It's no secret that massive multiplayer online games are a risky business; constant supervision, maintenance and content can turn a foray with live service into a consuming game that takes over a developer's entire work staff. Take Bioware for example, who handed the development of Star Wars: The Old Republic over to Broadsword simply because it wasn't allowing them to commit fully to other projects.
With every success-story, however, there are ten failures, but that doesn't necessarily make them awful. Many defunct MMOs have unique gameplay features that were ahead of the time or simply a shining star in a pile of rubble, and it would be wise for current MMO developers to take a look at these games for inspiration.
22 Best Free To Play MMOs Of All Time
MMOs are perfect for players that want to embark on a crazy adventure in another world. This gets a bit easier with free-to-play options.
7 The Matrix Online's Neutral Player Faction Is A Great Way To Diversify Gameplay
- Debut: November 2004
- Closed: July 2009
- Developer: Monolith Productions
- Served as a continuation of The Matrix franchise following the third film
The Matrix Online had many struggles during its troubled lifetime, coming off the back of the middling reception of Matrix 2 and 3, whilst original publisher Ubisoft backed out prior to launch. Despite this, The Matrix Online can be fondly remembered for its tertiary faction system, something unique to mainstream MMOs.
Unlike the single or dual factions of modern massive multiplayer titles, The Matrix Online allowed players to align with a third, neutral faction, The Merovingian, and work dynamically against the other factions. If modern MMOs introduced a wildcard faction like The Merovingian, it would certainly diversify the gameplay, stories and alliances that feature in these games.
6 Club Penguin Mascots Are A Fun, Easy To Achieve Mini-Event
- Debut: October 2005
- Closed: March 2017
- Developer: New Horizon Interactive
- An MMO aimed at children that focused on mini-games and customization within a penguin-populated island
For those growing up in the early 2000s, Club Penguin is a milestone video game where many spent hours at their parties, mini-games or igloos. When it came to the limited-time events, nobody knew how to spike player engagement faster than Club Penguin.
The main reason for this was mascots; 'celebrity' penguins often cited in the game or story that would make brief, selective visits to sign autographs (give a limited edition item) and waddle around. It was a huge success, and if active MMOs had something similar, it would be easy to see how huge numbers of players would accumulate to meet them.
5 Asheron's Call Utilized An Immersive Spell System That Remains Unique
- Debut: November 1999
- Closed: January 2017
- Developer: Turbine Entertainment Software
- A long-running MMORPG set in a seamless 3D heroic fantasy world, with a story spanning thousands of years
Asheron's Call, one of the first MMOs on the market, was a longtime competitor for many early MMOs, inviting a small group of passionate fans to participate regularly in the content. The fanbase was so devoted to the game that in 2017, when Asheron's Call' s closure was announced, there were many attempts to privately purchase or lease the intellectual property.
20 MMORPGs Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre
MMORPGs can be daunting for new players. Luckily, plenty of stellar options exist for those looking to break into the world of online multiplayer.
One of the most memorable aspects of the game was its complicated spell system, which relied on trial-and-error for players to be able to perform the desired magic. It was a challenge to master, so much so that the developers eventually included a secondary, easier method, but the immersion of the process remains a desirable focus for roleplayers.
4 Star Wars Galaxies Strived To Create Player-Run Communities
- Debut: June 2003
- Closed: December 2011
- Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
- A Star Wars MMORPG set during the Galactic Empire, players could side with either the Rebellion or the Empire
In traditional MMOs, player housing is almost certainly guaranteed, but what set Star Wars Galaxies apart was its player cities. Complex systems encouraging mass player congregation, player cities were like something in a sandbox more than an MMO, and as a result, is a cherished mechanic.
Current MMOs could implement this feature to reinforce community further and encourage group play in a way simple clans and guilds cannot. It seems to be a complex set of responsibilities, running and maintaining a city, but in Star Wars Galaxies, it was equally rewarding.
3 Tabula Rasa Was A Traditional MMO Infused With Other Genres
- Debut: November 2007
- Closed: February 2009
- Developer: Destination Games
- A near-future MMO concerning Humanity's last stand against a group of aliens called The Bane
Set in a persistent world that responded to player action, Tabula Rasa centered on a conflict between human alliances and an alien race called The Bane. Missions, NPCs, and gear were all dependent on the state of the world and the war at its center, which required players to fight through any means necessary.
The 18 Best Sci-Fi MMORPGs, Ranked
The allure of an MMORPG that takes place in a sci-fi world is undeniable, and these are the best titles that have a futuristic spin to the narrative.
The methods players could use were heavily modified shooter mechanics, fusing the traditional slow-paced combat of MMOs with gunplay that kept Tabula Rasa fresh and engaging. Packed into a sci-fi world, Tabula Rasa had a wide selection of inspirations that influenced its design, something current MMOs could utilize to make themselves more individualistic.
2 The Horizontal Character Progression In The Chronicles Of Spellborn Is Unique
- Debut: November 2008
- Closed: August 2010
- Developer: Spellborn International
- A high-fantasy MMO concerning a shattered world that has been reduced to different 'Shards'
Unlike most MMOs, The Chronicles of Spellborn put zero emphasis on weapon and armor choices, making both entirely cosmetic. Instead, skill and progression were formulated through the development of skills and abilities to create better characters, making them hugely accessible and viable in most forms of combat found in the MMO.
Modern MMOs could take the Spellborn formula further, as it was still restrained by class and lockout skills, and instead do away with vertical progression and unique skills entirely, allowing every character access to the same things, just not all at once. It would certainly be an engaging new model not yet seen in MMOs.
1 Lego Universe Is Low-Stakes Fun Reliant On Friendly Cooperation
- Debut: October 2010
- Closed: January 2012
- Developer: NetDevil
- Based on Lego products, this MMO aimed at children sent players on a mission to build, explore and defeat evil creatures called The Maelstrom
Almost every MMO thrusts the player at the center of an ancient crisis, destined to destroy the big bad or heal the world. Whilst Lego Universe may have eventually traveled this route if it had not closed down in 2012, what players experienced was a fun RPG that relied on players working together, never apart.
The only exception to this was leaderboards and races, but both were designed to encourage friendly competition, not all-out rivalry. There was no PvP and no meta for player-killing, creating a richly low-stakes world that was fun to be in. More MMOs need to adopt what Lego Universe had; a sense of adventure, not marred by heavy storytelling.