Best MMOs For Short Play Sessions

MMOs aren't just games, they're basically entire lifestyles that require complete attention and a staggering amount of time from their players. Unfortunately for some and fortunately for others, MMOs are incredibly engaging and can easily make players lose track of said time, even if the result is minimal progress in the overall progression of the game—and that's not necessarily the most convenient thing for many casual gamers.

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By  C.M Edwards

Generally, MMOs are designed to eat up time and keep players coming back for more. They usually have considerably complex systems and mechanics that tend to have a pretty steep learning curve—again, the more time a player spends playing, the better equipped they will be to experience these games. However, the bright side is that this particular genre is very diverse and extensive. Finding MMOs that don't feel like a chore or a job in the long run, yet allow significant progress in short play sessions, is definitely challenging but certainly not impossible.

1 Blade & Soul

Wuxia-Themed MMO With Exceptional Combat Mechanics

• Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android
• Released: 2012-06-03
• Developer(s): NCSoft

Blade & Soul is a South Korean fantasy martial arts MMORPG that was developed and released by NCsoft in 2012 and has managed to create quite a name for itself since then. It even got an anime adaptation in 2014.

For people who have time constraints, Blade & Soul can be a pretty good choice thanks to its easy daily and weekly quests and relatively easy dungeon runs. The end-game content is pretty challenging, but even that can be done in a limited time. However, reaching the end game can take considerable time for players with limited availability and may require the best gear, which is understandably very grind-intensive.

2 Palia

Non-Combat Entry Providing The Ultimate Relaxation

In theory, a non-combat MMORPG is probably not the most interesting or exciting concept for a game. There are plenty of MMOs out there that offer gameplay experiences beyond combat, but some form of it is usually present in the game, in one way or another. However, Singularity 6's Palia, with its absolutely zero combat and violence policy, is one of the rare ones that prove otherwise.

Palia's gameplay revolves around the simple act of existence, yet even after brief play sessions, players still experience significant progression within the game . Players will always find something to do; whether it's farming, cooking, building, interacting with NPCs, and/or exploring. Despite being an MMO, the game feels solo most of the time, which isn't always the best thing for those who want more multiplayer content. Yet, it's not necessarily a drawback either, given its rich diversity in gameplay, despite being entirely non-combat.

3 New World

A Game With Stunning Graphics And Fun Self-Paced Mindless Grinding

Despite the bad rep it gets, New World can turn out to be a pretty good laid-back gaming experience for a casual gamer who doesn't want to spend too much time grinding but still wants to progress considerably. The stunning and extensively realistic visuals (for an MMORPG) add to the "playability" of it and make it a very personalized experience.

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By  Mac Wheeler

The best part about New World is the fact that players can progress quite well even if they play solo. Solo players can achieve almost everything they want for the end-game gear, and even the end-game grind isn't as tough and demanding as some other MMOs. Players can have short play sessions and get experience points by doing basically anything; fishing, crafting, farming, jumping into dungeons, or simply enjoying the audiovisuals of the game (although this won't earn anyone experience points). It's one of the most friendly PvE games out there.

4 Final Fantasy 14

One Of The Big Names With A Surprisingly Accessible And Casual MMORPG Experience

Final Fantasy 14 is a big name when it comes to MMORPGs, and one would naturally think that a title this acclaimed would have anything but accessible gameplay that's friendly for short play sessions. However, FF14 is one of the most time-friendly and casual MMORPGs out there.

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Most of the game can be solo-ed without any excessive interaction with other players (unless it really matters, like some boss fights that require an 8-man party). The main story is very interesting, and the game can be played like a normal JRPG at the player's own pace. Just twenty to thirty minutes of playtime spent on quests, bosses, and dungeons is enough to feel some tangible progress.

5 The Elder Scrolls Online

Non-Linear Progress Tailored For Every Player

The Elder Scrolls Online suits just about any playstyle imaginable, from the hardcore grinder to the laid-back casual, or even those who pop in every few months just to see what's new. The game is entirely non-linear, and the progress is completely horizontal, allowing the players that "short-session" freedom.

Everything in the game is casual-friendly, and it naturally lets players build themselves up. A few hours every week is enough to get the most out of the game by doing nothing more than questing, crafting, and soloing dungeons (unless it's a vet dungeon). It's easy to slowly work up to the top without having the progression feel stagnant.

6 Warframe

Action-Packed Gameplay In Bite-Sized Bursts

For a game that looks and progresses the way it does, one would expect Warframe to take itself a bit too seriously and demand a lot of hours from its players. While it does, very understandably, take itself seriously, it's one of the few MMOs out there that can squeeze in massive amounts of action and progress into little, fifteen to twenty-minute missions.

The game almost always plays in short, intense bursts, that give players the same gratification they would get from playing hours on hours of it. And while that does depend on the player's progress or the specific mission they're opting for, the general gist of the entire game is short-play friendly. This is further amplified by the fact that the game doesn't have a lot of waiting time either; players can find and start missions in under thirty seconds, allowing them to make the most out of their short grind sessions.

7 Guild Wars 2

Horizontal Progression, Immersive Open-World, And Very Rewarding Missions

Among MMO players, Guild Wars 2 from ArenaNet is collectively regarded as one of the most user-friendly games for short play sessions in the entire MMO industry. The game is specifically designed for the busy people out there who can't offer more than an hour or two to a game, even less.

Most story missions and instances will take about 30-40 minutes in the game. The daily quests and achievements can easily be done in a few minutes, and while some end-game content might take the player a bit more effort and grind, the game is designed to be very time-friendly. It has horizontal progression and a very immersive open world that never runs out of things to do. It also has a very achievable 80-level cap that allows fans to play the game completely at their own pace.

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