game will take place on.
While it's not a traditional MMO – it feels more server- and instance-bound than some other games on this list – large player conflicts are one of the game's selling points, with players engaging in vehicular and ground combat against other players to keep the game going. seasoning control. Also, like other survival games, Dune: Awakening will feature player base buildinga feature not so common in MMOs. It seems that Dune: Awakening is on the right track to get the atmosphere right Dune universe; he just needs to make sure the gameplay comes out as well.
3
FFXIV's next expansion
Expected and Consistent
While it may be cheating to include an unannounced expansion, MMOs are a complicated genre where a game's eventual release can never be taken for granted. As Wow, FFXIVat the very least, promises and delivers a consistent series of updates and releases for its consistent fan base.
While Dawn trail certainly had a more mixed reception than is typical for the established MMO, a new FFXIV expansion and its promise of an engaging story, new jobs, and cleverly designed fights will inevitably continue to attract players new and old. With the game's initial story arc concluding in Endwalker, Dawn trail did the setup work to create a new arc for the game to follow. Although it may be a difficult start in this endeavor, expectation still hangs in the air about where FFXIV will take players in the future.
2
Riot Games MMO
An already expansive scenario
Perhaps the most anticipated MMO yet, Riot Games' untitled MMO project is still in development. Set to take place in Runeterra, the world of League of Legends IP, the project is already met with high expectations. Coming from a studio that typically creates masterclasses in established genres, this The MMO project will be the most difficult project yet. MMOs are a notoriously difficult genre to break into, but if any studio wants to do it right, it will certainly be Riot Games.
Right now, there's little to no information about the project beyond its setting, and it's more than likely that players are still years away from getting their hands on the game. It's unknown what kind of control scheme and content pillars Riot will lean on, but of course, PvP seems like a logical choice for inclusion based on its past games. Runeterra has been consistently crafted into a compelling settingand will undoubtedly be an important selling point for the project.
1
Wow: midnight
The second part of the Worldsoul saga
Wow: midnight is the second installment of the Worldsoul Saga, a new approach to Wow expansions in which a story arc unfolds across multiple expansions. After Dragon-fly fundamentally modernized Wow, The war withinand probably the rest of the Worldsoul Saga will use this new and strong foundation. Dragon-fly and The war within were successful expansions after an arguable low point for the MMO, and no doubt Midnight this trend will continue.
Wow: midnight will see players returning to Quel'Thalasthe home of the elves, to continue dealing with the new void threat led by Xalatath. In Midnightplayers will likely see some zones in the Eastern Kingdom revamped, including the beautiful and fragile Silvermoon City.
Player Housing is also scheduled to launch in Midnighta feature that players have been asking for since the early days of Wow. It's currently unknown how Blizzard will approach this key MMO feature, but it will undoubtedly shake up the game as a whole. At the moment, Midnight is scheduled to be properly revealed in the summer of 2025with Blizzard aiming for a faster release schedule for expansions. There's a lot to look forward to with these upcoming MMOs. We hope these games are successful and continue to develop the genre that is so beloved by fans around the world.