I wouldn't put Free Realms on the list because after a few weeks you are likely going to max out those member only jobs.  To get the full benefit of the game you need to pay and there is no way whatsoever to bypass this if you want to advance further.

One game I would put on the list is Dream of Mirror Online (unless it's changed significantly in a year or so - I haven't played it since).  Most of the cash shop advantage items (like pets and EXP boosts) are tradable.  I've found that without paying a penny you could easily advance just as quickly as other players albeit with more effort.  One way to do this is to use the in game crafting system and buy out materials and then craft them and sell them to other players.  Since gear breaks down in the game there is a high demand for new gear and your gear will always sell for far more than the materials are worth.  There is no auction system so you'll need to leave yourself as a market stall while your idle.  (So I guess there is a cost associated with the game, you'll be paying for the bit of electricity you use idling your computer)

I heard Atlantica Online gets pretty expensive past level 100 or so (I never got there myself, but only to about 60 before I quit).  I do know someone who has and he says there is no way you can keep up farming and keep it free to play (while remaining competitive) at this point.  It's a good marketting scheme because at this point you'll be pretty addictive and players are willing to spend hundreds a month to keep up.  I'm not sure about the other 3 you listed, but I'm pretty sure they are the same - at a certain of point it just doesn't become humanly possible to farm enough to keep up even if cash shop items are tradable.

Out of the games you listed I know you can scratch Mabinogi off the list.  I heard it's one of the most expensive F2P to keep competitive with.

Mu online was free like forever.   I played it about 6 years ago and it was completely free, it didn't even have an item shop.  I played it for a long time too, like a year or so before I quit.

I just started playing Chronicles of Spellborn.  It's not amazing, but it's above par.  It's in need of polish, but the setting is fairly interesting, the interface is clever, and the combat system is pretty different.  Supposedly it's being redone and will be getting some of that polish, so it seems to be worth watching.

Originally posted by Calintz333

Originally posted by Leucrotta

Guild Wars, sure you can argue that you have to buy the box, but after that its the only true f2p game out there imo

No hidden costs like the other so called f2ps to be competitive

I agree 100% by dictionary definitions Free -  No cost  To -  Used for expressing motion or direction toward a person place or thing. Play -  activity for amusement.  The game is actually FREE 2 PLAY. Just not FREE 2 buy. I actually been playing GW for many years now lol. I just know if I post it SOME ONE will say "Its not Free 2 play" Some one always does. 

GW is not a MMORPG though.

Cause in this case. Resistance 2 is a great F2P MMORPG

Well, if you guys consider Guild Wars free to play (which I don't, since I spent more than a hundred bucks just to get the trilogy and expansion, though it is definitely worth it), then yes, I've played it far longer than most free to play games. In fact, at this point in time, my record is 4 months with Guild Wars. It is a beautiful game, and very polished as well. And, you don't need the cash shop to stay competitive; in fact, you can actually unlock the skills and equipment necessary ingame. I have attempted to buy stuff from the cash shop before, just to support the company, but they don't accept debit card... *cries*

Other than that, I played Dream of Mirror Online for two months, and I've never bought anything from the cash shop before either. You can buy most of the stuff from other players ingame anyway, which I like. I have bought from the cash shop before, but it was only a bottle of hair dye and anyway, I got the points from some lucky draw. Still ranks as one of the best games I've played so far, and I haven't even spent a dime on it. Only thing I didn't like about it was that some of the guys there were a little too friendly...

I played Destiny Online for roughly one month. The cash shop was nothing gamebreaking either; though I have to admit that if you don't buy from the cash shop, you tend to level up much slower than other people. However, they do sell costumes and hairstyles there, and pets. I've never bought from their cash shop before, but one of these days I might, if they accept debit card.

Originally posted by A.Dantes

I'm guessing you played Mabinogi shortly after it first came out.  With the release of the Iria continent they also did a major restructure of what things require payment.  Like all cash shop games, advancement will be notably faster if you're willing to shell out a large amount of money.  On the other hand, you're spending *alot* of time in game if there's a very large difference.

Exactly what I wanted to point out. Though just a small correction here, rebirth can be done 1 every week with cash shop cards vs. once every 3 weeks without cash shop cards (rebirth allows you to start again at level 1 but keep all your skills for those who didn't know).

Aside from that, the game is far from cash shop heavy. If you put 2 players of the same level against each others (1 used cash shop and the other didn't), the result of the fight is unknown as the cash shop user does not have an upperhand (may it be gear, stats, etc). In other words, it's a fair fight.

Only difference about Mabinogi is that while you are not forced to, it does "recommand" the use of Cash Shop pets (mounts and combat pets. Combat pets are not used while in a party as they have very bad AI but they are extremely usefull if you solo.)

Here's some f2p games I enjoyed. Mabinogi held my interest the longest. 

Mabinogi
DDO
Atlantica
Granado Espada

No such thing as a free lunch, or MMO. Although I am very anti RMT’s this was an interesting read. Some F2P are better than others, but PW was not a bad cash shop game at first, later it became one, so who knows where this list will stand in six months time?