TLDR version:

What can I play RIGHT NOW? I need a game with a pop. Are WoW and Rift my only options right now for a game I can jump into and play with other people at any time?

I'm open to anything: theme park, indy, single-player.

I would love to try ArcheAge and GW2, but there is still some waiting to do.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Extended version:

I'm looking for a game I can just log into and play. It needs to have a population on most of the time.

Theme park games

I'm open to Rift if that's where all the people are now, but I'm not excited about it. I played it in beta and wasn't that excited by it. It didn't seem like a huge, mysterious world. It felt very familiar and there weren't any wierd races for my toon. But if there is a good pvp pop and lots of stuff to do solo or with others at any time, then I could try it out again.

WoW is do-able, but after 2 solid years + 2 resubs after Cata, I just think I'm done there. Even though I say that, I think for $15 I can still go in and get a guaranteed BG. But I'm  just burnt out on it.

I just tried WAR again during my 10 free days and not a single SC popped. my highest toon there is lvl 23, but I don't think I will go back tbh. It's really quite dead where my toon is and I can't imagine how hard it will be to level it up and RR level as well. It was depressing tbh.

Tried Aion on the 10-day as well. It's just not something I want to do. I had to go collect some pluma feathers or something. I just can't do it. Made it to level 22 and I think that's where I'll leave it. I got bored spamming 1-2-3-4 over and over killing plumas. Then I was supposed to go gather some roots or something...

Got an 80 Guard in AoC, not interested in grinding the expansion at all. Don't think there is much of a pop there from what I've been reading.

Indy Games

I've been toying with the idea of going back to Darkfall. They have a 3 month sub deal for $25. I like the combat mechanics. I like leveling up or skilling up. I like the sense of "progress" when I play. But my toon is getting close to the point where I should join a clan. I just don't have a regular play schedule or time to do that very often. Like I said, I need a game to jump on and play any time.

I have active subs to Xsyon and Earthrise. Not enough good combat in Xsyon to keep me entertained. Great community and lots of stuff to do with potential, but I'm not feeling it now. Earthrise has lots of problems and I don't want to beta test it. I won't go back to Mortal Online, because obviously there aren't that many people playing it and it has too many issues as well.

Single-player games

Time to take a break from mmorpgs?

Morrowind was my ALL TIME favorite game. Oblivion was excellent. I played both of those for years and there is nothing more I can do.  I have tried Dragon Age but it just doesn't make that excited of fill me with the sense adventure that the Elder Scrolls games do.

I loved Deus Ex. Trying to get into Mass Effect. Just downloaded Diablo II, but it gets old after about 30 minutes of .... what? just killing stuff and smashing barrels...

FPS

I've got BBC2 and Quake 3 ready to go whenever I just need to go shoot stuff. That works. But there is no sense of "progress," so that's why I'm asking here.

Thanks if you've read this far!

Originally posted by PWN_FACE

Tried Aion on the 10-day as well. It's just not something I want to do. I had to go collect some pluma feathers or something. I just can't do it. Made it to level 22 and I think that's where I'll leave it. I got bored spamming 1-2-3-4 over and over killing plumas. Then I was supposed to go gather some roots or something...

Last time I checked the Aion trial lets you get to level 7.  How did you get to level 22? You get about 5 hours of total gameplay as well.  Something doesn't seem genuine here...(you've quoted the common Aion complaint...sounds l ike you're simply quoting what you've heard, not experienced yourself)

Anyway, there are more games out today than ever before...surely you can find something.  There are a copious amount of choices other than just WoW or RIFT.

Did ya try Aion recently?   I recently went back for their reactivation event and I really like what I found.

A lot of sweeping changes that makes the game dramatically more fun.

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Did ya try Aion?   I recently went back for their reactivation event and I really like what I found.

A lot of sweeping changes that makes the game dramatically more fun.

He said he did the trial and got to level 22...which I call BS on.  The trial lets you get to level 7, or 5 hours.  He then quoted the common complaint, which he's obviously heard on the forums and hasn't experenced for himself.

If an OP is going to find a game to play, he's gotta give what's out there a fair chance instead of following the hot topics on the forums.

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Did ya try Aion recently?   I recently went back for their reactivation event and I really like what I found.

A lot of sweeping changes that makes the game dramatically more fun.

 Can you tell me what you liked about it? I still have 8 days left. Am I doing something wrong by doing the quests? How can I get to some fun pvp? Thanks.

@ Qazz - sorry, I meant the "reactivation event," so it's really not BS. I'm parked at the Elyos base in Eltnan where the plumas are.

Originally posted by Qazz

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Did ya try Aion?   I recently went back for their reactivation event and I really like what I found.

