2023 was a good year for MMORPGs. Even without a major new MMO release, we saw plenty of good expansions hit older MMOs. Even with the expansion hoopla, I spent less time playing MMOs in 2023 than in any year since 2004. I just couldn't pull myself away from all of the great single-player and co-op titles that were released this year. Baldur’s Gate 3, a trip back to Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Motorsport, and several other great games took every minute of gaming I had available.
After a year away from MMOs, I feel like I'm ready to catch up on everything MMO that I missed in 2023. With the new year just around the corner, I’ve compiled a list of 5 MMORPGs that I want to revisit in 2024. And, just like in 2023, I can think of at least five single-player games that could end up getting in the way.
Albion Online
I spent a few months gathering and crafting when Albion Online was released back in 2017. Albion Online has always been focused on PvP, and after a while, I realized I didn’t have the time to spend working in a high-end guild to advance to the higher tier content.
2023 saw some major updates for Albion Online, which included improvements to personal islands and farming - things that I have always enjoyed. Tracking was also introduced, giving a new option for PvE addicts. Those two updates alone are enough to have me wanting to give Albion Online another try in 2024, and if I can keep away from all of those single-player games, maybe I will be able to dedicate the time I need to get in with a decent guild this time around.
Skull & Bones
It didn’t even take me the full six hours of the recent Skull & Bones Beta test to know that I need to clear my calendar for when it releases on February 16, 2024, leaving at least the back half of February MMO-free. In this rags-to-riches adventure, we will take over as captain after a terrible defeat at the hands of the British Navy. As our infamy rises, we’ll be able to expand our fleet and bring more cannons to bear against our enemies in a shared-ocean filled with quests and co-op and PvP multiplayer combat as we become the greatest pirate kingpin the world has ever known.
Elder Scrolls Online
What real gamer hasn’t given Elder Scrolls Online a try? I know I have. Several times. But for some reason, ESO just hasn’t resonated with me the way all of the single-player Elder Scrolls games have.
Now, with the rogue-lite addition of the Endless Archives, there’s a new way to play ESO. Sure, it’s not exactly what I’m looking for, but I have always enjoyed tower climbs in other MMOs. Add in all of the other updates that make ESO more inviting to a solo player - tons of solo content that scales to your level, companions to help you battle the harder difficulty stuff, and the addition of the Arcanist in the latest update really makes ESO an attractive proposition for 2024. And speaking of the Arcanist, ESO is included in the Steam Winter Sale (also available on the Epic Games Store for the same price), and you can grab the base game along with 10 years of expansions, including Necrom, for less than $20!
Zenless Zone Zero
HoYoverse tried to pull me in with Honkai Star Rail, but it just didn’t capture me the way that Genshin Impact did. With its fast-paced combat, a crazy list of characters, a weird set of weapons, and enough of an insane anime vibe to keep me wondering why the hell a 53-year-old man is playing this thing, Zenless Zen Zero may be the odd pick that keeps me from playing MMOs into the wee hours of the night.
Black Desert Online
Releasing to the West in 2016, Black Desert Online was, and still is, one of the most visually appealing MMOs. And with new classes arriving throughout its life, you’ll spend plenty of time creating the perfect avatar in BDO’s excellent character creation suite. BDO is also well-know for one other thing - the grind. Yep, BDO’s grind was enough to wear me down, and I like the level grind just as much as any end-game content I’ve ever encountered.
It has been quite a while since I left BDO, and I think I’m ready to head back in. Honestly, I think I was so burned out on the MMO genre as a whole more than it was the grind in BDO pushing me away. And even if that’s not the case, the early grind is much more manageable now with the catchup mechanics of the Season Server to help you along. With the addition of the Scholar, the class count is now up to 27, so surely there is something that I will find interesting to play. And let’s not forget the addition of a whole new region in 2023, the Land of the Morning Light. There’s so much to do in BDO today, but I’m not afraid of the grind anymore. My competitive years in MMOs are gone, so instead of grind, I think I’ll approach Black Desert Online as an MMO with a ton of content to enjoy, not fear.
Hades 2
I’ve been playing Rogue-likes since the original Rogue came out in the ‘80s - long before my first try at an MMO - and Hades is one of my favorites in the genre. With an expected Early Access launch in the first half of 2024, it looks like Supergiant Games is ready to take us beyond the Underworld as we take on the Chronos, the Titan of Time, in Hades 2. This will be the first sequel Supergiant has developed, so there is a chance for a misstep when they introduce our new protagonist, Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld, I’m certain that the hours of play will rack up as we try out the new skills and weapons that Melinoe has at her disposal.
New World
I enjoyed leveling up a character during New World’s Betas events but was skeptical of whether there would be enough end-game content to keep me engaged. So I resisted the urge to buy New World when it was released, and given its state at launch and rapid drop in the player base, it was a good decision.
Now, two years later, I think I’m ready to make the leap. Many of the bugs from launch have been fixed, replaced by new bugs, and fixed again. The bug-squashing cycle is never-ending, but there’s no doubt that New World is in a better state than it was at launch. The revamped leveling experience looks like it will be just as fun as it was during Beta. As for the expansion, there’s a new story to experience and new levels to attain. Quality-of-life items such as mounts have been added, there’s a new weapon type to master (the flail), and much more to extend the life of the game. Best of all, the base game is on sale during Steam’s Winter Sale for 60% off, so the price of entry is pretty cheap at $15.99, though it’ll still cost you $45.99 to pick up both the base game and the Rise of the Angry Earth expansion.
Fallout 76
You know that small group of people that actually liked Fallout 76 when it was released? Yeah, I was one of those guys. Since I didn’t encounter anything game-breaking, I didn’t care as much about the bugs - and there were plenty of bugs - as I did exploring and gathering junk, so I stuck with it longer than a lot of people. Bugs weren’t the only problem with Fallout 76, so playing a few days a week turned into a few hours a week, and after a few months, that turned into playing something else.
I almost pulled the old suit of power armor out of retirement when the Wastelanders update went live. The thought of human NPCs was enticing, but it just wasn’t enough. Bethesda has continued to pump out updates, each one adding additional lore, events, and new mechanics into the mix. 2022 saw the addition of The Pitt to the game world, and Atlantic City furthered that endeavor. Now, with expansions to the south slated for 2024, I think it’s prime time to put the past behind us and leave Vault 76 once again.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
The sequel to the award-winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Hellblade 2 will continue the trauma-filled story of Senua, a Pict warrior inflicted by a curse that causes audio and visual hallucinations. This new chapter finds Senua battling the darkness within and without as she fights to save those who have fallen victim to the tyranny and torment of Viking Iceland. Or, I could jump into an MMO and slay ten wolves, followed by a few fetch quests. Which sounds more engrossing to you?
Homeworld 3
Real time strategy games have had a bit of a resurgence as of late. None of the recent releases have me as excited as Homeworld 3. I cut my 3D RTS chops on Homeworld and Homeworld 2, and that was over 20 years ago. The full-scale fleet battles took place in three dimensions, and the fighting was spectacular. Homeworld 3 is set to bring the series back, with the story picking up 100 years after the end of Homeworld 2. And given the power of modern PCs, the space combat should be unparalleled.
