By There is no other game like World of Warcraft. Period.
I would still be playing it if it weren’t for that expensive subscription requirement.
I just don’t see the point of spending $15 per month just to play one game. No matter how much I enjoy it, I would rather spend that money on something else.
Over the years, I kept looking for games like World of Warcraft to play instead of paying a subscription. And I’ve found plenty that are much more affordable and relevant than WoW.
If you’re like me and hate paying for subscriptions, then this list is for you.
Here, I’m showcasing some of the best games like World of Warcraft you can play right now.
No subscription is necessary. In fact, some of them are free to play.
Have a look.
1. Elder Scrolls Online (ESO)
After going through several games, Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is the MMO that I settled down with. The fact that it takes place in the world of Skyrim is just one of the many benefits of this MMO.
What makes it even better is that it’s a buy-to-play MMO. It’s been updated over the years with many expansions, and you can often buy the entire bundle on sale at a discounted price.
This whole package has well over a thousand hours of gameplay value. Once you buy this package, you can play the game for as long as you like. Sure, there’s a premium subscription in this game for added benefit, but it’s not required at all.
ESO is also the only MMO I’ve played that has high-quality voice acting for every dialogue in every quest. And there are tons of quests you can do in this game.
ESO has lots of similarities to WoW, including a whole lot of currency farming systems, just like WoW gold. But it’s not as tedious as in World of Warcraft.
Zenimax Studios releases one big expansion every year for ESO, and with it comes more great content. So it’s a regularly updated game with a lively community.
2. Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is the MMO that I’ve felt to be most similar to WoW. It features old-school combat, questing, and a gameplay system that’s a lot like how things work in WoW.
The base game of Guild Wars 2 is free-to-play with some limitations. But, similar to ESO, you can also buy Guild Wars 2 expansions for a one-time price to enjoy them for as long as you like.
There is a ton of content you can enjoy in this game. And it’s the only MMO that had flying mounts, before WoW ripped them off.
I tried playing Guild Wars 2 for a while, but I could not get into its combat system. Other than that, this game is a solid contender for the WoW throne.
3. Guild Wars Reforged
The original Guild Wars is still one of the best MMOs ever made. The developers recently re-released the game on Steam with enhanced visuals, making it compatible with modern computers.
Guild Wars Reforged is the remastered version of the first Guild Wars game and it comes packed with the same gameplay mechanics that got thousands of players addicted to the franchise.
The game has low player numbers on Steam since it’s just launched. So it will be most suitable for players who prefer to adventure alone.
4. Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online received a facelift recently with enhanced graphics and gameplay improvements.
This game has been around since 2007, and it still shows its age, even with the enhancements. But the community around the game is strong.
I would recommend this game to fans of the LotR franchise. It has some great content that will help you relive your memories. Others might have a hard time enjoying this game due to its dated mechanics and visuals.
The game is free but with heavy microtransactions. It’s one of those games that you either hate it or absolutely love it.
5. Neverwinter
Neverwinter has many of the mechanics similar to WoW but with a more engaging action-oriented combat system.
With multiple expansions releasing every year, Neverwinter always stay fresh in terms of content and gives you plenty of end-game activities to keep pushing your character levels.
Neverwinter is perfect for both solo players and groups. It has armor sets and gear sets you can farm in-game as well as dungeons, quests, and a great campaign that keeps you engaged.
6. Fellowship
Fellowship is a new MMO that’s still in early access. This game is inspired by the raids in WoW and allows you to team up with friends or other players to farm bosses in raids.
The lack of short quests and big maps will make this game not suitable for solo players and might even make it feel repetitive.
But it’s perfect for players who prefer doing big raids and dungeon crawling with groups.
7. Black Desert Online
BDO is one of my favorite MMOs ever. Despite all the pay-to-win elements and microtransactions, it offers purely stupid fun for players to enjoy.
Leveling new characters is the most fun part of BDO. The game gets at least one new class introduced every year. And it has seasonal servers to make the leveling experience even more fresh and fun.
The combat system in BDO is the best in the genre. You’ll immediately get addicted to it.
8. Albion Online
Albion Online is a lot similar to RuneScape but this game has a more simple gameplay system.
In Albion Online, you can enjoy playing as a class-less hero that can wield any weapon you like. And it has a player-run economy where ever trade and purchase you make affects the game.
Albion Online used to be a favorite title among PVP players but lately, the game has been introducing new solo-focused content as well.
9. Lost Ark
I’ll be honest, I have not played this game at all. Mainly because it’s not available in my region. But I’ve watched gameplay and heard a lot of good things about it.
Lost Ark features Diablo-style top-down gameplay with an ARPG-like combat system. It’s an MMO with raids and lots and lots of microtransactions. So proceed with caution.
10. Warframe
Technically, Warframe is not an MMO, but it has almost every aspect of an MMO. If you ever wanted to play an MMO with guns and space combat, Warframe should be your first choice, not Destiny.
Warframe has a lot of interesting missions, story, and unlockable systems to explore than Destiny 2. And Warframe is completely free to play.
The grind in Warframe is real, and there are microtransactions too. But you can still play this game without spending any money.
11. Path of Exile
Path of Exile is one of the most frustrating games I’ve played, but I still can’t stop playing it.
Path of Exile is similar to Lost Ark in many ways. It’s an ARPG first with MMO-like elements. If you enjoy top-down combat and experimenting with builds, you will immediately get addicted to this game.
One cool thing about PoE is that it does not have any pay-to-win elements, even though it’s free to play.
12. Blue Protocol
The beta tests of Blue Protocol received a lot of positive feedback from players. This new anime MMO will surely attract a lot of new players when it launches.
It has many of the best aspects from games like WoW and ESO combined to offer a more engaging and exciting experience to players. This is a game to keep an eye out for.
13. Diablo IV
Blizzard kept saying that Diablo IV is not an MMO, but it has all the features of an MMO. It has addictive gameplay, big maps, world bosses, raids, and everything in between to keep you busy from Sunday to Saturday.
The satisfying sound of the loot drops will surely keep you hooked on this game.
The Search Continues..
ESO and Black Desert Online were the winners for me. I’m still hooked on those games and never even thought about returning to WoW.
But the search continues. I will look for more games to replace that itch for loot. There are some great MMOs on the way in the coming months.