A lot of sweeping changes that makes the game dramatically more fun.

He said he did the trial and got to level 22...which I call BS on.  The trial lets you get to level 7, or 5 hours.  He then quoted the common complaint, which he's obviously heard on the forums and hasn't experenced for himself.

If an OP is going to find a game to play, he's gotta give what's out there a fair chance instead of following the hot topics on the forums.

Well I mean besides the complaint he listed off being common amongst all games everywhere...

He claimed he couldn't do it any more in reference to gathering items and killing monsters... Sounds like games are not for him

Originally posted by PWN_FACE

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Did ya try Aion recently?   I recently went back for their reactivation event and I really like what I found.

A lot of sweeping changes that makes the game dramatically more fun.

 Can you tell me what you liked about it? I still have 8 days left. Am I doing something wrong by doing the quests? How can I get to some fun pvp? Thanks.

@ Qazz - sorry, I meant the "reactivation event," so it's really not BS. I'm parked at the Elyos base in Eltnan where the plumas are.

What do you want from an MMO?   Find a guild and some people and start playing together, Aion offers a similar experience to many other games out there, it has quests and monters to kill, rare spawns and areas to explore.

What do you like to do in games?   I bet Aion has that.

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Originally posted by Qazz

Originally posted by Laughing-man

Did ya try Aion?   I recently went back for their reactivation event and I really like what I found.

A lot of sweeping changes that makes the game dramatically more fun.

He said he did the trial and got to level 22...which I call BS on.  The trial lets you get to level 7, or 5 hours.  He then quoted the common complaint, which he's obviously heard on the forums and hasn't experenced for himself.

If an OP is going to find a game to play, he's gotta give what's out there a fair chance instead of following the hot topics on the forums.

Well I mean besides the complaint he listed off being common amongst all games everywhere...

He claimed he couldn't do it any more in reference to gathering items and killing monsters... Sounds like games are not for him

 Oh no...so after a long day of work I have to read a book?  Noooooo!

I definitely hope games are still for me, since I need to read all day for my job.

Exploring and fighting are fun. Games with open worlds and meaningful pvp would be good. How is Rift in this respect?

I will use my 8 days of Aion and pop on again tomorrow. Maybe go look around Eltnen some more.

I have to say that for me, an MMO on it's own would never keep me playing.  It's the social aspect.  Find a group of friends that get along and have the same mind and you won't be bored in nearly any MMO.  I've been in the MMO doldrums before, and have even questioned whether or not I had outgrown MMO's.  Alas, I found an awesome group of players again and it's almost like old times.  

Look for people as much as you look for a game and you'll be cured of your boredom IMHO.

It makes sense, Qazz.

Thanks Laughing Man and Qazz for the comments.

Cheers.

All i got from this thread is.... Most games i play are dull and boring. Hows Rift ? Aion is boring, is Rift any good ? Oh and after i play my other games i have played do you think i should get Rift ?

Seriously you have your mind made up or your a Rift Fanboi trying to get others to spout how great Rift is. 

If you like Rift go play it, otherwise dont coach it so much if your really on the fence about games your interested in trying. 

Lord of the rings online is Freemium, so you can try it before you put cash into it, so is Saga of Ryzom. 

There now you have two games you have not mentioned and they wont cost you a dime if they do not meet your rift-like expectations.

MMO

You can always try EQ2 first, or LOTRO before going back to WoW, since they provide a F2P option to try out. 

But as for the pop, Rift is probably your best bet, with the rift dynamic system, soul system, and the fact that you can respec so easily, probably means you can change your character on the go and jump into the game and play with other people. (my experiences are mostly from the closed beta and open beta) 

As for indy games, I cant honestly suggest anything else other than Minecraft lol, I never played it myself, but from the reaction of all my friends and people on this forum, it has to be some kinda of godsend to have those reactions.

You also mentioned you want to try GW2, might never hurt to try Guild Wars first, with a 30 day trial (Im not sure how long it is) should give you enough time to try the game out.

Vindictus is F2P, with region lock to NA, a FPS hack n slash, instanced dungeon based  action mmo, able to just jump in and have fun, but the fun probably won't last too long (I played before Evie update, so the game might have changed a bit)

From the games you tried before, you don't seem to be a sci-fi kinda guy, so I'll leave those suggestions brief

Black Phophecy recently went into Open Beta in EU ad Closed Beta in NA, a space mmo similar to EVE online but focus on action space combat, with tactical manuveur and skill gameplay (allegedly, thats what most of the features say)

EVE online mentioned above, but with a much higher focus on trading and economy, a sandbox game. doesn't seem to be the sort where you can just jump in and play with others

Fallen Earth, similar kinda stuff to Darkfall, but sci-fi apocolytic shooter, if you played Fallout 3, should feel familiar to you then.

