Despite everything going on in the world, 2020 was a great year for gamers. As well as the return of some long dormant franchises, we were also treated to plenty of top new titles and a brand new generation of gaming consoles. Believe it or not, this year looks set to be even better.
One of the genres that looks particularly exciting is that of MMOs, with a host of fantastic looking titles slated for release over the next 12 months. Due to the large scale of some of these games, it’s possible that some of them could slip into 2022. Based on the latest screenshots and trailers though, the majority should be ready before the year is out.
10 Project BBQ
Having grossed well over $15 billion during its lifetime, Dungeon Fighter Online is one of the most successful video games ever made. With that in mind, it’s not too surprising that a successor is currently in the works. Project BBQ will be a 3D MMORPG and — if the most recent trailer is anything to go by — it will be a mighty good one at that.
The game looks fantastic, but it’s the incredibly fast-paced combat that really catches the eye. Having originally been slated for a release at some point during 2020, the game is already a little behind schedule. Considering just how polished the current build of the game is looking though, we shouldn’t have to wait too much longer.
9 Crowfall
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign which saw the developers bring in more than double their initial $800,000 goal, Crowfall seems to be on track to make its August 11 release date. Sign-ups for the Beta are currently open and the footage released so far looks pretty impressive. Assuming nothing goes wrong over the next seven months, it looks set to be one hell of a game.
Describing itself as an online throne war, the game will offer intense PvP battles, a fully shapable world, and a highly detailed character progression system. Only time will tell whether or not it’s able to deliver on its obvious potential, but given the resumes of some of the team behind the game, only a fool would bet against it.
8 New World
Considering the financial clout of Amazon, it’s perhaps a little surprising that we’ve seen so little of New World. That will no doubt change pretty quickly though as the game’s Spring 2021 release date begins to loom larger on the horizon. From what little we have seen, however, it looks to be shaping up nicely.
The game will feature souls-like combat, with the developers making the brave decision to do away with the traditional MMO class system and instead allow players to attribute stat points however they choose. With the game having already been delayed several times already though, we may have to wait a bit longer to finally get a taste of the retail giant’s new world.
7 Reign Of Guilds
Set deep in the middle ages, Reign of Guilds features a huge world for players to explore that’s packed with lore, interesting NPCs, and its own in-depth economy complete with realistic taxation on goods and services. That last part might not sound too enticing, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.
PvP looks set to play a fairly big role in the game, although thankfully there’ll be a separate PvE only section for those who don’t like the idea of being stomped on by more experienced players as soon as they log in. It’s far from the most visually impressive game coming out this year, but it’s certainly one of the most ambitious.
6 Dual Universe
What do you get if you combine elements of Star Citizen, Minecraft, and No Man’s Sky? Well, according to developer Novaquark, the answer is their upcoming space-based MMO, Dual Universe. With a continuous single-shared universe, the game will apparently feature mining, crafting, and trading as well as a healthy dose of PvP combat.
Many have tried and failed to master the sci-fi themed MMO and although games like EVE Online show that it’s possible, it’s no easy feat. More than 8,000 people seem to believe that the team at Novaquark can pull it off though and the footage released so far suggests that they’re at least on the right track.
5 Blue Protocol
Bandai Namco doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to MMOs, but everything we’ve seen so far suggests that Blue Protocol could definitely buck that trend. The game looks absolutely stunning and should have more than enough content to keep players engaged for quite some time.
Despite some early confusion, it now seems that the game will indeed be getting a worldwide release, although Western players will likely have to wait a little longer to get their hands on it than those living in Asia. Having recently missed its anticipated launch window, many now expect the game to surface in the early part of 2021 with a Western release following a little further down the line.
4 Ashes Of Creation
Ashes of Creation is one of the most successful video game projects to have ever graced Kickstarter, with over $3 million dollars pledged by around 20,000 backers. One of its main selling points is its vivid and detailed world which developers claim will constantly react to the choices and actions of players. It might not be there just yet, but early reports from beta testers suggest that it’s well on its way.
The idea of dynamic cities whose populations rise and fall as time progresses is an incredibly innovative one and could prove to be a real game-changer when it comes to differentiating the title from other MMORPGs. This change promises to play a huge role in the AoC experience, but whether or not the game will succeed in changing the genre itself remains to be seen.
3 Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Set in the same universe as Phantasy Star Online 2, New Genesis‘ page on the official Xbox website vows that the game will surpass its predecessor “in every way.” This is quite a bold statement, considering how revered PSO2 remains in some Asian territories.
Visually, at least, the game looks certain to deliver on this promise, but this was always to be expected given that PSO2 will soon be celebrating its 10th year on the market. The real test will be trying to improve on the extensive character customization options and well fleshed-out questlines that have helped to make the game so very popular in the east.
2 Lost Ark
Lost Ark has already been out in Korea for more than two years now, but thanks to a recent publishing deal with Amazon Games, Smilegate’s award-winning MMO should finally be making its way west at some point during 2021. This beautifully presented top-down hack ‘n’ slash is well worth the wait.
While this two year delay will be seen by many as a massive handicap for those playing in the west, it also spares them from some of the game’s early teething problems. If its performance in Korea is anything to go by though, this action role playing game has the potential to remain relevant for quite some time and so whichever way one looks at it, it’s definitely a case of better late than never.
1 Corepunk
With the last big cyberpunk-themed game having failed to deliver a stable experience, fans of the genre will be hoping that Artificial Core’s upcoming MMO Corepunk is a bit less broken. Considering the game’s lengthy development cycle and what we’ve seen so far though, they needn’t worry too much about that.
Featuring both PvP and PvE, the game’s world will feature four distinct cultures; each with vastly different ideologies. According to the game’s producer, around 60% of the experience will be centered around end-game content which suggests that the team is already thinking about the long-term sustainability of the title as well. Given how many MMOs run out of steam not long after their release, this is definitely a promising sign.
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