Perpetuum is a mecha mmo from I have researched, indy game.

SINGLE PLAYER

Dragon Age - RPG by Bioware, a dark fantasy themed tactic based rpg

Mass Effect - sci-fi rpg, if you played rpg as well as shooter, Mass Effect 2 should be your cup of tea, massive game.

Assassin's Creed - probably my fav single player game along with the two above mentioned, refreshing combat system, great story, open world sandbox? and who doesn't like assassins with blade underneath their wrist ready for some action :P

hope this helps

MMO's (note: times are for mid-hardcore gamer)

Fallen earth - good for about 1 year...  Deep post-apoc setting, good (yet repetative) music, lots of missions (quests), decent crafting system (for usable items), voluntary PVP

DCUO - good for about 3 months...  Casual game-play style, good animation, action based combat, PVP very fun (but not always optional)

G&H:RR - Helped to test this back in 2008, so i fgured i'd lend feed back this time around too.  Nice graphics and cut-scenes but the combat animation and quest texts stll need tweeking...

Non MMO's

The Sims™ Medieval - Not as robust as the Sims 3, but a lot of fun for a time-killer

Dragon Age(s) - A bit linear and a bit talkative, but deep enough to keep a person at the keyboard for a few hours each day...

Looking forward to:

SWTOR - Like everyone else

Black Prophacy - Ok, this game looks like it could take off pretty well...if it has enough content...

incase you havent tried--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqKw2Z-iNJY&feature=related <--

or maybe couple rounds of gunsmoke in World of Tanks?or Black Prophecy?pretty much like WOT in space.

or something completely different like Atlantica Online.

I had a friggin BLAST when I discovered Mount and Blade (non MMORPG).

Yeah . .. Darkfall is not easy to just jump into. You never know if youll have to be at the edge of your seat or if you will be able to eat while you play or even get up to go to the bathroom sometimes but if you are blue and make tons of ready bags (like once a week put everything you need in a set in a bag, like 3-5 bags like this) and then it becomes a lot more casual friendly. Do not bother trading much and make sure you dont hoard crap and be fast to wear your best or just delete items or you will end up wasting time in the future having to go through them.

Guidwars and Global Agenda are some of the most casual friendly games in the market.

Warhammer has got to be too but I didn't like the end game.

I think you've played so many MMOs you should look for something different. Have you tested EVE, Wizard 101 and Dofus?

Some good single-player games if you don't mind the graphics: Fallout 1 & 2 and Neverwinter Nights.

Zombies Ate my neighbors. If you hate it, then you're just too young.

Yeah, I'm thinking I'm in the same boat as the OP here myself.  Got totally burnt out of WoW after 4+ years, and Cataclysm was teh last straw for me.  Tried a few of the Rift beta's lost interest in that game pretty quick.  I will say tho it was amazingly polished and smooth running (even on max settings) for a Beta. Makes me laugh at all those times in WoW when the servers were practically unplayable on patch day with a major content update.  From 1.60 (Blackwing Lair) to 3.1 (Ulduar) it seemed to be just one failpatch after another.  BWL was especially bad.

OK, so tried a 21 day trial of EvE Online, nice game, but I probably don't like space-based stuff too much, just not for me, and one reason I'm not really looking for SWTOR.

I played EQ2 for awhile during one of those many times I unsubbed from WoW (this particular time was during patch 3.2, which I skipped).  I really didn't like the incredible lag in guild halls, or areas like Nek Forest.  That and the annoying memory leaks, and the empty game world feeling that player housing/guild halls created just did me in.

So; I decided maybe a single player RPG with an open world might be a nice break for a change from the constant trade chat trolls, stale chuck norris jokes, anal spam, gold seller/powerleveling service spam of WoW so I bought Oblivion from steam.  It seemed to be a 1/2 decent game, but couldn't really get into it either.

I miss the feeling I got when I played Half Life 2 for the first time; holy shit that game sucked me in so hard, I couldn't stop playing it till I reached the end.  The amazing thing was I loved replaying some of my favorite chapters over again, to see if I could do something better, or just explore a bit.  The story was intense, and sure the loading screens were a little annoying, but put together so well, it seemed the entire game was one big level. The incredibly well done sound effects really added to the immersion as well.

Ok, I thought about trying Vanguard, but people said the population is quite low so I haven't tried that yet.  That leaves maybe LOTRO, and the original guild wars series.  By the time I discovered GW1, it was already dated by then so I never got into it.

Any suggestions?